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An aggressively stacked lineup headlined by Beartooth, I Prevail, Killswitch Engage and Parkway Drive hit the road on a massive 25-stop North America tour, with support from The Devil Wears Prada, The Amity Affliction, Alpha Wolf and Dark Divine.

These heavyweights of hard rock and masters of metal swung through Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia, for the second-to-last stop on the “Summer of Loud” tour.

Despite the sweltering heat, thousands of enthusiastic metalheads packed the sold-out venue for a marathon of music. Each band in the ridiculously loaded lineup fed off the loud and rowdy crowd, delivering a string of high-energy performances that continually raised the bar to impressive heights.

The first of the four headliners to perform was Beartooth, who have been on a massive trajectory over the last few years. Thanks to an ever-expanding catalog of hits and one of the best live shows in the industry, Beartooth was the band I was most excited for on this day, and they certainly didn’t disappoint.

Let me say this up front: no one expends more energy during a concert than frontman Caleb Shomo. From the moment he first materialized on stage until his final note, the pride of Westerville, Ohio jumped, screamed, bounced, flailed, growled and bellowed like a madman utterly possessed. In fact, Shomo refused to be confined to the stage during his performance, jumping down early in the set so he could be closer to the rabid audience devouring his every beautifully chaotic note. With some steadying hands from security, Caleb was able to prop himself up on the barricade and sing an up close and personal verse with the masses.

While that made for an exciting few seconds for fans closest to the barricade, it was not the most noteworthy moment of their set. Shomo makes time during each performance to spotlight mental health, sharing some of the trials and tribulations he’s been through during his time in the public spotlight. By all accounts, he’s in a good place these days and it carries through to the music. His search for inner peace and happiness is incredibly personal and uplifting, and his willingness to share with others is incredibly noble and important.

While the entire show featured a raw, unfiltered and vulnerable Shomo, “In Between” showcased these aspects at their absolute best. After admonishing one concertgoer mid-song by halting everything to exclaim, “We don’t fight at a Beartooth show!” Shomo launched back into the final track, which featured a beautiful call and response with the crowd. Without the benefit of a microphone, the frontman stood center stage and bellowed out the hook. Thousands of passionate fans replied heartily with a full-throated response. At that precise moment, Caleb had the entire venue in the palm of his hand and it was beautiful.

Back in May, I Prevail announced a mutually parting of ways with founding member Brian Burkheiser. After a decade together, the band was moving on without one of their main vocalists. Roughly two months later, I was eager to see how the lineup change impacted their live performance.

From day one, I Prevail’s signature sound has revolved around a dual-vocal dynamic, featuring clean vocals by Burkheiser and dirty vocals from Eric Vanlerberghe. Intrigue set in as the band filed onto the stage. How exactly would they navigate the melodic portions of their catalog in this new chapter? We were all about to find out.

I Prevail threw down the gauntlet immediately by starting their set with a screamer like “Bow Down.” They weren’t there to play it safe or ease into this performance. Regardless of the changes to the band’s roster, the Michigan rockers were intent on delivering something special.

They kept the aggression level high with “Body Bag,” another fast-paced and aggressive banger. Vanlerberghe delivered his signature sound while he lurked in the shadows on stage. Rhythm guitarist Dylan Bowman provided additional vocals, admirably filling the void created by Burkheiser’s surprising departure. All of which occurred while pyro jets blasted into the air with each downbeat. The high energy and breakneck pace of the set was already both impressive and exhausting.

During “Violent Nature,” the band welcomed Kage Archer, a 12-year-old from Wichita, Kansas, onto the stage. The middle schooler had recently won the band’s $5,000 Violent Nature contest, and this was his time to shine. Anyone who mistakenly viewed the moment as a publicity stunt or a charity case quickly realized this kid was legit as he confidently roared alongside Eric with a raw, fearless and infectious energy that proved he belonged.

