By the time the gates opened for day three of Sonic Temple, the weather had taken a definitive turn for the warmer. The sun beat down relentlessly when it peeked between towering cumulus clouds, and the same rays that would have been welcome on Day Two soon became scorching and inescapable.
Mike’s Dead and VUKOVI opened the festival at noon sharp, drawing in the early crowds that waited at the entry gates, and happily entertaining the initially enthused thousands that would soon become eager tens of thousands on the festival’s biggest and busiest day.
Despite their set being pushed back more than an hour from when it was originally scheduled, Flat Black opened the Temple Stage for the third day of the festival, and these hard rockers took the steadily growing crowd in stride. Formed by ex-Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Jason Hook, these performers seemed happy to work the stage and the crowd they had. Handling bass duties was Nick Diltz, staying close to the mic stand to provide backing vocals while Wes Horton roamed a bit more freely. As for Hook, he seemed liberated by the freedom Flat Black offered, shredding happily away in front of the band’s black and red logo with the weight of his experience elevating each riff.
Empire State Bastard brought an agitated feistiness to the increasingly warm afternoon. Vocalist Simon Neil took to Sanctuary Stage in nothing but a pair of black shorts while his bandmate Mike Vennart sported a stylish mint-green button up. Their sound bounced between a modern sludge-tinged blend and more old-school heavy metal stylings, the latter delivered by Vennart’s practiced hand. Neil had no qualms with throwing himself around on stage, dramatically pounding away at the keyboard with one hand while clenching his mic in the other, sometimes even dropping to the stage as he sang and ran his palm along the keys. With Neils’ unbounded energy bouncing off of Vennart’s more tempered attitude, it was a fun performance for all who were watching.
This eclectic chaos was contrasted by the rock-minded Living Colour on the Temple Stage, their measured approach putting their collective talents on full display. This quartet were all smiles as the sun beat down upon them and the respite of any clouds retreated. Their outfits shone in the golden rays, from Corey Glover’s bright yellow tracksuit to Doug Wimbish’s sequined black top. This was a visual feast to behold, from the costuming to the musicianship, and there was no greater joy than watching Vernon Reid’s expert hands dance along the strings. “Sailin’ On” featured a smooth melody wrapped up the bleachers with as much comfort as excitement. Living Colour has certainly joined the fold of Sonic Temple’s hard rockers known for their bright musicality, spirited attitudes, and charming stage presence.
Kittie, busy stalking across the Cathedral Stage, brought something of a much heavier flavor with their death-wrought growls. Adorned in black and eye-catching metallic accessories, this crushingly heavy act was all ferocity from the moment they opened with “Eyes Wide Open.” Red lights wreathed the Lander sisters and their bandmates in a bright blaze as they brought their newest single “Vultures” to life. These grooves and death-inspired quartet gave just a small sample of the extremity to come later in the day, but Kittie held their own as one of the most exciting bands of the morning.
Pop-infused rock ignited the main stage with the arrival of Starset. Boasting the most impressive stage setup of Day Three – including massive risers, expansive pyrotechnics, raised platforms, and an elaborate light show – these rockers made sure Sonic Temple was treated to a live performance that was simply out of this world. Essential hits like “Carnivore” saw mosh pits form on either side of the stage, while vocalist Dustin Bates leapt across platforms on light feet. The performance was elevated by the presence of live cello and violin, both touring musicians situated high atop the tallest platform, their strings coming crisp through the massive stadium speakers.
It was magical to hear deep cello notes weave between the bleachers while the synth laid down its bright melodies. There was no shortage of singalong opportunities as the band bounced from the latest single “Brave New World” to the beloved hit “Monster.” Between the flames and the dazzling lights, and across the coordinated outfits and carefully orchestrated theatrics, it was easy to see why Starset have catapulted to the very forefront of the alternative metal scene.
Starset’s performance highlighted some of the unsung heroes of Sonic Temple: the crew that made such a massive endeavor possible. The lights, sound, and pyrotechnics don’t happen from sheer will alone. Massive crews of dedicated technicians and crew have worked all day and night at Sonic Temple to bring each band’s live vision to life. Within the span of an hour, these crew members tear down and erect anew entire sets, preparing both the sound and the visuals, and make sure all is safe for the artists to perform. While they’re often out of sight making the magic happen, without the crew’s dedication, festivals like Sonic Temple would be impossible.
Another juxtaposition between the pop-rock and heavy-metal factions of Sonic Temple arose when Lacuna Coil took to the Sanctuary Stage, just a short walk away from Starset’s star-studded sonic proposition. Lacuna Coil were just as visually engaging as their rocking counterparts with a barrage of red and white lights that cut through the afternoon sun and soaked Cristina Scabbia in a captivating display. Coordinated outfits enhanced the show by allowing musicianship to shine, particularly the charismatic back-and-forth between Scabbia and the band’s other vocalist, Andrea Ferro. While those two dueled across their vocal lines, drummer Richard Meiz tore into the kit as if to rip it apart. Heavy appetites were certainly satisfied by a track list that included songs from across their discography, including their more gothic fare, but incessantly inspired all attendees to headbang.
One of the long weekend’s highly anticipated sets was delivered by Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm. After an extended hiatus, Lacey Sturm has recently rejoined the band, and they have again taken their nostalgic brand of alternative music on the road. Guitarist Sameer Bhattacharya sported a bright blue guitar and absolutely ripped into each song, shredding like his life depended on it, and clearly soaking up attention from a hungry crowd. Adept drumming from James Culpepper carried Sturm through the heights of “Chasm” while shining in his own right on “Fire Fire.” The band’s set also included their cover of Nine Inch Nail’s “Something I Can Never Have.”
