CONCERT VIDEO FOOTAGE: DISTURBED AT SHAW CONFERENCE CENTER DECEMBER 2nd 2008

As promised, here are the videos of the Disturbed concert, a look into what goes on at these events for the uninitiated.

Regrettably, some of the videos mostly of Disturbed are quite shaky or in some cases cut short, simply because that the only place any self respecting metalhead belongs is in the mosh pit. In this case the pit was the whole crowd, an angry sea of humanity, making smooth video capture and standing at the same time quite difficult.

I'm pretty sizeable but when you get a crowd going like Disturbed did, there is nothing stopping them from pushing you around, you'll notice that this is made evident by how much closer each video seems to get to the stage. It was controlled chaos and anyone who has been to a metal show knows this, for those who do not, this will be a glimpse into the inner sanctum that is the mosh pit.

Enjoy nonetheless, it was well worth the superficial wounds and minor injuries to bring the proud Edmontonian metalhead this footage.
If you have video of your own from the event and want to share, fire it in the Forge and email it to me @ THEFORGEOFHEAVYMETAL.GMAIL.COM

Click the title below to enjoy
ART OF DYING-GET THROUGH THIS
EGYPT CENTRAL-WALLS OF INNOCENCE
EGYPT CENTRAL-TAKING YOU DOWN
EGYPT CENTRAL-YOU MAKE ME SICK
DISTURBED-ENTRANCE/PERFECT INSANITY
DISTURBED-PRAYER
DISTURBED-LAND OF CONFUSION
DISTURBED-DEIFY
DISTURBED-INSIDE THE FIRE
DISTURBED-STRICKEN

TALKING WITH TENNESSEE PHARAOHS: AN INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS D'ABALDO OF EGYPT CENTRAL

This past Tuesday Disturbed undisputedly tore the roof off Shaw Conference Center. One of the bands leading them into battle that night was Egypt Central, a relatively unknown band in the mainstream consciousness. After their set, The Forge had an opportunity to talk with Chris D'Abaldo, one of the two guitarists in the band. If Chris looks familiar, he was once a member of Saliva back in the "Click Click Boom!" days, he left the band in 2005 for "creative differences" and after a short time, hooked up with the guys in Egypt Central and has been with them ever since.

Chris was not feeling so good the night of the performance, he said he got sick just before they hit Canada, which led to my first question...

J.R. With you feeling so bad, what gives you the strength to shake it off and give such an energetic performance?

Chris Well, its the music mostly, and the fans, the audience really gives you the energy.

J.R. So its like you feed off each other?

Chris Oh yeah, for sure.

J.R. Alright, some of the fans tonight have been wondering, who exactly is the lead guitarist, because you're both so active and up front.

Chris *laughs* Oh, thats definitely Heath, he's definitely the lead.

J.R. Now that we have that straightened out, what are some of your musical influences personally outside of the genre, outside of metal?

Chris Pink Floyd

J.R. So you like the more melodic stuff or...?

Chris Well, sort of and also get alot from Hip Hop.

J.R. Really? what aspects of Hip Hop influence you?

Chris Its the beat, there was always a lot of good rap coming out of Memphis, like Three 6 Mafia.

J.R. Speaking of Memphis, thats a very music oriented town, did you find that that was a hindrance or a help for you guys (Egypt Central) when you started out?

Chris Well yeah, in some ways there was just so much out there, in Memphis theres a ton of bands but no representation, and its even harder to get exposure in cities like Nashville too, its a little tough.

J.R. Final question, your favourite animal in the animal kingdom! and GO!

Chris *after a brief pause* Lion, for sure, actually any big cat, because its like when you play a video game, you look at the characters stats and you see some are good at one thing and another one is good at another, I like characters who are even, they're a good balance of everything, like big cats.

We parted ways as friends, brothers in metal, and hopefully the arctic winds that brought them here the first time will bring them back this way again in the near future. For more info on Egypt Central check out their site at http://www.egyptcentral.net/

In the meantime, keep those horns high!

OUTSIDE THE COLD, "INSIDE THE FIRE!"

Who: DISTURBED with EGYPT CENTRAL and ART OF DYING

Where: SHAW Conference Center

When: Tuesday, December 2nd


Metalheads of all shape, size, and age were "Stupify'd" last night, as they came to watch Alt-Metal juggernauts, Disturbed, take the stage and raise "Ten Thousand Fists" in their name.

Spawned by Illinois' windy city, the Chicago quartet has accomplished much in their twelve year run, most notably of which, being one of six rock bands that can make the claim of having three consecutive number one albums. It should seem only fitting the band choose the title Indestructible for their latest release.

Warming up the crowd last night were relative newcomers from Vancouver, BC, Art of Dying and Memphis Tennessee five piece, Egypt Central.

Art of Dying's "green" status came through in their opening performance, of all the acts, they were the least engaging and interactive, giving the impression they were trying, but still had yet to master their stage presence. One fan was quoted as saying that they were "a less talented version of SpineShank" an obscure reference but an accurate one.

Coming from a music driven city like Memphis, it came as no surprise that the next act, Egypt Central, took the stage with tremendous ferocity, animation and energy. Between lead singer, John "Jack Sparrow" Falls' powerful and uplifting lyrical resonations and the tag team effort of guitarists Heath Hindman and Chris D'Abaldo, the crowd finally began to bristle with energy, like a human thundercloud. With songs like "You Make Me Sick," "Different," and "Taking You Down" you couldn't help but think that you may see these boys again, next time as headliners themselves.

Minutes later, the stage was literally set, and a stillness set over the crowd, the calm before the torrential storm to come. It grows black, the crowd roars with anticipation, the shadowy wave of a black stage curtain falls to the stage, bathed in red light emerging alone from this abyss is Disturbed front man David Draiman, restrained in a straightjacket, afixed with a face mask a la Hannibal Lecter. An attendant wheels him to center stage, quickly removes the jacket whilst moving away himself as if setting free some terrible Jabberwocky-like terror. With the mask still on his face, David raises his hands not surprisingly leading into their song "Perfect Insanity".

This grand entrance would set the tone for the rest of the evening, iconic songs such as "Liberate", "Deify", "The Game", their cover of Journey "Shout 2000", and of course the title track of the new album release "Indestructible" kept the masses standing before them in a constant state of fervor. The song list never seemed to let up, allowing the audience to jump around wildly, mosh relentlessly, and as lead vocalist David even exclaimed himself "release our frustrations and anger" that night without impedement.

After a false conclusion to their show, they took the stage one last time ending the evening with an encore consisting of "Stricken" and their controversial song "Inside the Fire" which is the tale of a young man whose girlfriend commits suicide and in his grief, is visited by the devil, who tries to convince the young man to take his own life so that he may be with her again in Hell. This song comes from a very personal place for front man Draiman, as it is based on events in his real life.

Despite the macabre undertones of the closing songs, the crowd was sated and most went home very pleased with the performance, anxiously awaiting the next time Edmonton will come "Down with the Sickness".