Before “Hurricane,” the band paused to honor Dave Shapiro, the prominent music agent who died in a plane crash earlier this year. In a heartfelt moment, they thanked him for believing in them and giving them a shot when they were in the early stages of establishing themselves as I Prevail. It was a very touching tribute to their former manager, agent and longtime friend.

The sprawling amphitheater was at full capacity as Killswitch Engage took the stage, greeted by a loud roar from the sold-out crowd. The Massachusetts metalcore veterans, known for their blend of crushing riffs, soaring melodies and emotional intensity, wasted no time diving head-first into their set.

The show opened with “Rose of Sharyn,” from the band’s 2004 The End of Heartache album. The recognizable guitar riff surged through the oversized speakers as fans sang along, nearly drowning out frontman Jesse Leach. It’s a passionate start with great energy that established the tone for the rest of the evening.

For more than 25 years, they’ve brought their special brand of kickass to the genre, which was on full display during “I Believe.” As the guitar kicked in and Leach bellowed out the opening lyrics, which double as the song’s title, circle pits quickly opened again. Up next was “Hate by Design,” with its socially conscious lyrics that appeared to resonate strongly with many in attendance.

When the opening chords of “My Curse” hit, the reaction was immediate and overwhelming. This song, one of Killswitch Engage’s most commercially successful singles, earned the night’s loudest ovation. The audience couldn’t wait to belt out the chorus while a sea of cell phones lit up across the venue to capture the moment. As the setlist got heavier and heavier, guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz’s infectious energy and unique brand of humor created an amusing juxtaposition — his “I’m with stupid” t-shirt, “Beer” headband and pizza-themed guitar clearly created a distinct vibe.

Finally, Killswitch Engage closed out the night with a cover of Dio’s “Holy Diver.” They’ve performed the track so well for so long, it wouldn’t be a surprise if many younger fans weren’t aware it was a cover song. Regardless of when and how fans were first introduced to it, thousands of voices had little trouble belting out the words, ending the set on an adrenaline high.

The humid Virginia air was thick with anticipation as the sun set, lights dimmed and headliners Parkway Drive appeared on stage. The Australian metalcore titans proved to be worthy of their main-event status, as they closed out the Summer of Loud festivities in emphatic fashion.

Because they don’t tour very often and hadn’t played in Virginia in more than seven years, many in attendance — myself included — were experiencing the powerhouse phenomenon for the first time. Fortunately for everyone involved, Parkway Drive absolutely lived up to the heightened expectations.

Immediate first impression: Frontman Winston McCall struck an imposing figure, stomping and stalking the stage as if he was a gladiator impatiently awaiting his next overmatched opponent. The stage erupted with strobes as the menacing McCall growled the opening notes of “Glitch” with ferocious energy, and we were officially underway.

The mood intensified once again as the band shifted into “Sacred,” a wrecking ball of an anthem that was highly enjoyable to experience in person. The sheer heaviness of the song translated perfectly in a live setting, and Winston encouraged the chaos, grinning as he watched the floor churn like a storm. It was at this exact moment I said to myself, “Parkway Drive has arrived and this place belongs to them.”

While their set had many memorable moments, “Crushed” easily stood out as the most transcendent moment of the evening. That’s because, when one of the premier live metal acts of the modern era breaks out a production spectacle that leaves fans completely speechless, you know you’re witnessing something special. To that end, Parkway Drive finished off the night with a spinning flaming drum cage that can best be described as a hamster wheel of death.

As the drum kit inverted, it was difficult to tell if Ben Gordon was playing the drums or training with NASA. When the cage was lit on fire, I began to suspect Gordon was preparing to be the first drummer in history to play on the sun. As a professional photographer who has been covering concerts for decades, it’s not often you see something so completely unique and different, but Parkway Drive absolutely created an epic visual to cap off a magnificent evening of live music.