Breaking Benjamin have long been at the forefront of the alternative rock scene and are veterans of the summer festival season, and are familiar with what it means to play the main stage at events like Sonic Temple. This experience certainly guided them as they played on the Temple Stage, not so much as flinching as an unforgiving sun pink-tinged concertgoers in sweat. The heat was easily forgotten in light of anthemic hits like “So Cold” flowing like honey from Benjamin Burnley’s lips. This set was elevated by the appearance of Lacey Sturm on stage once again, this time as a guest vocalist on the hit track “Dear Agony” – a track recorded together for Breaking Benjamin’s Aurora album. The familiar embrace of Jasen Rauch’s well-placed melodies made these veteran rockers shine as bright as the sun until the closing hymn of “The Diary of Jane.”
After a barrage of early-afternoon hard rock and alternative bands, it was time for In Flames to open the pit and show Sonic Temple just how abrasive their brand of heavy metal could be. Feet pounded against the asphalt as the mosh pits raged, hands raised to catch an onslaught of crowd surfers, and In Flames vocalist Anders Fridén happily encouraged this enthusiastic violence. Current drummer Tanner Wayne kept up with a punishing pace through ripping tracks like “Everything’s Gone” and “Take This Life,” while guitarist Björn Gelotte laid down the riffage during “I Am Above.”
Although In Flames has a massive discography to choose from, and numerous eras with a different lineup than they currently sport, their festival set was tailored to ensuring that Sonic Temple had an amazing time moshing, cheering, and howling their lungs out along with Fridén. In Flames were the first taste of true extremity that the Sanctuary Stage would host on Day Three, soon to be rivaled by none other than Slaughter to Prevail.
But before Slaughter to Prevail could wreak havoc, it was time for both In This Moment and The Amity Affliction to shine on their respective stages. Another band that puts their theatrics front and center, In This Moment brought their visually engaging performance to the Cathedral Stage as concertgoers wandered between food vendors to seek sustenance after a long day of rocking – a day which, by the time of In This Moment’s set, was approximately half over. Maria Brink entertained with numerous outfits, shifting fluidly from the crisp veil of white to a striking red before surrendering to a deep black dress.
There was no band better to up the ante than the Russian deathcore band Slaughter to Prevail. Frontman Alex Terrible’s iconic mask was seen around Historic Crew Stadium throughout the day, sported by dozens of fans eager to show their devotion. And there is no question that Slaughter to Prevail were prepared to raze all that they could touch. After a spirited introduction by Sonic Temple’s MC, Liquid Metal’s Jose Mangin, Terrible and crew rushed to the stage in a furious rage. The guttural vocals from Terrible threatened to shatter the earth, and when he wasn’t busy screaming, he was inciting the crowd to mosh harder, scream louder, and all but tear each other apart.
The supporting musicians for this extreme act sported their familiar silver masks while Terrible’s own gold caught the setting sun with a fiery reflection. There is no question that the devastation Slaughter to Prevail wrought was the most intense of day three and that Terrible has proven himself again to be an absolute beast of a musician, ready to bring the brutality without a shred of reservation.
Staind drew in the crowd that didn’t quite have the appetite for Slaughter to Prevail’s extremity. Similar to their earlier compatriots in Breaking Benjamin, these hard rock veterans seemed comfortable on the main Temple Stage, particularly Aaron Lewis as he took his spot in the forefront as the banner sporting their logo dropped to the stage. They were predictably entertaining, including live staples like “So Far Away” and “Mudshovel,” maintaining a crisp sound that rivals the quality of their studio albums. And while they did not see the same blistering pyrotechnics or light displays as some of the other bands of the day, they had an array of screens with imagery that complemented their performance.
Even if Sleep Token are a bit camera shy, these anonymous masked musicians drew in the biggest crowd of Day Three by a mile. You couldn’t walk through Sonic Temple without bumping into thousands of festivalgoers in Sleep Token shirts, sporting Sleep Token tattoos, and carrying signs confessing their love and adoration for Vessel. Their extended set welcomed the night, and similarly pleased the eager masses that were more than ready to worship Sleep Token’s still-growing phenomenon.
Day Three’s headliners were none other than the mighty Pantera. The last time Pantera played in Columbus was 24 years ago, performing at Ozzfest in 2000. And while it has been more than 24 years since their last appearance, it is also noteworthy that the band has only played Columbus ten times, the first being in 1990. This made for an incredibly triumphant return, one which drew in the eager masses under the bright stadium lights of Historic Crew Stadium.
Giving a fitting tribute to the band’s original members and their undying legacy, Anselmo and company definitely know how to deliver one hell of a fiery show. Phil roamed around the stage, roaring his way through the songs that have made Pantera so enduring, including “Walk” and “Cowboys From Hell,” while Zakk Wylde, laid down riff after riff as he banged his head along with the crowd. The aforementioned rendition of "Walk" was peppered with a special moment, featuring backing vocals from Dimebag Darrell’s longtime partner Rita Haney and SiriusXM’s Jose Mangin.
It wouldn’t be a Pantera show without massive mosh pits and dozens of crowd surfers hoisted in the air, an organized chaos that Anselmo seemed happy to orchestrate. While Pantera has been forever changed in their lineup, their original legacy is honored by the band’s enduring spirit, as well as performances that continue to keep the spirit of heavy metal alive and well.
Tired, sunburnt, and undoubtedly satisfied by incredible performances, Sonic Temple festivalgoers filtered out of the exit gates with the knowledge that there is still one day of heavy music still awaiting them.
Special thanks to Samantha Buckman for her writing contributions to this article.
