Mayhem Festival -- Mansfield, MA -- July 22nd, 2011

[Metal_Head]

I had a ton of fun yesterday in Mansfield despite the blistering heat all day. The day started really early when I woke up early, ate breakfast with my friends and headed to the Comcast Center, arriving at around 12:30. After waiting around for an hour they let us in and the day began.

It was disgustingly hot out, with temperatures in the high 90s/low 100s all day. Staying hydrated was a challenge but my friends and I managed ourselves well through the heat.

The first band that played was Dead Season, the Jager Band. They were awful, one of the worst bands of the day. I walked away halfway through their set. 2/10.

Straight Line Stitch played next and they have the honors of being in my top 5 worst bands ever seen. They were terrible, I watched one song and then proceeded to get as far away from the stage as possible. Ugh. 0/10.

Red Fang played next and they were great. One of the better bands of the day, their whole set was a ton of fun. Nobody moved around for them until the end of their set, but everyone watching was into them. I'll definitely see them live again. 7.5/10.

Into the Eye
Sharks
Malverde
Wires
Good to Die
Prehistoric Dogs

All Shall Perish played next. I was anticipating their set a lot, it was finally my first time seeing them. The crowd was into them, they were the first band all day to get the crowd moving a lot. Their set was great and I can't wait for the new album.

Wage Slaves
Gagged, Bound, Shelved, and Forgotten
There Is No Business to Be Done on a Dead Planet
Procession of Ashes
In This Life of Pain
There Is Nothing Left
Eradication

Next was one of the bands I was most excited for, Kingdom of Sorrow. They were amazing despite sound problems during my favorite song of theirs (Free the Fallen) which they had to cut from the set because of time after their PA blew out. Despite that they played a great set. Seeing Jamey Jasta perform live with any of his projects is always a treat. It was cool to see Kirk Windstein again as well. One of the best sets of the day. 9/10.

Behind the Blackest Tears
Free the Fallen (first minute or so until the sound went out)
??? (A song that was supposed to appear on Jasta's solo album)
Enlightened to Extinction
Begging For the Truth
Monuments of Ash
Led Into Demise
Lead the Ghosts Astray
Buried In Black

Suicide Silence played next and like usual, they were awesome. It had been a year since I've seen them last and they sound better than ever. I was a little disappointed that they played only two songs from The Cleansing, but it was a great set regardless. 8.5/10.

Wake Up
Unanswered
You Only Live Once
Fuck Everything
Disengage
Slaves to Substance
No Pity For a Coward

After Suicide Silence I felt like I was going to pass out so I cooled off in the shade and got water during Unearth. I wanted to see them and I'm sure that their set was fun but they aren't worth it for me to pass out during their set.

Once Unearth was just about to finish up, I went to the Revolver Stage and got a great spot a few rows back for Machine Head. I'm so glad they played on the side stage because I wouldn't have been able to feel the intensity of their set on such a big stage. They absolutely killed it on the Revolver Stage, they had the crowd going insane the entire time. Because of time issues they had to cut Aesthetics of Hate from their set, but it didn't put a damper on their performance for me. Fantastic set. 9.5/10.

Imperium
Beautiful Mourning
Locust
Halo

In Flames closed out the side stages with an average set. It was nothing special and the majority of the songs they played sucked but it could have been worse. Anders sounded extremely drunk on stage and just talked aimlessly when they could've had time for another song. Hopefully when I see them on a headlining tour their set will be better, but I (along with everyone else) won't hold my breath. 6/10.

Cloud Connected
Alias
Pinball Map
Deliver Us
The Hive
Where the Dead Ships Dwell
The Quiet Place
Take This Life

After In Flames, I bought some merch at the tents with my friends as we made our way to the lawn for the main stage.

We got to the lawn just as Trivium was starting. It was my fourth time seeing them and I honestly could not have cared less about their performance. No one was into it and they didn't sound good at all on the main stage. I would have enjoyed their set more if it were on the side stages, (and if the played Pull Harder) but whatever. Boring set. 5/10.

