Forum Los Angeles

LIVE SHOW REVIEW: PANTERA AT THE FORUM

The last time I saw Pantera take the stage was 2001. That alone is a crazy thought. Obviously we all know what happened after that. What came about in the past couple years is an absolute tribute to what the band created and tore through the 90’s with. People will find any reason to complain and be negative about it but, the bottom line is, Pantera lives on and we can all get to enjoy the songs again and be amongst those that love the band and what they bring. This evening at The Forum in Los Angeles was nothing short of a fantastic show and performance.

It’s funny, when it was first announced that Pantera was back in sorts, I had this crazy yet awesome idea in my mind and it actually came true. As the clock hit 9:00pm and the lights went down, a playback began and it happened to be “Suicide Note Part I” against a montage video of Dime and Vinnie moments. Then as that ended and the kabuki curtain dropped, BANG, “Suicide Note Part II” erupts to start everything off. I’ve thought about this for the past couple years and to see it happen was pretty badass. From there it was a barrage of classics, deep cuts and fan favorites like “Strength Beyond Strength,” 5 Minutes Alone,” “Hellbound,” “This Love,” “I’m Broken,” “Mouth For War,” one of my all time favorites “10’s,” and so many more bangers. For over an hour and 40 minutes, Phil, Rex, Zakk and Charlie ripped Los Angeles a new one! I’ve got to say it was great to hear and see Phil and Rex on stage together again and both sounded great. Zakk definitely does Dime justice on these songs. And he does it without stepping on what Dime did. He’s brought a little bit of a dirtier tone to the songs giving them a bit of new life and actually darker in vibes. Charlie if you don’t already know is a beast on the drums but, gee golly, was he murdering these drums. He’s another that does Vinnie justice as well as adding an extra pep to his step on the songs. You really couldn’t ask for two better guys to step into those roles.

Direct support for the evening were the Vikings, Amon Amarth. It’s been a while since I’ve seen these gents and they still put on a show. It’s definitely a fun time and musically it’s very metal. Those Norwegians and Swedes really know how to write metal riffs. They definitely had a great energy on stage and kept the crowd entertained and engaged. Amon are one of those bands though that once you’ve seen them, you’ve pretty much seen “their show.” And opening the show was King Parrot from Australia. I saw these guys years ago open for Down. They have a ton of energy and they mix punk, grind core and death metal into one hell of a buzz saw of noise. While only 25 minutes on stage they made the most out of it.

What a great night all together. Pantera sounded great and really delivered a great set and show. If they do continue on, and why wouldn’t they, I truly hope that they explore more of the catalog and play songs never played live, haven’t been played in years, and some more deep cuts. My favorite Pantera album is The Great Southern Trendkill and that album definitely needs more love live! If you get the chance to see this incarnation of Pantera, you should. It’s not only a blast, it really just feels good!

Overall Rating: A

Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

Pantera Setlist:

Intro- Suicide Note Part I (tape)

01) Suicide Note Part II

02) Hellbound

03) 5 Minutes Alone

04) Strength Beyond Strength

05) Mouth For War

06) Goddamn Electric (w/ Phil Guitar Solo)

07) Becoming

08) I’m Broken

09) 10’s

10) I’ll Cast A Shadow

11) This Love

12) Cowboys From Hell

ENCORE

13) A New Level

14) Walk

15) Domination/Hollow

16) Fucking Hostile

BEST OF 2025…SO FAR

We are coming up to the halfway point of 2025 and I thought now would be a good time to do a Best Of 2025… So Far. In here you’ll find what I think are the best albums released so far as well as the best concerts I’ve seen all year!

Best Albums Of 2025… So Far: ALBUMS!!!!

01) Idle Heirs- Life Is Violence
This album is my absolute favorite of the year so far and I don’t think anything is going to over take it unless Nine Inch Nails puts out their new album this year. I love this album and everything it entails. The sheer rawness and atmospheric nature of it all as well as the devastating nature of it and how real it all comes to life.




