BLACK LABEL SOCIETY AT THE WELLMONT THEATER IN MONTCLAIR

It was a beautiful night in November; clear skies, cool temperature, and the return of Black Label Society to their Montclair, NJ Chapter. Family and friends patiently waited for that huge BLS banner to drop from the ceiling and to hear the almighty Zakk Wylde & Crew do what they do best. Along with the support of Obituary and Prong, the “Doom Trooping Over North America” tour was sure to not disappoint.

The lights strobed, the audio effects hit each beat to the strobes, the Wellmont blasted “Whole Lotta Sabbath”, and fans sang along while waiting for the banner to drop. The intro would pour into “Bleed for Me” and the boys came out playing with excitement and dedication. Can you really ask for a better opening to a heavy metal show? This is a show simply for every music lover. The volume was turned all the way up like the beginning of Back to the Future, except no amps were blown here! Every instrument could be heard. Every drum beat to every chord played, to the vocals from Zakk, Dario Lorina, and John DeServio; absolutely crystal clear. The show’s lighting was filled with colors and non-stop eye catching effects. The décor was filled with skulls, to crosses, to some great visual feeds played behind the band (including an amazing tribute at one point). From the heavy metal hair rocking and head banging, to the solos of both Zakk Wylde and Dario Lorina, to Zakk himself taking a seat behind a Grand Piano; this was a show to bring the diehard fans as well as someone who may have never heard of BLS. From every aspect of what a concert is, Zakk Wylde and the Doom Crew knew how to deliver, and that they did.  Let’s not forget to mention the amazing tribute given to late friends Dimebag Darrell and his brother Vinnie Paul. You do not need to know all the words to the songs. You don’t have to know the names of the songs. You simply need to get yourself to a Black Label Society show and experience this pure awesomeness and magic for yourself. This, my friends, is talent and heart all poured into one hell of an amazing experience.

If you saw Black Label Society back in 2019 at the Wellmont Theater and you were on the second level, you would have been blessed with Zakk and Dario soloing and rocking out from the balcony edge. If you saw BLS this past Wednesday at the Wellmont Theater, you were treated with nonstop action from the stage with some eye catching and ear listening moments. From the amazing guitar solo and full band jams, to hearing some of the classics (“Stillborn”, “Destruction Overdrive”, “Bleed for Me”, “Suicide Messiah”). Simply put, look up BLS and see when they are playing at a venue close to you. Seeing Black Label Society live should be on every person’s bucket list.