Black Label Society and Down Rock New York City

The New York Doom Crew packed in at Best Buy Theater to see the Revolver Golden Gods tour featuring Black label Society and Down. Support was provided by Devil You Know and Butcher Babies.

With nine studio albums, Black Label Society have been pummeling ear drums for over 15 years. They are touring in promotion of their brand new disc, ‘Catacombs of the Black Vatican,’ and began their set with a new track ‘My Dying Time.’ Other fresh tunes that were performed included ‘Heart of Darkness,’ ‘Damn the Flood’ and ‘Angel of Mercy.’

Head of the Doom Crew, Zakk Wylde, filled Best Buy Theater with endless solos as well as old-school favorites ‘Suicide Messiah,’ ‘Concrete Jungle’ and ‘The Blessed Hellride.’ The multi-instrumentalist that he is, Wylde also took to the piano for a moving delivery of ‘In This River.’ Toward the end of the set, everyone belted out, "The feelings I once felt are now dead and gone / I've waited here for you for so very long / I've waited here for you so long / I've waited here for you / For you,” to the very notable ‘Stillborn.’

The moment fans had been hoping for came to life as Philip Anselmo graced the stage as he had done a few nights back in Massachusetts to perform an explosive version of Pantera’s ‘I’m Broken’ with Black Label Society. Fans completely lost their minds and tested the foundation of Best Buy Theater, which surprisingly didn’t crumble to the ground with all the moshing and crowdsurfing.

When Down took the stage prior to BLS, pits were in full swing and the smell of weed filled the venue throughout their set. Anselmo, sporting an especially scruffy beard, belted out new tunes ‘We Knew Him Well’ from their new EP and ‘Witchtripper’ from their previous release. Even though we miss seeing Kirk Windstein tear it up onstage with Down, new axeman Bobby Landgraf is compelling to watch, as well.

Any time we take time out to remember the late and great guitar icon Dimebag Darrell, it’s always a moving yet empowering time. It fits that Down’s ‘Lifer’ was dedicated to Dime and New Yorkers remembered him well and paid tribute to honor his memory.

Anselmo’s hilarity, charisma and lack of filter when he addresses the crowd makes the experience of watching Down even more enjoyable. Also who could resist shouting aloud to old favorites ‘Losing All,’ ‘Stone the Crow’ and ‘Bury Me In Smoke’

Former Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones is back with his new project Devil You Know, who performed earlier in the evening. The band as a whole is somewhat of a supergroup as it’s also made up of ex-All Shall Perish guitarist Francesco Artusato, former Fear Factory drummer John Sankey, bassist Ryan Wombacher of Bleeding Though and guitarist Roy Lev-Ari. The band performed some heavy tracks from their brand new album ‘The Beauty of Destruction.’

Butcher Babies opened up the show with solid, headbanging acrobatics. The ladies of the band bring unrelenting energy wherever they go. They even got the first crowdsurfer of the night and had a small pit going on to kick things off.

Check out video of Anselmo performing Pantera's 'I'm Broken' with Black Label Society, as well as photos of all the bands, below:

Philip Anselmo and Black Label Society Rock Pantera's 'I'm Broken'

Photos of Black Label Society, Down, Devil You Know + Butcher Babies in NYC Below:

Black Label Society:

Liz Ramanand, Loudwire