02) Linkin Park- From Zero (Deluxe Edition)
From Zero is already a great album. It’s not the best thing this band has ever done (Meteora and A Thousand Suns take that prize) but, this album is phenomenal. And I’m being absolutely serious. When it came out towards the end of 2024 it left a lasting impression on me and now with the 3 additional songs added, it just takes it to a whole other level. It’s criminal how good this album is!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qr6-55oCrM&list=PLlqZM4covn1HF92FlF7W5nUI_Ixh2m3Rk

03) Guiltless- Teeth To Sky
This album is another that is still in rotation and I keep finding more and more to love about this record. As I mentioned in my album of the week feature, having a band play music like this but, flipping the script and making it optimistic instead of straight doom and gloom, really puts this album up high.



04) Spiritbox- Tsunami Sea
I’ve quite enjoyed this album. It’s a really well put together album with some really killer songs on it. It’s a really solid second album as well that is quite cohesive. I just recently went to see Spiritbox live and they are a really good live band and these songs definitely go harder than on album as one would expect. It’s going to be interesting to see and hear where they go next.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mfdx_C0pR6XdVKoGGoXHVRdQlvEVtjw0c

05) Coheed And Cambria- Vaxis III: The Father Of Make Believe
Coheed is back!!! Not that they went away, I mean it more in that after the past two albums which felt kind of long and more of a collection of songs, they are back with an “album” that really kicks ass. If you are a fan of albums such as In Keeping Secrets and Good Apollo Part IV, then you’ll really dig this one. It’s a really good album that has a great flow to it. And there also feels like a renewed sense of the band on this one too as the performances really are kicked up a few notches!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSckI-66MsI&list=OLAK5uy_kYxvSUMUzqSpw6MFitvmIBeXjFosoWKzI

06) Youth Code- Yours, With Malice
I’ve been a Youth Code fan for quite some time so, when it came time for this record to arrive, I was pretty stoked and it’s a banger! Though only an EP, Yours, With Malice doesn’t lose a beat with the punishing and menacing beats pulsating along with vocals that reflect the trying times and harsh reality of it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soBBf9p6ihs&list=PLH22-xSMERQqIMClz-_xiQWZZ9yx0Kx1K

07) Tonguecutter- Minnow
When I first heard Tonguecutter’s Minnow, I thought I was in a time machine back to 1993 in a great way. This band and album have been a really cool surprise to hear in 2025. They make music that I’ve always loved and give it a bump in energy. Really look forward to more from Tonguecutter. They are one of those bands if the right people hear it will really resonate!



08) Black Map- Hex
I’ve been a fan since the first single dropped and Black Map keeps getting better! Hex is one hell of an album. It’s short, concise and very direct in its approach. Throughout the 9 songs and 32 minutes, you are taken on a ride of great riffs and rhythms along with soaring melodic vocals. I keep finding myself listening to this album as whole more so than picking songs. Give this one a good spin!!

09) SOM- Let The Light In
I remember seeing SOM open for Holy Fawn a couple years back and I was hooked from that point. Their new album, Let The Light In, is a tremendous album that really expands upon their already epic nature. I find myself listening to this a lot when I need something a bit more calming or relaxing as their post-metal sound reaches new heights.

10) Machinekit- Goddamn Vanity
This LA techno-punk band is awesome! The new album, Goddamn Vanity, strikes quite hard. It’s abrasive and quite powerful. The way this album gut punches you is superb. The aggressive nature of this album is harks back to late 80’s Ministry and Broken era Nine Inch Nails. Also, their live show is one of the most fun and energetic shows you can see!

BEST CONCERTS OF 2025… SO FAR:

01) Poison The Well, Glassjaw, Better Lovers at Hollywood Palladium
02) Snot at SoHo Santa Barabara
03) Helmet and Slomosa at The Regent Theater
04) Jerry Cantrell and Filter at Ventura Theater
05) Danzig and Down at Forum
06) Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse & Carcass at Forum
07) Deftones at Forum
08) Spiritbox at Hollywood Palladium
09) Kerry King at Fonda Theater
10) All Cobalt/Audioeclectica shows!

