Killswitch Engage, All that Remains, Volumes, and Within The Ruins
Mountain Park Amphitheater – Holyoke, MA – 6.24.2017
By Alex Lindsay
It was a quintessential block party for the ages in Holyoke, Massachusetts when hometown heroes Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, and Within the Ruins kicked off Summer 2017.
On a warm and sunny day on June 24th, the three Western Mass founded bands, along with Los Angeles based group Volumes, invaded the Mountain Park amphitheater and created a party catered to their hometown fanbase, many of which have seen these bands in their infancy. Armed with beers, burgers, and lawn chairs, these Western “Massholes” were ready for a night to remember.
Batting leadoff was Westfield, Massachusetts natives Within the Ruins. Explosively taking the stage with their opening song “Gods Amongst Men”, their technical prowess and heavy riffs set the atmosphere for the rest of the night. Their set also featured their latest single “Objective Reality” which features clean vocals from bassist Paolo Galang.
Up next was Volumes. Although hailing from Los Angeles, their ties to the Massachusetts metal scene run strong with vocalist Myke Terry, who formerly performed with Boston based group Bury Your Dead. Terry was the liveliest and most energetic out of the bunch. From onstage antics to throwing himself into the sea of fans, Terry flawlessly commanded the audience’s attention.
The final opening act of the night was All That Remains. Also hailing from Westfield, All That Remains experienced a few sound issues throughout their set. Despite moments of intense feedback and issues with snare microphones, the band pushed through their set and delivered a stellar performance. The group also had the chance to show off their latest material from their recent album release “Madness”.
Once the sun set and the night began, fully operating tiki bars and pink flamingos decorated the Mountain Park Amphitheater stage. The lights go down, and “Surfin Bird” from The Trashmen blares across the field. Donned in their finest Hawaiian shirts and board shorts, Killswitch Engage stormed onto the stage with their opening single “Strength of the Mind.”
Killswitch Engage’s set brought a party-like atmosphere to Mountain Park. Throwing in new and old tunes, the Western Mass heroes wanted the entire night to be one big celebration of the roots of the area’s musical talent. The band even had friends and family of the band in the audience, making the group feel right at home.
Sound issues aside, the metal invasion of Mountain Park was a complete success. We can only hope that we can see round two happen with a more robust lineup.
Within The Ruins
Volumes
All That Remains
Killswitch Engage
