{"id":2609,"date":"2016-12-11T19:17:50","date_gmt":"2016-12-12T03:17:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/articles\/?p=2609"},"modified":"2016-12-11T19:17:50","modified_gmt":"2016-12-12T03:17:50","slug":"best-shows-of-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/articles\/2016\/12\/11\/best-shows-of-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Shows Of 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Andrew Bansal<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"bestshows2016\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Besides being another year round the sun, 2016 has offered a plethora of great live entertainment for us metalheads, and I’ve attended my fair share of concerts in the Los Angeles area and beyond. Choosing from 250-plus shows to pick the top 20 makes this the hardest list-based article I would write this year, but reflecting back on my master concert list made me realize just how many incredible shows I’ve had the good fortune of witnessing, and more than anything, this is the reason I do what I do. Without further ado, here are my picks for the top 20 shows of the year. The title of each show is linked to its corresponding review that was posted on the site.<\/p>\n

20. Sick Of It All + Bl’ast! @ The Roxy (West Hollywood) 04\/03<\/a>:<\/strong> Celebrating their 30th anniversary with this tour, New York hardcore veterans Sick Of It All headlined the Roxy for a high-octane exhibition of all that they’re known for, and doing so with effortless ease as the LA hardcore community gathered in good numbers and loved every moment of it. California hardcore punk outfit Bl’ast! made for an excellent support act. It’s rare to be get a chance to attend such old-school hardcore shows in the modern day, so this was quite a welcome and memorable treat.<\/p>\n

19. The Struts @ Fonda Theatre (Hollywood) 11\/03<\/a>:<\/strong> Arena rock is, for the most part, a thing of the past, but not if you ask English quartet The Struts, who’re bringing a show that’s massive sonically as well as visually. The Struts played a sold-out show in their adopted hometown, and the grateful audience at the Fonda was enthralled to bits by four musicians rocking their hearts out as if there was no tomorrow. Having toiled hard since their 2009 inception, The Struts are finally realizing their potential and this show was a glorious example of it.<\/p>\n

18. Nightwish + Sonata Arctica @ Grove Of Anaheim (Anaheim) 03\/12<\/a>:<\/strong> Finnish Symphonic metal pioneers Nightwish may have spawned generations of bands heavily influenced and inspired by them, but they themselves continue to create compelling music and play spellbinding shows. Based on the strength of their stellar 2015 full-length release ‘Endless Forms Most Beautiful’, Nightwish graced the stage at Grove of Anaheim this year and made it their own, putting on a powerful show displaying the individual and collective talents of all of their highly skilled members. Most notably, their show was completely live<\/em>, and all instruments were actually played by humans instead of via backing tracks, which was commendable in itself. Fellow Finnish metal band Sonata Arctica also put forth one of their finest shows and turned out to be an excellent support act.<\/p>\n

17. Between The Buried And Me + Good Tiger @ The Roxy (West Hollywood) 03\/19<\/a>:<\/strong> North Carolina prog metal group Between The Buried And Me is never a band that can possibly be left out of a best-of year-end discussion, and in 2016 they stamped their authority with a masterclass of a performance at the Roxy, well-supported by Good Tiger. BTBAM presented material from their newest conceptual opus ‘Coma Ecliptic’ (2015), but also went as far back as the 2005 album ‘Alaska’, much to the delight of LA fans who turn up to support the band no matter what they choose to play in the set. Truly a great band that simply keeps getting better.<\/p>\n

16. SubRosa + Ides Of Gemini + Ancient Altar + H\u00f8urs @ Complex (Glendale) 11\/13<\/a>:<\/strong> Salt Lake City, Utah’s SubRosa is a one-of-a-kind group, with their violin-centric yet ultra-heavy brand of doom\/sludge. They left an indelible impression on this Complex audience, and it was no surprise that the room was completely packed even on a Sunday night, because this band certainly deserved it. Besides their own stunning set, credit also goes to local\/regional support acts Ides Of Gemini, Ancient Altar and H\u00f8urs for building up the intensity and creating the ideal atmosphere for the headline act to thrive in. Complex played host to a lot of shows this year, but witnessed something special on this occasion.<\/p>\n

Read more on Page 2<\/em><\/p>\n

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15. Monolord + Beastmaker + Sweat Lodge + Ironaut @ Viper Room (West Hollywood) 08\/09<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0On a warm summer night, the Viper Room was swept by an avalanche of riffs, led by Swedish trio Monolord and assisted ably by tour mates Beastmaker and Sweat Lodge as well as local openers Ironaut. The four bands converted this tiny stage into an altar of riff worship and attendees basked in the captivating sounds emanating from it. While Monolord were all about unrelenting heaviness, Beastmaker induldged in Sabbath-esque horror doom, Sweat Lodge brought the classic hard rock flavor with their jams, and Ironaut threw in the sludge. Even though stoner doom has undoubtedly had a resurgence in recent years and enjoyed big success in 2016, this tour went somewhat under the radar, but those that attended it know it was one of the finest this genre offered this year.<\/p>\n