LIVE REVIEW: MESHUGGAH AT THE FORUM-04.09.25

For well over 30 years now, Meshuggah have long been one of the heaviest and most visceral auditory bands to see live and hear on a record. The gents in Meshuggah have long cemented themselves in the lore of heavy music and then some. Their influence on countless bands alone is astronomical. I can remember back to about 1998/1999 when I first heard Meshuggah. At first I was completely perplexed by them and how the hell they were pulling this off. Then fast forward to about 2001/2002 and Tool put out Lateralus and took Meshuggah out as their opener. That show was what really made me a believer. Also, I still to this day, don’t know how Tool was able to go on night after night as Meshuggah would rip those audiences apart!

This nice spring night in April at the Forum was a night for a grand celebration of not just heavy music but to show that Meshuggah is at the top of the musical food chain for good reason. I must say having soft jams play before the onslaught began was a nice touch especially walking out to “Careless Whisper.” From that point as the stage was dark and shadowy figures appeared and then… “Broken Cog” from Immutable kicks things off with one hell of a bang. Then a barrage of absolute beatdown songs “Violent Sleep Of Reason,” “Rational Gaze (one of my all time favorites),” and “Combustion.” Throughout the set the lights really brought the songs to life in a whole other way kind of like how a kaleidoscope looks on the inside. Other choice cuts for the evening included “Lethargica,” “Swarm,” and of course the classic “Future Breed Machine.” For the encore, “Bleed” was right out of the gate after a moment of pause. From the get go, the audience was completely sucked into the world of Meshuggah. The sheer volume that was permeating through The Forum was another thing all on it’s own. I kept looking up and around and saw the roof shaking a bit and then even outside, the rumble was making the security guards shake their head in disbelief. Put it this way, this was a LOUD show and it should be! The way that Jens Kidman, Tomas Haake, Fredrik Thordendal, Marten Hagstrom, and Dirk Lovgren are so precise is another show to watch all on their own .

Also playing this evening were Carcass (who we missed- thanks LA traffic on a Wednesday) and Cannibal Corpse. Cannibal I did get to see. It’s been since 2001/2002 since I last saw Cannibal and they are still badass and awesome. I was having quite the fun time watching them deliver a brutal set. I forgot how technical they are as a band and the tone those guys have is quite unique to them. You can hear others try to cop that one but, it’s not quite right. The head banging too, that was a sight to see. My neck was sore just from watching them head bang onstage especially Corpsegrinder. That guy really is the champ. Their set although short was another one that was chock full of classics and some other choice cuts. My buddy and podcast co-host Justin, is a big Cannibal fan so the enjoyment he was having was quite fun!

This was a great show. Meshuggah absolutely brought it and delivered a set and show that I hope is released as a live album. What a great show. It’s quite the heavy tour. I will say, it does feel like it’s missing that one direct support band to really put it over. Don’t get me wrong this lineup is great, it just felt like there should have been 1 more band to really up the energy and blow the roof literally off The Forum.

Overall Rating: A

Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

Meshuggah Set List:
01) Broken Cog
02) Violent Sleep Of Reason
03) Rational Gaze
04) Combustion
05) Kaleidoscope
06) God He Sees In Mirrors
07) Lethargica
08) Born In Dissonance
09) Dancers To A Discordant System
10) Swarm
11) Future Breed Machine
ENCORE
12) Bleed
13) Demiurge

Cannibal Corpse Set List:
01) Scourge Of Iron
02) Blood Bind
03) Inhumane Harvest
04) Evisceration Plague
05) Death Walking Terror
06) Unleashing The Bloodthirsty
07) Summoned For Sacrifice
08) I Cum Blood
09) Stripped, Raped and Strangled
10) Hammer Smashed Face


Meshuggah Photos:

Cannibal Corpse Photos:

LIVE SHOW REVIEW: DANZIG & DOWN At The Forum- 3.28.25

I love when it’s been a long while since you’ve seen a certain band live, then you go to the show and it’s just what you wanted it to be and even a little bit more too, since it’s been that long in between shows. This past weekend I went to see Danzig (who I haven’t seen live since 2013) and one of my all time favorite bands, Down (who I haven’t seen live in almost 10 years) at The Forum. What a show it was too. Also playing this evening were Abbath (first time seeing them live) and Cro-Mags (didn’t catch them). The Forum over the last decade plus has really stepped up their game in terms of sound, and the shows they hold. Getting to see Down here was quite special (think the last time they played the Forum was when they were on tour with Heaven And Hell (Dio era Black Sabbath).

