Escape the Fate and Black Tide Rip Through The Palladium in Hollywood

The more things change, the more they stay the same—especially in music.

Heavy metal has changed, but it's simply returned to its roots. In the wake of metalcore's demise, the genre has reverted back to the shred fireworks that made it so incendiary in the first place. Now, that was immediately evident from Bullet for My Valentine's stop at The Palladium in Hollywood with Escape the Fate and Black Tide last night. Escape the Fate and Black Tide are everything that hard rock needs right now, and it begins with their live sets.

After Escape the Fate's "Choose Your Fate" intro finished pumping through the speakers, the Las Vegas heavy metal saviors assaulted the stage with an incisive and infectious "Massacre" from their phenomenal self-titled offering due out Tuesday November 2nd, via DGC/Interscope.

Clad in American flag pants, Craig Mabbitt criss-crossed the stage with a switchblade swagger that channeled Axl Rose, while infusing a heavy dose of modern vocal vitriol. Mabbitt never stopped moving, simultaneously soaring on the song's hook. Strobe lights flashed in perfect tandem alongside Robert Ortiz's rapid and ravenous drumming. Max Green added grit to the screams on the refrain as he ripped through the bass groove flawlessly. Monte Money shredded artfully on the lead, and the band illuminated exactly why they'll be dominating arenas on their own soon.

For "10 Miles Wide," Craig and Max tossed out the hook like a grenade, while Monte's riff snapped necks. Craig leaned over the edge of the stage transferring that intensity to the crowd. During "The Flood," double bass fueled the band's refined modern thrash as they dominated the platforms at the edge of the stage. After that beautiful bludgeoning, Mabbit promised "Something for the ladies."

"Something" reached heights of heavy metal brilliance on the wings of Monte's fleet-fingered solo and Craig's entrancing clean break. The snappy industrial flourishes on the band's latest single, "Issues," sparked a massive sing-along. The new cut showed just how much Escape the Fate have evolved. They're a dangerous, deadly and deft beast on stage and in the studio, and that's why they're bound to save rock 'n' roll.

On set closer "This War is Ours (Guillotine 2)," the crowd's screams enveloped the distortion, and the entire audience fell into Escape the Fate's metallic rapture.

They left the stage victorious, and most likely the next time they're back in L.A. it'll be on a much bigger stage.

Black Tide also fit in that category. After a thunderous drum roll from Steven Spence, Black Tide gave Metallica's "Hit the Lights" a new vibrancy and vitality that was reverent but still revelatory. At 17-years-old, Gabriel Garcia is already one of the most intense and invigorating frontmen in the genre. During the band's new single "Bury Me," he pristinely carried a big chorus while tearing through an intricately woven riff. Zakk Sandler's bass bolted down the groove, while Austin Diaz kept the sound shred-tastic. "Honest Eyes" led to a Braveheart-style charge in the mosh pit, while "Let It Out" built into an elegant arena-ready chant. Hands were up across the floor waving in unison, and it was undeniably clear that Black Tide have officially stepped into a level of true rock supremacy.

"Warriors of Time" capped everything off with a fitting finale. Escape the Fate and Black Tide are the future of this genre, and it's because they've got respect enough for the past not to repeat it.

Have you seen this tour?