14. Intronaut + Scale The Summit + North @ The Roxy (West Hollywood) 03\/15<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>Los Angeles prog luminaries Intronaut outdid all of their own past efforts yet again as they began their 2016 North American headline tour with a\u00a0mind-blowing performance to reconquer the Roxy stage. Playing\u00a0their latest album ‘The Direction Of Last Things’ and more, Intronaut put forth a flawless, relentless exhibition of music that is complex and catchy in equal measure,\u00a0and showed why they’re one of the greatest bands this city will ever produce. With a support cast\u00a0that\u00a0featured\u00a0Houston, Texas instrumental prog quartet Scale The Summit and Tucson, Arizona doom newcomers North, Intronaut treated their fans to a show that delivered the goods from start to finish.<\/p>\n

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Intronaut @ The Roxy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

13. Nik Turner’s Hawkwind + Hedersleben @ Complex (Glendale) 11\/27<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>Space rock pioneer Nik Turner brought his version of Hawkwind to Glendale this year with backing band\/support act Hedersleben, who played a fantastic set of their own and remained on stage to do full justice to the instrumentation and backing vocal delivery on the Hawkwind tunes Turner chose to perform. 76 years old and still rocking as hard as ever, Nik Turner cast quite the spell on a mesmerized audience at Complex, with a smoothly flowing set of songs, and powerful transitions between hypnotic spoken-word segments and fast-paced tunes that rendered many in the crowd absolutely delirious. Space rock has evolved and morphed into several forms of heavy rock and metal over the past five decades, but one of the genre’s originators is still clearly\u00a0not only relevant but is orchestrating undeniably amazing performances such as this one.<\/p>\n

12. Fu Manchu + Venomous Maximus @ The Viper Room (West Hollywood) 08\/13<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>For any heavy music lover, a calendar year would be incomplete\u00a0without attending at least one\u00a0Fu Manchu gig, because the California stoner rock group always puts on one of the best shows in a manner so distinctly effortless, simple and barebones, it separates them from the rest and etches them in a part of the brain that never forgets the band. Fu Manchu brought out the classics at the Viper Room, but also played the slowest, heaviest possible cover of Foghat’s ‘Slow Ride’ one could ever imagine, in the process also promoting their latest single which presents a studio recording of the same. Houston, Texas group Venomous Maximus were the ideal opening act, and\u00a0with their dynamic, high-energy, set, vindicated attendees’ choice to invest in this show just as much as the headliner did.<\/p>\n

11. Napalm Death + The Black Dahlia Murder + Misery Index + Abnormality @ The Regent (Los Angeles) 11\/04<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>Coming together to form the most devastating touring package of the year, grindcore veterans Napalm Death and technical\/melodic death metal group The Black Dahlia Murder co-headlined the ‘Abysmal Predator’ tour along with Misery Index and Abnormality as support acts, and all four bands played great sets in front of a packed house at the Regent in downtown Los Angeles. Variety from one band to the next is utmost crucial in a show of this genre, and this lineup excelled in this aspect, giving the attendees four varied interpretations of extreme music. The Regent did its bit by removing the barricade, crowd-surfing and stage-diving was at its maximum, the bands welcomed it, and the atmosphere inside the building was electrifying. A quintessentially intense metal outing for all involved, and without doubt one of the best 2016 had to offer.<\/p>\n

Read more on Page 3<\/em><\/p>\n

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10. Armored Saint + Metal Church + Sin Circus + Alchemy @ Brick By Brick (San Diego) 06\/05<\/a>:<\/strong> Longstanding Los Angeles old-school metal flagbearers Armored Saint are at the peak of their powers these days, and their co-headline tour with Metal Church this year was a great indication of the same. The two bands hit the best stage in San Diego for a well-attended gig and both were at their 100 per cent and more, as the scene was perfectly set for them by openers Sin Circus and Alchemy. Riding high on their latest masterpiece ‘Win Hands Down’, Armored Saint delivered on all fronts with a triumphant performance, and rejuvenated by the return of singer Mike Howe, Metal Church garnered a massive response as well. Hands down the most enjoyable old-school metal show of 2016.<\/p>\n

