Evergrey with Voyager, Borealis, Oceans of Slumber and Vermithrax - Mr. Smalls - 9/4/2015

Evergrey with Voyager, Borealis, Oceans of Slumber and Vermithrax

– Every so often a tour comes along with a bill that just clicks so well and the current Evergrey tour with Voyager, Borealis and Oceans of Slumber is one such tour. Up until recently I had never really heard any of these bands, and I am kicking myself for not discovering them earlier. Attendance at the show was on the lighter side but the energy and musicianship of all the bands was through the roof.

Pittsburgh’s own Vermithrax got the night rolling with a high energy set. These guys always fire on all cylinders and never disappoint. They have a perfect blend of thrash, progressive and power metal and are always a treat to see live.

Up next was Oceans of Slumber from Houston, Texas. This guys captivated the audience with their fusion of several different genres of music, ranging from atmospheric to downright brutal.

Borealis hailing from Toronto, Canada took the stage next. I had recently discovered this band leading up to the show and was very excited to see them. Their newest release Purgatory is one of my favorite new albums and needless to say I was not disappointed. Crimson Shadows vocalist Jimi Maltais joined the band on stage to sing “Finest Hour” of the Fall From Grace album.

Austrailia’s Voyager was up next and these guys delivered a high energy set. They know how to have fun on stage and their energy is contagious. Their set even included a medley consisting of the Game of Thrones theme, Ghostbusters and even some Backstreet Boys.

Before long Evergrey hit the stage with a commanding presence. Starting off with “King of Errors” the band played a hard hitting set that did not let up. The audience was enthralled from the beginning and even took over the vocals for the song “I’m Sorry.” All in all it was a great set and even though it consisted 18 songs it ended way too quickly.

If you ever get a chance to see any of these bands do not hesitate to go. Despite the crowd being on the smaller side this was one of the best shows of the year. Check out photos of each band below.

Evergrey at Mr. Smalls