This year has marked the return of metal. From the huge success of Korn's latest release to the rebirth of MTV's Headbanger's Ball, from major-label signings like Cradle of Filth and Lamb of God to Shadows Fall's record selling nearly 100,000 copies, there is no doubt that 2003 brought back long hair and black boots. When MTV's Headbanger's Ball tour hit D.C.'s 9:30 club last Tuesday it was a monument to metal's successful year.
The tour was headlined by Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and Lamb of God, respectively, with God Forbid supporting the tour's D.C. performance. The bands rotated headlining positions each night of the tour, except for God Forbid, who opened every night on one half of the leg with Unearth opening the other half.
Brian Fair, the lead singer from Shadows Fall, praised the headlining rotation.
"It's been great, no one wants to play last," Fair said. Usually everyone thinks you want to headline, but the crowds beat the hell up, and everyone just wants to party," Fair said. "First and second slots are great in the rotation. It's cool to play last but most people are bloody by then. We're all equal."
Other band members on tour shared this view, and after attending a show it is not hard to see the difficulties of headlining. D.C. held its own and the pit was violent throughout the show, from God Forbid until the Killswitch Engage's last song.
A few members from all the bands sat down with The Eagle to discuss the tour and the return of Headbanger's Ball on MTV.
Eagle: What do you think about the Ball and what would you change about it if you could? How do you feel about being on this tour?
God Forbid: My only complaint is that after every two videos they go to commercial, and it's only two hours when it used to be on three hours.
Shadows Fall: What's cool about it is the 8:30-9 [p.m.] thing [replaying portions of the show] they do during prime time, and that's huge. And they play too many bands that already get regular rotation that shouldn't be on Headbanger's Ball.
Lamb of God: I [Willie] grew up with the Ball. It's extremely flattering to be a part of this. This is a new revolution of bringing metal back, its an incredible feeling.
Eagle: Recently Ozzfest put out a survey asking fans what they would change and liked about Ozzfest. What are your thoughts on it?
Killswitch: Have doors at noon or 2 p.m. Playing at 9 in the morning kinda sucks. I [Adam] got in trouble for throwing doughnuts out to the crowd at one of the shows.
Shadows Fall: Cut three weeks off of it and play five to six shows a week instead of three. Get a better beer company to sponsor it.
God Forbid: We'd play the Ozzfest if we were offered. Hell yes!
Lamb Of God: We were offered to play and declined. We would wanna play Ozzfest if it was an every night event, condensing it into four to five weeks and if bands didn't play at 9:30 in the morning.
Eagle: What's the best way to get exposure, since you guys are all up-and-coming bands? What do you think of MP3s?
Killswitch: Bang a hot chick.
Shadows Fall: Tour your ass off. Downloading music and then buying the record is cool, but you gotta support the band somehow.
God Forbid: If you download stuff, and you like it, come out [to a show] and support the band.
Lamb of God: Keep hammering it out. Hopefully as the movement grows we can keep doing what we're doing. The bands on this bill will represent the new wave of metal these days.
Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Lamb of God and God Forbid played one of the best shows to hit D.C. in a long time with their MTV's Headbanger's Ball. Anyone who didn't go, or anyone who went but left without a sore neck or body, missed out on an amazing night. All these bands are here to stay and will keep heads banging. God Forbid will likely tour in the spring, Killswitch Engage will hit the studio with a new album hopefully due out in the spring, Shadows Fall will write a new album, and Lamb of God will likely release a DVD in January 2004.