9. Holy Grail + Exmortus + Spellcaster @ The Roxy (West Hollywood) 08\/07<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0Standing tall shoulder-to-shoulder with bands\u00a0much older and far more popular, three young bands Holy Grail, Exmortus and Spellcaster joined forces to\u00a0spread the gospel of the shred this year, and ending their extensive summer tour around the States with a gig at the Roxy, each band\u00a0played the best set they’ve ever played in the LA area, which is saying a lot in itself as they’ve done\u00a0many shows in this town in the past. Besides presenting their finest tunes old and new, they also threw in special surprises in the form of covers and guitar duels, and truly did something different, fresh and engaging for fans that have seen them multiple times. In an era where touring endlessly and repeatedly is essential for bands to survive, the biggest challenge is to keep things interesting enough to justify repeat attendees, and these three bands are doing it as well as anyone. An unforgettable evening of righteous heavy metal.<\/p>\n

8. Refused @ Fonda Theater (Hollywood) 05\/27<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>During a time wherein\u00a0reunions and comebacks have become a trend, many of which have proven to be unwarranted and ingenuine, one reunion that we can definitely welcome with open arms is that of Swedish post-hardcore\/experimental rock\/art punk group Refused. Their 2015 comeback album ‘Freedom’, their first since 1998, is\u00a0better than most releases to have surfaced in the past ten years, at least, and for first-timers and longtime fans alike, their sold-out show at the Fonda this year established them as one of the most powerful live bands on the planet. Vocalist\u00a0Dennis Lyxz\u00e9n was in his element and had the entire audience under his command, with his musicianship as well as politically charged speeches. His efforts as well as that of his band mates deemed Refused the most dynamic and energetic, yet most elegantly dressed hardcore punk group one would ever get to see, and hopefully this time they’re here to stay.<\/p>\n

7. Dream Theater @ Grove of Anaheim (Anaheim) 11\/16<\/a>:<\/strong> \u00a0<\/strong>Prog metal demigods Dream Theater brought the second and final North American leg of ‘The Astonishing’ tour to the Grove of Anaheim, performing almost all of their latest double LP\u00a0as well as an encore of classics, the show presented in a manner more visual than Dream Theater have ever ventured to in the past, as a staggered array of screens displayed visuals to portray the conceptual story behind the new album. While the visual element was a welcome addition to their show, their exemplarily top-class musicianship has been the standout trait of this band throughout their career, and it was no different in this show as vocalist James LaBrie was stunningly amazing, and the virtuosic exploits of John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, Mike Mangini and John Myung ignited this stage to no end. When you\u00a0witness these musicians performing together on stage, it doesn’t even matter whether or not you’re a fan of their music, because by the end of the show, you’re certain to become one for life.<\/p>\n

6. Steven Wilson @ Belasco Theater (Los Angeles) 11\/05<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>The most unique personality in the realm of progressive rock, Steven Wilson, as he himself proclaimed during this concert at the Belasco, is the most miserable music composer this genre has probably ever seen, and this is very much evident in all his work, whether it be Porcupine Tree or solo albums. But he clearly channels his dark side to the extent others can only dream of, by creating such powerful music that is as libertaing as it is depressing. Performing his latest full-length ‘Hand. Cannot. Erase’ in its entirety and a full set of older solo songs, Porcupine Tree selections and a cover tune as a heartfelt tribute to David Bowie, Steven Wilson spent an evening with his LA fans and laid down the gold standard for what progressive rock and metal music should aspire to achieve in the live setting. Wilson, with his backing band of highly accomplished musicians, held the audience captive with the music and humored them with his articulate monologues.<\/p>\n

Read more on Page 4<\/em><\/p>\n

If you like what you\u2019ve read, make a donation<\/a> of any amount and help keep Metal Assault running full time!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Steven<\/a>
Steven Wilson @ The Belasco – photo by Matt Nielson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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5. Boris + Earth @ The Regent (Los Angeles) 08\/26<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>Japanese experimental\u00a0group Boris have had a truly all-encompassing career of creativity thus far, delving into so many different styles of heavy music and doing such great justice to each of them that a listener couldn’t be blamed for assuming that the band was pursuing only one of those styles full-time. On this occasion, Boris played a sold-out show at the Regent to perform their 2005 album ‘Pink’ in its entirety. The three members were absolutely in the zone, and hardly anyone would have complained if this show never ended. In addition to the ‘Pink’ set, they also played an unprecented encore, inviting support band Earth to join them for an Earth cover, treating this audience to something they’d probably never experienced before. Prior to\u00a0the Boris set, Earth themselves played a splendid 60-minute set of their\u00a0signature minimalistic doom. Boris plus Earth equals post-concert bliss.<\/p>\n

