Ozzfest 2004

Usually I hear the lineup for the year’s Ozzfest and cringe at the list of names playing under the metal moniker — bands that are popular, but are about as metal as tea cozies. That is, until this year, which consisted of bands that are what metal should be about. I showed up late, as it was a bit of a drive, but just in time to see one of the bands that should be in every heavy music listener’s catalog, Lamb of God. Performing songs from both their previous albums and one from their forthcoming big label release, their ability to create anticipation through riff pauses and crushing anthems had the crowd whirling and spinning like a group of rabid pit ninjas.
Next on the lineup was Hatebreed, one of the few hardcore bands to outlast their movement and make the jump to metalheads’ CD players, probably because of frontman Jamey Jasta being the host of MTV’s Headbangers Ball. While not a fan myself, I could appreciate their dedication and pure perfection of their craft, and the crowd loved them.
At the main stage I saw Black Label Society, who sucked. Their singer, Zakk Wylde, is an amazing guitar player, but his singing comes off as a Thrifty Bargain version of the Blizzard. The second main stage act, Superjoint Ritual, made every other band look like amateurs. According to singer Phillip Anselmo, they are “the future of heavy metal music,” and they did everything possible within their 30-minute time slot to prove it. Their combination of classic punk, a la Filth / Exploited, mixed with hardcore metal is to be envied by all. And how could you not be the best with a guitarist from Eyehategod, Hank Williams III as your bass player and the voice of Pantera blasting you in the face?
I decided after that to take a break and go to the bathroom during Dimmu Borgir. Besides, I couldn’t care less about Swedish face painted keyboard inspired spiked shin guard black metal. Actually, I was quite intrigued, but half a song took care of that and sent me on my way: I had to get it out of me so I didn’t miss Slayer. How could you not like this band? They sounded great, just like every album of theirs that I have grown up listening to; unfortunately, the band couldn’t have looked more bored on stage.
Quite possibly the reason most people were there, due to the crowd’s reaction, Judas Priest was on next. Judas Priest was, is, and always will be a metal icon. I’m glad that they have finally let leatherman extraordinaire Rob Halford back into their fold, but I soon found out two things. One, their time has come and gone. Two, you have to like another album besides British Steel to enjoy them live, as they only played one song off that entire album.
So, after four leather trench coat changes, Rob’s version of the robot, a shiny silver motorcycle appearance and plenty of back-to-back guitar moves, Black Sabbath was on. No flashy gimmicks, no shiny jackets with tassels, just the godfathers of metal doing what they do best…rock. All the classics were covered and all done to perfection. They are what the most metal of all Ozzfests was about.

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