The final show of a brief two week tour for Massachusetts Crossover Thrash band LICH KING and California's neo-classical Heavy / Thrash monsters EXMORTUS would take place at the recently renamed 13^th Floor Lounge, actually located on the second floor of JJ's Tavern on Route 9 in Florence, MA. Western Massachusetts has always been a hot spot for heavy bands and venues through the years, as I took in many a local and national show at the Vertex/ Katina's in Hadley, MA, and Pearl Street nightclub off of downtown Northampton.

Starting at 9:20 pm, Connecticut five-piece EYES OF THE DEAD would be a new act to me, but quickly their brand of speedy Death / Thrash sat very well to these ears. James the drummer appeared very comfortable laying in the pocket as he did throwing down killer blast beats, and one of the guitarists Pat would be celebrating his birthday in style. Intertwining originals with a brutally heavy cover of IRON MAIDEN's "The Evil That Men Do", I would love to hear more of their material in a live setting as 45 minutes hit the spot just fine.

EPICENTER from Pelham, New Hampshire hit the stage next. This would be my second time taking in their thrash songs, as I also got the chance to see them open for TESTAMENT / OVERKILL in 2013 in Worcester, MA (LICH KING also being a part of that bill), and the quartet did not disappoint. Drummer Zak King handles the vocals, not an easy feat as the band definitely play a speedy brand of thrash that has equal influences from the Bay Area, East Coast, and a little bit of the Scandinavian brigades. When guitarist Ryan Burke wasn't making killer metal faces and ham it up on stage, he would jump in the pit to make up for a couple of strings breaking on his guitar. Expect an album to hit the streets this year, and I foresee a lot of good things in terms of advancing up the ranks based on the energy and variety they employ through their modern thrash style.

EXMORTUS. What else can be said about Whitter, California's finest neo-classical meets Thrash meets Traditional Heavy Metal artists? Supporting album three "Slave to the Sword", they bring it every night. Drummer Mario Moreno wrenched out pools of sweat following the band's 50 minute performance. Guitarists David Rivera and Conan bring out the best in each other through dual synchronization breaks, spot on riff interplay, and 'can you top this' action. It may take a minute or two to hear the opening strains of "Rising", but rest assured the audience become on with the music and soon head bang, chant along, and throw themselves into the aural fire through air guitar simulations these musicians pour out of you. The set included 5 songs from this record, "Kneel Before the Steel" from 2011's "Before the Fall of Time" and two from their debut album "In Hatred's Flame" including "Triumph by Fire" that features both guitarists in a Steve Vai maneuver playing each other's axes during the lead break. LICH KING's vocalist Tom Martin would join them on stage for their cover of JUDAS PRIEST "Freewheel Burning", and he did very well hitting a lot of the high sustained screams that made Rob Halford a Heavy Metal god. They came, they saw, they conquered. Catch them next on tour with DESTRUCTION over the next month in North America – and hopefully hitting Europe during the summer time.

Setlist:
1. Rising
2. Slave to the Sword
3. Immortality Made Flesh
4. Foe Hammer
5. Kneel Before the Steel
6. Moonlight Sonata (Act 3)
7. Freewheel Burning
8. Triumph by Fire
9. Wrath of Vengeance

Hometown heroes LICH KING finished the night in professional splendor and their own unique sense of humor. Drummer Brian Westbrook started the set adorning a digital camera strapped to his head, still pounding the kit at breakneck speed. Tom's normal range is a lot of parts John Connelly, and somewhat Sean Killian-esque in others. Both guitarists can capably move from speed to mid-tempo 'mosh'/ groove with little trouble, making their originals such as "Combat Mosh" and "Axe Cop" delightful. They also broke out a cover of EXODUS' "The Toxic Waltz" , another circle pit favorite ensuring 'good friendly violent fun' for all. Guest guitarists and bassists would sit in for a track or two, and the audience slammed, screamed, and left happy for the display of thrash 101 LICH KING put on.

Setlist:
1. Slave Wage
2. Attack of the Wrath of the War of the Death of the Strike of the Sword of the Blood of the Beast
3. Axe Cop
4. Lich King V: Stalemate
5. The Toxic Waltz (Exodus cover)
6. Lich King III (World Gone Dead)
7. Combat Mosh
8. We Came to Conquer

All in all, another spectacular night that proves that newer bands can go toe to toe with these veterans, especially in small out of the way places where the audience clamors for Metal. Support talent, do your part – keep the movement alive.