Lamb of God, Kublai Khan, Fit For An Autopsy, & Sanguisugabogg Thrash Fox Theatre
On a cold and cloudy Sunday evening in Detroit, with a light drizzle hanging in the air, the timeless elegance of the Fox Theatre stood as a striking contrast to the chaos about to unfold within its very walls on March 22. You may be thinking, “Surely the chaos of a metal concert will have its limitations with everyone seated in a chair, right?” Fret not! The Fox Theatre converted the lower-level audience seating into a general-admission pit, complete with a barricade. Judging by how the night unfolded, we hope this was far from the last time the beautiful space was used this way.
SANGUISUGABOGG
Starting things off strong was Sanguisugabogg, the band whose logo you probably couldn’t decipher on the tour poster. Needless to say, anyone that wasn’t acquainted with this band previously was certainly glad they were now. This midwest no-frills death metal unit set the tone for the rest of the night from the get-go. Vocalist Devin Swank brought a charismatic edge between songs, injecting humor into the brutality that fans have come to love and expect from them, most notably leading into their second track with the line, “this next song’s about getting your face ripped off. It’s called ‘Face Ripped Off.’” The juxtaposition between the deadpan delivery of the joke and immediately turning on the jets was a pleasant sight. Despite a short five-song set, the band made every moment count, giving the early crowd plenty of reason to lock in for the night ahead.
FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY
Next up was Fit For An Autopsy, who hit an early hiccup as technical difficulties cut into the opening moments of their set. Rather than let the momentum stall, vocalist Joe Badolato stepped up and filled the silence with humor and honesty, acknowledging the awkwardness with a comment regarding how “this is the part they don’t tell you when you get the job, you gotta talk to everyone through the awkward silence of tech issues” It only took about a minute to get back up and running to start again. Shortly after, it was as if it had never happened.
Once they launched back into their setlist opener, “Lower Purpose,” the band quickly found their footing and didn’t look back. With tracks like “Hostage” and their newest track, “The Wretch,” the crowd was getting their fill and forgetting all about the set rewind. Closing with “Far From Heaven,” they left the stage having fully recovered and then some, proving why they belong on this bill.
KUBLAI KHAN
Kublai Khan took the stage next and immediately shifted the energy from fast-paced death metal riffage to the Louisville slugger swinging chugs from the heart of Texas. Opening with “Darwinism,” they came out swinging, stacking bite-sized heavy hitters early with “Supreme Ruler” and “Antpile” packed tightly into the front half of the set. It was a calculated move that paid off, as the pit wasted no time erupting into a frenzy.
Their performance was exactly what fans have come to expect. No nonsense, straight to the point, and unapologetically heavy. Midway through, “The Mountain of Corsicana” gave the crowd a taste of their latest material, blending seamlessly into their set spanning multiple album cycles. By the time they closed with the instant classic “Theory of Mind,” the room had been fully primed for what was to come.
LAMB OF GOD
At last, the moment everyone had been waiting for. As the lights dimmed, with a curtain draped across the stage, the whole room waited in anticipation. As the fading light of the Lamb of God logo, it served as both a warm welcome and perhaps a final warning before what would momentarily take place. After a breathless beat, it cascaded to the floor, revealing the band as the opening notes of the band’s 2003 album opener “Ruin” rang out, immediately sending a surge of energy through the theater.
Though they may have been around the block, Lamb of God proved they are still operating at full force. Randy Blythe commanded the stage with his signature presence, constantly in motion from stage left to right, stepping onto the middle risers, launching back down, and feeding energy into every corner of the room. It was a performance that felt just as physical as it was musical. If the lower-level seats remained for this performance, they surely would have been abandoned by this point.
With the tour centered around their latest release ‘Into Oblivion,’ the set featured newer tracks like the title track and “Parasocial Christ,” both of which held their own alongside longtime staples. The balance between eras made for an unforgettable show for fans of all ages, with crowd favorites like “Laid to Rest,” “Walk with Me in Hell,” and “512” igniting massive reactions from fans across generations. Closing with “Redneck,” the band brought the night to a fitting and explosive end, leaving the entire venue on a high note.
From the opening set to the final encore, the night showcased a lineup that covered every corner of modern heavy music, all culminating in a headlining performance that reaffirmed Lamb of God’s place as the titans they are, and rightfully so. The Fox Theatre may be known for its elegance, but on this night, it became a proving ground for pure intensity.
Catch Lamb of God on the Into Oblivion Tour across North America. Visit https://www.lamb-of-god.com/ for tickets and upcoming dates, and follow @lambofgod on socials to stay up to date with all things happening in the Lamb of God camp.