Swedish Legends Meshuggah and In Flames Invade Long Island
Photography By Sam Valente
Whitechapel opened up the sold out show bringing their three pronged guitar attack, with their layered sound adding some weight to their already meaty breakdowns. Vocalist Phil Bozeman is a force to behold with such impossibly low growls adding to the bottom end of their sound, and amplifying the heaviness. Their energy got the ball rolling and warmed the crowd up for what was to come.
Next up were Swedish melodic death metal pioneers In Flames. Now a multinational band featuring ex members of Megadeath and Chiodos, In Flames brought the melodicism where Whitechapel brought the heavy. Led by long-running members, vocalist Anders Fridén and guitarist Björn Gelotte, In Flames ran through songs from their debut Lunar Strain all the way through their most recent album Forgone, which they were touring in support of, capping off their set with fan favorite Take This Life.
Closing out the night were Swedish monolithic metal masters Meshuggah, who were touring in support of their most recent album, Immutable. The command of the stage that these veterans have is truly impressive, with everyone in the crowd in sync with their rhythmic heaving. Their sound could be best described as oppressively heavy, with a heft that could be felt. Every riff, syncopated drum pattern, and vocal note hit with such force that you could not help but move. Frontman Jens Kidman had such an imposing stage presence that commanded everyone’s undivided attention as he and the highly influential band played through their set. Meshuggah is a band that absolutely must be seen whenever they are near.
