Cool Tour 2010

The official name for this tour is the “Cool Tour.” Apparently. Which sounds so much more pedestrian than the bands who are on the tour actually are. You’ve got As I Lay Dying, Underoath, Between the Buried and Me, Blessthefall, the Acacia Strain, Architects, Cancer Bats and War of Ages. And they’ve dubbed this the “cool” tour. Thrash/Shred Tour. Bro-fest Tour. Give You A Concussion With A Kick Drum And Garrote You With Guitar Strings Tour. Something other than “Cool.” I know, I know, irony and all because it’s hot as balls everywhere right now, blahblahblah, but “cool” doesn’t begin to do these bands justice. Just listen to As I Lay Dying’s latest album. It’s face-meltingly brutal while still being almost chillingly dark. Both of those descriptions were unintentional puns, by the way, but would also make for a more a propos tour name while I’m at it. But back to the subject at hand, As I Lay Dying’s new music absolutely kills and is more intricate than ever, so seeing them step up their already intense live show by playing the songs live should be nothing short of awe-inspiring. Every member of this band is an amazing showman, matched only by the masterful technical skill each of them possesses. Precious few metal bands can make music that actually has some kind of emotional resonance without sacrificing their songs’ aggressiveness, and even fewer still can do it without sounding like they’re trying to write a radio hit. Somehow though, these guys can do the near-impossible, both in the studio and on stage. - Brien Overly