4. Castle + Mos Generator + Ironaut + Others @ Complex (Glendale) 12\/04<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>Towards the end of\u00a0yet another prolific year that saw them release a new album and tour endlessly through North America, Europe and beyond, San Francisco Bay Area doom metal\/occult rock trio Castle put on a magical show at Complex, leading an all-killer, no-filler lineup. Castle’s tour mates for this short West Coast run, Mos Generator also put forth some masterful jams, while local openers Ironaut and Others both pulled their weight to show that they belonged. Amidst\u00a0the vast plethora of shows that took place at Complex, a venue that dominated the LA area metal concert calendar this year, this was by far the best, compelling attendees to stay inside the building and watch all bands, a rare occurrence in itself. From the start to the finish, the stage was graced by immensely talented musicians, Castle in particular proving that when it comes to being\u00a0in a band, there is no substitute for venturing out and playing as many shows as possible, such was the class with which they played their tunes. An absolutely stellar show from\u00a0the first note to the last.<\/p>\n

3. Black Sabbath @ San Manuel Amphitheater (San Bernardino) 09\/24<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>Metal godfathers Black Sabbath made the final California appearance of their career as headliners of this year’s Ozzfest in San Bernardino, and playing 14 of their most loved classics, they delivered just the kind of show a fan could expect and hope for. But even on a stage this big, their setup was remarkably simple and it was all about the music, which made it all the more special, as they showed the real power of\u00a0no-frills live music played through\u00a0old-school amplification. Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler showcased themselves as the legends they are, and Ozzy Osbourne, having garnered mixed reviews for his vocal delivery on the band’s ‘The End’ tour, clearly had one of his better nights and was in his element. Meanwhile, drummer Tommy Clufetos was the actual lifeblood of this performance, and if you ever wondered what it would be like to see Black Sabbath in 2016 with a drummer that looked and sounded like Bill Ward from the ’70s, you experienced it here. You see countless metal bands and then you see this band, and you come to the realization that this whole genre exists because of them. This Black Sabbath\u00a0set was a concert experience like no other,\u00a0as metal came full circle.<\/p>\n

2. Iron Maiden @ Mandalay Bay Events Center (Las Vegas) 02\/28<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>To perform a large chunk of their audacious 2015 double LP\u00a0‘The Book Of Souls’, metal greats Iron Maiden embarked on a world tour in their new and improved Boeing 747, starting out in the US and landing in Las Vegas in the first week. A band that’s unmistakably getting better with age, and probably even aging backwards, Iron Maiden presented this show not only through flawless performances but also with enhanced production values, an aspect they continue to invest more and more into every time they tour. For a band this old, the quality and longevity of the\u00a0vocalist is the single biggest factor in their success or failure and is invariably\u00a0the weakest link, but certainly not in the case of Iron Maiden, as Bruce Dickinson proves that he is\u00a0still the best singer and frontman in metal, hitting all the vocal highs, lows and mids, and also taking his\u00a0passion for art and quirky fashion sense to new extremes, performing in a hoodie even as he ran around on a high-temperature stage lit with pyrotechnics. For fans that weren’t sold on the band’s newest studio album, the epic renditions of the new songs blended in with classics such as ‘Powerslave’ and ‘Children of The Damned’ surely won them over. Whether they’re recreating a theme from their history or promoting a new album, an Iron Maiden show always serves as the most perfect embodiment and representative of metal, and the same can be said about their Las Vegas stop on ‘The Book Of Souls’ tour.<\/p>\n

1. Guns N’ Roses + The Cult @ Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles) 08\/18<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>While hard rock and heavy metal was kept alive and carried forward in 2016 by plenty of great bands old and new, the genre certainly needed\u00a0someone to re-instill the kind of excitement and unpredictability that would get every single person talking. Guns N’ Roses, announcing the aptly titled ‘Not In This Lifetime’ tour presenting a lineup that featured Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan playing together for the first time in almost two decades, did just that. Will they live up to the hype? Will Axl Rose be able to sing? What songs will they play? Will they cancel shows and walk off stage mid-concert? How late will Axl Rose show up for the concert? These were the questions that came up immediately, but Guns N’ Roses silenced all critics and detractors as this was\u00a0the best they’ve ever sounded. Towards the end of the US leg of the ongoing world tour, GNR orchestrated a grand homecoming at the Dodger Stadium, along with The Cult as opening act. Playing\u00a0for nearly three hours, a set comprising all the hits and so much more, complete with stadium-level stage production, Guns N’ Roses succeeded in delivering the best concert of\u00a02016, and their ‘Not In This Lifetime’ tour has all it takes to\u00a0last our entire lifetime.<\/p>\n

If you like what you\u2019ve read, make a donation<\/a> of any amount and help keep Metal Assault running full time!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Guns<\/a>
Guns N’ Roses @ Dodger Stadium – photo by Kat Benzova<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Andrew Bansal Besides being another year round the sun, 2016 has offered a plethora of great live entertainment for us metalheads, and I’ve attended my fair share of concerts in the Los Angeles area and beyond. Choosing from 250-plus shows to pick the top 20 makes this the hardest list-based article I would write … <\/p>\n

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