Eyehategod

The highlight of the first day of MDF 2012 was seeing New Orleans sludge metallers Eyehategod. For Canadian fans in attendance, this was a must-see, since a series of drug charges within the band have prohibited them from ever going north of the border. The crowd roared as the legendary frontman Mike Williams graced the stage sporting an ironic T-shirt with "Police" spelled across it, demanding that the bright lights facing the stage be turned off. A long, feedback-laden intro ensued before the band kicked into a raw surge of groovy, blues-influenced riffs, courtesy of mesmerizing guitarists Jimmy Bower and Brian Patton, whose guitar work seems to reach out a grab hold of you with amazing force. Williams's tortured vocal screams were menacing throughout and his laid-back stage presence was still commanding, particularly during "Sisterfucker (Part I)" from Eyehategod's 1993 classic Take as Needed for Pain. The band also performed a new track, titled "New Orleans Is the New Vietnam," which proved that not only do the NOLA sludge masters bring it live, evoking chaos amongst the crowd, but they also have the chops to write some nasty stuff.