First band I saw of the evening was Abbath. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a black metal band play and they sure were good. I forgot that the main guy was also previously in Immortal. Abbath was a good choice for this show (just thought of this, why wasn’t this tour billed as the new Blackest Of The Black tour- I’ll have to inquire). It was nice to see Norwegian Black Metal still thriving and destroying. Though I didn’t see Cro-Mags, the 1, 2 punch of Hardcore Punk then Black Metal is quite the way to open a show.


Now the part that really got me, DOWN!!! I love Down. I actually get into arguments with people because I like Down more than I like Pantera. To me Down just has more substance and depth. There’s nothing like seeing Down live and firing on all cylinders. It’s truly a magical thing to see and hear. Playing songs mainly from their classic debut, NOLA, as well as a couple from their second album, Down had the crowd in the palm of their hand for the hour they were on stage. The moment they all took the stage and the first notes of “Lysergic Funeral Procession” began, you knew that you were in for one hell of a set. From there it was just classic after classic. It’s always a pleasure to hear favorites of mine like “Losing All,” “Ghosts Along The Mississippi,” one of the best Track One’s of all time “Temptation’s Wings,” and one of the best closers too in “Bury Me In Smoke.” I also love that during the “Bury Me In Smoke” Phil sang the a bit of “Nothing In Return (Walk Away)” and that absolutely was a special moment. I love that song. It’s so epic that it too should be played live! Down was on fire and everyone sounded killer. Watching Philip, Pepper, Kirk, Jimmy and Pat on stage truly having fun and ripping through a great set like that is why I love going to concerts and seeing my favorite bands, Down especially!


Danzig headlined this evening and by the time he went on and the lights went down, it was sure time for things to get a bit darker. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Danzig live. The last time was probably the best Danzig show I have ever seen. This show is right up there though. There’s such a fun theatricalness to a Danzig show that it keeps you into it. Knowing his audience well, the set consisted of songs mostly from the first 3 albums with a few scattered ones from Danzig IV, Circle Of Snakes, and Deth Red Sabaoth. Personally I love Danzig III so getting to hear any of the songs from that album is a joy for me. The performance this evening of “How The Gods Kill” was great (you can watch it on the Audioeclectica Instagram page). Glenn is still one hell of a frontman and when he’s on like he was this evening, it’s pretty spectacular. Joining Glenn on stage was longtime Danzig collaborator and Prong’s Tommy Victor on guitar, Samhain’s Steve Zing on bass and Karl Rosquist on drums. Watching the crowd get into the show song by song was interesting. You could tell who knew more than just a handful of songs. Either way, it was a great bill all around.

DOWN Set List:
01) Lysergik Funeral Procession
02) Lifer
03) Hail The Leaf
04) Ghosts Along The Mississippi
05) Pillars Of Eternity
06) Temptation’s Wings
07) Stone The Crow
08) Eyes Of The South
09) Bury Me In Smoke

DANZIG Set List:
01) Skin Carver
02) Brand New God
03) Twist Of Cain
04) Evil Thing
05) Hammer Of The Gods
06) How The Gods Kill
07) Her Black Wings
08) Killer Wolf
09) Black Hell
10) Tired Of Being Alive
11) The Hunter (Albert King Cover)
12) Am I Demon
13) Not Of This World
14) Mother
ENCORE:
15) She Rides
16) Dirty Black Summer
17) Do You Wear The Mark

DOWN PHOTOS:








DANZIG PHOTOS: