Pathfinder Metalfest at the Local
November 2, 2009 · Print This Article
I showed up for the second day of this great Metalfest. I was unable to make day one, but I surveyed some of my friends who saw day one show and they said Eternal Hour played a tight set and that Zephaniah played with insane energy and speed that made me regret missing day one.
Day two featured VOR, A Lower Deep, Halycon Way, Twisted Tower Dire and Aska. I have seen VOR a couple of times and for this set they came out played much heavier. They debut a new song “Rescue Me” that had the whole crowd responding to the catchy chorus and great beat. VOR is building up a great fan base at a rapid pace.
Next up was A Lower Deep. Lead by Billy Mullican’s haunting vocal, they played their way through a dark progressive set of songs that brought memories of an early Nevermore sound. Next up was Halcyon Way and the debut of their new lead singer Steve Braun.
Having seen them once before at the Hard Rock Café, I could not wait to see them again. I enjoyed them so much I purchased the cd after first show and it’s been in my CD 
changer ever since. After that show Halcyon Way replaced Singer Sean Shields with Steve Braun and I had to wonder if switch would affect the sound of the band.
The band came out and started with the opening of “A Manifesto For Domination” and new vocalist Steve Braun came out and belted out the opening lyrics and all worries about Mr. Braun’s delivery went away. He commanded the stage with full on swagger and his vocals gave the songs a harder brooding edge with great range.
Zane and Jon highlighted every song with their great chemistry of trading leads. They tore it up on the song “Deliver the Suffering”. It reminds me of one of my favorites bands Armored Saints Symbol of Salvation era, only on steroids with a higher range of vocals.
No whiny pseudo glam vocals was heard from me nor was I worrying about what they were wearing because I listen with my ears not my eyes.They tore through a blistering hot energetic set that left the crowd going hell yeah!!
Twisted Tower Dire was up next.
Twisted came out and lit up the stage with their NWBHM sound. The classic metal sound, brilliant hooks and big chorus anthems made the crowd pump their fist in the air. The galloping beat and power riffs along with Jonny Anue Melodic vocals brought me back to glory of my power metals days when I listened to Omen, Attacker and Virgin Steel.
Unfortunately I had to leave before Aska came on but had friends tell me they ripped.
I would say that Halycon Way stole the night with the home town crowd feeding off the energy of their incendiary set.
A big thank you goes out to Greg (Hoyt) Parris for putting the great festival together.
S.E
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