Devastation Across the Nation Inflikt, The Haunted, DAMAGE PLAN
By Robin Steeley
Today started out bad but everything changed when I got to the Bossanova to see Damage Plan. My first treat of the evening was the fact that Portland locals Inflikt would be opening the show. Inflikt is one of those bands that I have had the pleasure of watching grow into a local phenomenon. They are consistently good, and always bring it with a sickness to every show that they play.
Tonight was no different as the band blasts onto the stage and plays a blistering set with songs like “So Render”, “I Let Go”, and obvious crowd favorite “Bloodstains” a song that is so infectious you will be hearing it in your head for days to come, rocking out with your horns to the sky. The band is made up of some of the top local players and their musicianship is diverse with a solid delivery and an amazing cohesiveness between the members that you can actually feel, it comes ripping out of their music.
Next up is Sweden’s The Haunted with the return of vocalist Peter Dolving to the group. This band has seriously evolved live and is touring in support of their latest effort; rEVOLVEr, their set reflected the best songs of that release, songs such as “Dark Intentions” and my favorite “Hollow Ground”. The guitar is screaming and there is always something different happening when you see this band live.
Although it was readily apparent that many of the people in the crowd were former Pantera fans, it’s obvious that their allegiance has now shifted to Damage Plan. Many are there to bask in the glory of Dimebag's classic guitar solo’s and the punishing percussion of his brother former Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, but there is something to be said for both Bass player Bobzilla as well as their new vocalist Portland’s own Pat Lachman. Lachman has amazing stage presence and a vocal range to rival many of today’s modern acts.
After running through many of the tracks off New Found Power like “Fuck You” and “Explode”, they ended the set with Pantera’s Classic “Walk” and the crowd went absolutely insane, I thought the place was going to fall apart. You could feel the energy and the heat coming off everyone in the room. The band kept tossing back shots of Jager and Crown Royal and throwing them out into the crowd and I was going crazy trying to keep my camera from getting wet. After my three songs, I watched the rest of the show from the side of the stage with inflikt and they were bringing out huge bottles of jack Daniels, Crown Royal, and Jager, and feeding them to everybody. Then when they played Pantera's "Walk”, they had everyone come up on stage and sing, it was ridiculous, like 20 people up there just going insane, it was total chaos. They played “Level” too and an Ac/DC song, they just kept coming back and playing encores, Dimebag was onstage playing solo long after the rest of the band had left, with Kenny from Inflikt jamming with him on drums. The show didn’t even end until almost 2am, they played that long. When Dimebag was finally done he threw his guitar across the stage at his tech and I got a picture of it in midair. It was a show I will never forget; drunk and disorderly conduct better then I’ve ever seen it and one of the best unions with the crowd ever, Dimebag was feeling the love that night for sure.
