By Katey Khaos

New England Metal and Hardcore Fest tore its way through The Palladium April 20th – 22nd, blasting fans’ ears with nothing but the fastest, heaviest metal ~ and they couldn’t get enough!

The first day of NEMHF kicked off strong with performances by This is Hell and Fleshgod Apocalypse. Although their sets were a mere 20 minutes long, they still managed to put on awesome shows. Everyone’s eardrums continued to be brutalized (and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one begging for more) with performances by All Shall Perish, Nile, Oceano, and Massachusetts’ own The Acacia Strain. The first night finished off with a stellar performance by The Black Dahlia Murder, whose fans put on a killer pit performance that echoed the band’s energy.

The main stage of day two consisted of one of the most diverse metal festival lineups I’ve ever seen; the bands included Unearth, Protest the Hero, iwrestledabearonce, Dragonforce and All That Remains. For the record, yes, Dragonforce can play “Through the Fire and Flames” live, and they did so flawlessly. The wide range of subgenres didn’t phase the crowd in the least because the mosh pits were a blur ~ at least until it was time to switch sets.

As NEMHF drew to a close with day three, the wear and tear of the pits was showing on the faces of the bruised fans, but they still pushed their way to the front for more punishment ~ and I can’t say I blame them. Day three had an amazing lineup, too ~ Every Time I Die, Emmure, Vanna, and Killswitch Engage ~ playing for the first time with Jesse Leach back in the lineup. For those who missed the KSE performance, let me tell you that it was nothing short of magical. Long-time fans of the band were ecstatic to see the original front man back in the mix and the excitement over his return jacked up the energy in the pits to a frenzy.

For those who didn’t go this year, or who have never attended, NEMHF is not just a concert, it’s an experience. However, be advised that tickets should be purchased in advanced because the shows always sell out, especially Friday and Saturday passes. But seriously, why not buy a three day pass and not risk missing out on any of the killer lineup NEMHF has to offer each and every year? It’s TOTALLY worth it!

Photo by Katey Khaos