Images and Words by Johnnie Crow
Killswitch Engage and Anthrax returned to the House of Blues in San Diego, California on February 13, 2018 as part of their co-headlining Killthrax tour. The venue was sold out and completely full of passionate metal fans. Havok opened the show, the perfect aggressive band to kickstart the crowd into a night-long frenzy.
On this night, it was Anthrax up next and they never disappoint. Charlie Benante’s beats are always moshable. Frankie Bello’s relentless bass riffs and infectious energy demand that the fans keep up the pace. Scott Ian is a legendary riff master, and he showed his brilliance on songs old and new, proving that he is truly one of the greatest songwriters in metal history. Jon Donais was spot on with his solos. Joey Belladonna was the consummate frontman, engaging with each and every fan, belting out vocals that men half his age could never match, with a huge smile on his face all the while. Anthrax owns any stage they perform on, and it is a special treat to witness them in a club setting.
Killswitch Engage headlined this show, and did everything in their power to match the energy of Anthrax. Vocalist Jesse Leach, bassist Mike D’Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer Justin Foley are a powerful force on stage. The crowd was completely engaged throughout, circle pitting and screaming along. Not many bands can follow Anthrax, but KsE vibes perfectly and the entire night was a joy to witness.
A full gallery of Anthrax at House of Blues San Diego 2018 images can be found below:
A full gallery of Killswitch Engage at House of Blues San Diego 2018 images can be found below: