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Is Godsmack the new AC/DC?
Let's review: Like the Australian hard rock hall of famers, Godsmack found a formula early and stuck to it, selling albums by the millions. Live, both bands also cater to their audience's most primal needs: big drums, big choruses and really big pyro explosions.
There are differences. AC/DC struck gold (and platinum) many times over with swaggering lyrics heavy on the hedonism.
Godsmack's lyrical message, distilled from the band's ferocious and fulfilling 80-minute set Saturday night at the Marcus Amphitheater, is somewhat less jaunty: "I (expletive) hate you, go away, keep away - I stand alone."
Yes, it's virtually one song lyrically and musically from opener "Straight Out of Line" through old favorites such as "Bad Religion" and "Keep Away," the newer "I (expletive) Hate You" and encore "I Stand Alone." The hypnotic "Voodoo" was the only break in the band's otherwise relentless aural assault.
Drawn from a trio of major label releases, including 2003's "Faceless," the set list's consistency never sank to mind-numbing dullness, however, thanks to tight musicianship and charismatic, ego-tripping front man Sully Erna.
(All the flames and metallic confetti didn't hurt, either.)
Arriving onstage in a leather jacket and big shades identical to Bono's during the U2 singer's most megalomaniacal phase, Erna sang, played some guitar and even pounded on his own kit during a five-minute-plus drums-only jam that at one point included full-time skinsman Shannon Larkin plus Erna and two additional percussionists.
For the record, Erna's kit was both larger and on a taller riser than Larkin's.
Erna also played diva, yelling at various crew members for changing the color of the lights too often.
During its half-hour set, "Headstrong" Trapt nailed the video game soundtrack beat and simplistic lyrics of alienation that are cliche to its genre, but there was little depth and less variety in its calculated sound.
Cold was, no pun intended, the hottest band on the bill - its "Year of the Spider" beats Godsmack on the charts and hit song "Stupid Girl" is all over MTV. The band had some troubles. Jeremy Marshall broke his arm earlier this week and settled for singing backup while band mates shuffled to cover his bass parts, and front man Scooter Ward endured monitor problems.
Despite the glitches, Cold's half-hour set, including "Suffocate" and "Send In the Clowns," was the evening's most emotional and sincere performance.
Of the young bands rounding out the bill, Breaking Benjamin, Revis and Ra, it was Sahaj Ticotin's nu-metal act named after the Egyptian sun god that provoked the most headbanging in the crowd. And with good reason: Ra elevates its otherwise generic material, such as "Rectifier" and "Do You Call My Name," with an outstanding drummer, Skoota Warner, and Ticotin's use of intriguing Middle Eastern melodic lines.
Promoters put attendance for the second annual Lazerfest at 10,000.