This might be incomplete/out of order.

In Waves
A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation
Like Light to the Flies
Built to Fall
Down From the Sky
Throes of Perdition

Up next were the thrash legends Megadeth, my first time seeing them. The crowd was into it, but from the lawn I couldn't get into it as much as I wished. Everyone on the lawn was sitting down and nobody was moving around. The set was still enjoyable though, even if it was nothing out of the ordinary. 7.5/10.

Trust
Hangar 18
Wake Up Dead
Head Crusher
A Tout Le Monde
Public Enemy No. 1
Symphony of Destruction
Peace Sells
Holy Wars...The Punishment Due

Finally, the first rock/metal band I ever listened to took the stage, Godsmack. It was my first time ever seeing them in the 12 years I've been listening to them. I've had opportunities but I was always too young, they were on a shitty bill that wasn't worth the money, or I had no ride. But finally I'm old enough to actually drive and they were on a worthy show, so there was no way I was going to miss it. Their set was so much fun for me because of the serious amounts of nostalgia that I felt during their older songs. The new stuff comes off good live, and they had a great set that mostly everybody enjoyed. The pit on the lawn finally opened up and their were a ton of people moshing. Nobody was sitting down in their seats or the lawn. The hometown band got a great, warm response playing to their home crowd and they along with the fans enjoyed every minute of it. Excellent set, the most fun of the day for me. 9.5/10.

Cryin' Like a Bitch
The Enemy
Forever Shamed
Straight Out of Line
Awake
Speak
Love-Hate-Sex-Pain
Voodoo
Batalla de Los Tambores
Whatever
I Stand Alone

It was a group decision to leave before Disturbed to beat traffic and because they play the same set every time you see them. Godsmack were the perfect way to end a very fun day. I can't wait until next year!

[mastodon421]

Red Fang didn't play Reverse Thunder, they played Into The Eye in that slot.

[Metal_Head]

Thanks, I wasn't sure of their set so I just posted the one that they've been playing.

[mastodon421]

Originally Posted by Metal_Head

Thanks, I wasn't sure of their set so I just posted the one that they've been playing.

No problem man, good write-up. I was going nuts on the lawn for Megadeth, I was kind of disapointed that pretty much no one else on the lawn was. Everyone in the seats and up front were going crazy for them though.

[Metal_Head]

Thanks man and yeah, I would have had a much better time up front and it would have been a much more memorable performance. Fuck paying 95 bucks after fees for pit tickets though.

[TripKore]

Well I go every year. I film every year. This year I filmed everything except Suicide Silence & All Shall Parish. Took the moment to cool down but sounded good from a far. I just don't like death type vocals. To each his own.

Dead Season is a good hard rock band from Maine. I've been seeing and following them since 2005. Good group of guys to drink with as well, always having a good time.

Straight Line Stitch. Again is another band I've been following since before their debut CD. Always putting out 110% energy. I just don't know why everyone who posts a review about SLS on Mayhem says their horrible?

Red Fang is not my type of music. But again, everyone who hates on Straight Line, Loves Red Fang. I don't know. I watched their music videos on youtube before the show, didn't get into it. Again another band i skipped to go get hosed down and visit the water fountain. It was 105 degrees after all.

Maybe I'll write more later.

Here's all the videos (every set was filmed 100%)
www.youtube.com/user/XplicitConcerts
www.xplicitbootlegs.com

Enjoy!

[TripKore]

Originally Posted by Metal_Head

The day started really early when I woke up early, ate breakfast with my friends and headed to the Comcast Center, arriving at around 12:30.

LOL... starting the day early usually means 6-8am. Just poking fun at that haha. Our group got up and ready around 8am. Got to Comcast right @ 10:30 and started up the grill. Yah Baby

[Metal_Head]

I was up at 7 AM, went to breakfast, then had a long ass drive down to Mansfield. No big rush for me as long as I'm there before doors.