To the uninitiated, a Ghost concert must be a surreal experience. The theater. The pageantry. The cathedral-like set. Countless fanatical black-clad concertgoers adorned in masks and/or face paint. Calling it a concert almost doesn’t do it justice, which is probably why their live shows are known as rituals.

Founded in 2006, Grammy-winning Swedish hard-rock band Ghost is comprised of individuals who prefer to maintain anonymity, known simply as Nameless Ghouls. The lone exception is the lead singer, Tobias Forge, who initially went by Papa Emeritus.

Two decades later, Ghost performs for dedicated and impassioned crowds while headlining arena tours around the globe. After returning from Europe, Ghost kicked off their massive 28-stop, North American “Skeletour” at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore with a two-hour, 22-song set that spanned the band’s entire catalog.

Because each album signifies a new evolution of the band, and specifically its vocalist, the Baltimore ritual featured the debut of Forge’s latest persona, Papa V Perpetua. The frontman’s latest look features a metallic half-mask and leather suit jacket tailor made for any formal occasion. If previous incarnations invoked thoughts of a demonic pope, Forge now gives off serious G.I. Joe villain vibes.

After 18-minutes of somber organ music helped set the appropriate mood for the evening, the curtain dropped and the band materialized on stage, promptly diving into two of their newest offerings: “Peacefield” followed by “Lachryma.”

Beginning the show with two brand-new singles made sense because Ghost topped the Billboard 200 albums chart earlier this year with the release of their sixth-studio album, Skeletá. Not only was this the first time they’ve ever topped the Billboard 200, but it marked the first time any hard rock band topped the charts since 2020.

“Peacefield” begins with a choirboy singing while an organ accompanies with a gentle, soothing tune before a guitar riff straight out of a Journey anthem kicks things into high gear. And with that, we were officially underway. While “Peacefield” is a song about hope, “Lachryma” is more of an exorcism.

Moving on from a toxic relationship is much more palpable when it involves layered harmonies and deeply catchy guitar work, as is the case with “Lachryma.” For my money, this is the best track off the new album, and it provided an excellent opportunity for the Nameless Ghouls – skeletons dressed in top hats and habits – to shine while Forge sings of escaping from a painful experience.

Much about the band is shrouded in mystery, which is clearly no accident. Smoke, spirits and spooky backdrops – including a massive Grucifix (a glowing inverted cross with an embedded “G,” hovering overhead) – create a very Tim Burtonesque aesthetic. Add in a charismatic spiritual leader, hypnotic and melodic hooks to a sound inspired by 80s arena rock bands like Boston, Toto and Kansas, and it’s no surprise Ghost has amassed more than a billion streams.

Speaking of throwbacks to another era, “Majesty” was another standout performance of the evening. Odes to rotting carcasses and princes exiled to hell never sounded so good. Interestingly, for this tour it appears Ghost is leaning into their third-studio album, Meliora, more than their newest offering. On its 10th anniversary, six Meliora songs made the cut while only four Skeletá tracks were featured.

Boys and girls, what have we said about judging a book by its cover? Contrary to popular belief, “Satanized” is not about Satan at all. It’s about being in love. It was also another absolute highlight of the night, as Papa and the Nameless Ghouls commanded the stage, and their rabid followers sang along in approval.

Appropriately, the encore featured three of Ghost’s biggest hits: “Mary on a Cross,” “Dance Macabre” and “Square Hammer.” As confetti rained down on all in attendance, it became abundantly clear that the mystique combined with the immersive atmosphere and the entire spectacle of the evening had created an unforgettable experience during this ritual.

Before the night ended, Forge informed the sellout crowd that 14 years ago, Ghost played their first-ever U.S. concert – in Baltimore. So maybe it wasn’t exactly a coincidence that the band chose to kick off their North American “Skeletour” in Charm City. It’s also worth noting that CFG Bank Arena has officially established itself as a premier destination for performers of all genres. In the last year, major artists such as Tool, Keyshia Cole, Wu-Tang Clan and now Ghost have all kicked off their respective North American tours at the venue.