Two heavy metal heavyweights, Slipknot and Hatebreed, warmed up a cold night on Montage Mountain in Scranton with mosh pits and pyrotechnics on Wednesday, May 13, just a few days after the Susquehanna Breakdown music festival kicked off the concert season at The Pavilion.
With no other opening act needed, Hatebreed easily riled the crowd up with songs that spanned their 21-year career, noting their longtime connection to Northeastern Pennsylvania. With a heavy emphasis on their latest record, “.5: The Gray Chapter,” Slipknot followed suit with songs from each of their five albums throughout their almost two-hour set, ending with “Surfacing” from their self-titled debut. Vocalist Corey Taylor also expressed the band’s love for the area, going back to their first appearance at Montage back in 2000 on the Tattoo the Earth tour.
Nostalgic for some and a fresh experience for others, Slipknot brought skill and spectacle to The Pavilion with clear sound and stage presence, and while the giant devil head, flames, and hydraulics were cool, it was the audience’s connection to the music that made many people bear the unusually cold spring evening to sing and slamdance along.
