Concert Reports

If you were driving in and around Paso Robles on August 8, you may have seen the portal to Hell open. Miss it? All you had to do was get off at the 46 East and head about a mile or so down the road just past the Water Park. Slayer, Lamb of God and Behemoth invade the Vina Robles Amphitheatre !

All Photos: Ray Soto / Central Coast Rocks

Review: Kyle Shields

Vina Robles Amphitheatre

Slayer           Lamb-of-God         Behemoth

Driving into the parking lot of Vina Robles Amphitheater, the lot was already filling up with anxious Metalheads waiting to see one of The Big 4 perform in their small part of the Central Coast of California. Walking through the lot, one could hear the sounds from some of Heavy Metal's greats. Battle vests as far as the eye can see and the sweet beautiful smell of California herbs filled the air. If ya know what I mean. Welcome to Vina Robles Amphitheatre on the night of Slayer, Lamb of God and Behemoth

The three bands invaded the Central Coast of California in Paso Robles in a glorious fiery blaze. Behemoth starting off the night with their monstrous sounds from the far reaches of Poland. Kicking off with "Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer" going into the thundering drums and guitar of "Conquer All." Nergal and company came on stage like a pack of hungry wolves waiting to feast on their prey. Even though the mighty Behemoth only had a short 30-minute set, every second was worth it even without drummer "Inferno." Behemoth tapped into their long list of heavy metal counterparts and recruited ex-Job For A Cowboy drummer, Jon ‘The Charn’ Rice who filled in on drums flawlessly. If you ever get the chance to see Behemoth on one of their Headlining shows, get tickets. Trust me, you won't be dissapointed.

Up next was Lamb of God from "Richmond Motherf***ing Virginia" as frontman Randy Blythe puts it. Getting ready to perform songs off albums such as "As The Palaces Burn," "Ashes of The Wake," "Sacrament," and LOG's most recent release, "Sturm Und Drang." Randy and company started off their set with an Ashes classic, "Laid To Rest." Fans screaming along and raising middle fingers to lyrics such as, "see who gives a f***!" Following a couple songs, Randy welcomes the crowd mentioning the beautiful area and shouting out a big Ric Flair WOOOO!!! Lamb of God knows how to bring the energy wherever they are and it does not matter if it's a headlining show for them or they are opening up for someone else. These five dudes came to Paso Robles to do one thing and one thing only, "burn this motherf***r to the ground." It's safe to say that Paso has never experienced a show like Lamb of God put on last night.

Finally, the one, the only SLAYER. One of "The Big 4" came to Paso Robles tonight and they brought it big. Bringing the full setup with all the lights and pyro, Tom Araya, Kerry King, Gary Holt and Paul Bostaph took the stage and brought Paso to its knees. Draping the big white sheet over the stage so people couldn't see the setup of Slayer, fans anxiously awaited for the lights to go black and hear the ominous sounds of "Delusions of Saviour" meaning the start of a war zone that would eventually take place in the pit. Lights out, the images of crosses slowly being turned upside down to a pair of pentagrams floating all over the stage and finally transforming into Slayer's classic logo. The venue goes black for a second and the sheet drops with lights flashing as Slayer has taken the stage and kicked off the party with "Repentless." You ever been in a Slayer pit? Get ready for the fastest, hard hitting pit you have ever been in. Slayer played classic songs such as "South Of Heaven," "Seasons In The Abyss" to more fan favorites like "Disciple" and "War Ensemble." There's a reason Slayer has been granted the title of being one of "The Big 4." If you were at this show, you know damn well why they have rightfully earned the title.

Slayer         Lamb-of-God        Behemoth

About Vina Robles Amphitheatre

Welcome to the Vina Robles Amphitheatre, where European Inspiration meets California Character and the stars always shine. Here, two of California's great compositions meet, as exceptional wine and intimate live music are paired to create an unforgettable wine country experience.

The 3,300 seat boutique amphitheatre is nestled on a picturesque, oak-dotted hillside in Paso Robles on California's Central Coast. With its opening in the summer of 2013, the Vina Robles Amphitheatre became one of the largest outdoor venues for arts and entertainment in San Luis Obispo County. Featuring a style reminiscent of the California missions, guests are able to immerse themselves in a unique and intimate concert adventure as they enjoy modern amenities and first class hospitality. The concert season runs from May through November and features top tier acts from around the world in all genres. Various seating options all within 150 feet from the stage, including regular, VIP and general admission lawn seating, make events accessible to anyone in the community. We look forward to sharing our love of wine and the arts with you soon. For more information about the Vina Robles Winery, Click Here

www.VinaRoblesAmphitheatre.com
 

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