Road Rage Tour with Trivium, 3 Inches of Blood, and Still Remains 3/31/05 Portland, OR
By Robin Steeley
Roadrunner Records celebrates their 25th anniversary tonight with the 2005 Road Rage Tour which features three of Roadrunner’s rising metal acts, Trivium, 3 Inches of Blood, and Still Remains all bands that represent the latest metal sound of our generation. The label itself has grown into one of the larger labels over the past years and they have developed the Road Rage tour as a way to showcase their latest stars to the metal generations of today.
Tonight was no disappointment, they couldn't have paired together three better bands for this bill. 3 Inches of Blood featured duel vocalists and a hard core old school sound, singing songs about Vikings, pirates, and knights slaying orc's. The band released their debut album Advance & Vanquish on Roadrunner in 2004 and have been touring in support of it ever since. They played a ferocious set and earned my serious metal respect.
Trivium tore the house up tonight, creating a huge pit in this tiny venue. Trivium is also on tour in support of their debut release, Ascendance which is full of hooks and is already receiving critical acclaim. The bands musical experience and showmanship doesn't reflect the age of the band, most of who are in their early twenties, and even one member still in the teens. Trivium have become road warriors already on tours with Slipknot, Danzig, Fear Factory, and Chimaira.
Last but certainly not least was hardcore metal outfit Still Remains who are one of the newest but most deserving members of the Roadrunner family. They are getting ready to release their debut album Of Love and Lunacy in May and the advance copies have already been getting great reviews. Live the band is energetic and dynamic with quick changes and catchy choruses.
The night was worth every second spent headbanging, and I would return to see any one of these acts live in the future.
