Metal Allegiance Live at The Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, CA 01/09/2016

Metal Allegiance is composed of a changing roster of members, united under the premise of Metal Unity, and combines the talents of incredible musicians from all facets of Hard Rock and Metal styles of music.

Started a year ago, the brainchild of Mark Menghi, powerhouse members from other Metal acts were brought in to fill the fundamental roles and relish in the act of playing music together.

Initially playing covers, both songs that influenced them but also songs from their respective main projects, soon gave way to original material. Their debut album came out last year and is a masterpiece of Metal music showcasing some of the best talent on the planet.

Already a special experience to see this type of show, the evening was also part of the Memorial festivities of the Late, Great Lemmy Kilmister who passed away recently, but left an undeniable impact in the global music scene and paved the way for modern Hard Rock and especially Metal music.

The concert was basically broken into two parts: the main Metal Allegiance set and then the Tribute to Lemmy which was a second set in its own right, and drew a number of additional special guests that have not been a part of Metal Allegiance prior.

The core of Metal Allegiance lies with its instrumental foundations. Pairing phenomenal musicians in both bass and lead guitar, we have the aforementioned Mark Menghi on bass, in addition to the impressive low end architecture of David Ellefson of Megadeth fame.

In the lead department, the jaw dropping licks and riffage of Alex Skolnick from a favorite band of mine, Testament, barrels head to head with blazing axe-man, Phil Demmel of Machine Head.

Putting the pound in the Metal, Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater and other projects slams out the drums and rounds out the insane talent and power on stage. The album features numerous vocalists and on this night we get to see two of the best perform for us.

Frontmen of great talent in their respective bands Death Angel and Mastodon, Mark Osegueda and Troy Sanders, traded off vocal duties and performed together on a couple of songs as well.

I have seen Death Angel numerous times in the past and think they are awesome but this is my first time seeing Troy perform and he was really captivating and really fun. You could tell that everyone on stage was having a great time.

The setlist for the main Metal Allegiance performance was a great mix of classic, inspirational Metal anthems from some of the best bands of all time as well as a number of their original songs.

The opener was one of my favorite Judas Priest songs, "Electric Eye" sang expertly by Mark. They led directly into the intricate instrumental, "Ides of March" by Iron Maiden. Troy took the stage for a smashing rendition of "Creeping Death" by Metallica with the entire audience singing along.

Mike Portnoy said a few words about what Metal Allegiance was all about but also to commemorate the fallen Lemmy and his influence on everyone present.

Mark switched spots with Troy as did the bass players and they did one of their original tracks, "Can't Kill The Devil". On the album this song is performed by Chuck Billy of Testament who has one of the best voices in Thrash Metal out there. Mark Osegueda did a great job taking on the song and had everyone singing along.

Vocal duties switched again and Troy sang for the track he performed on the album, "Let Darkness Fall". This song became an instant anthem for me when I first heard the CD and it was great to see it live. The chorus, "No Way Out! No one cares..." was a great sing along. This was one of the highlights for me of the night.

Mark returned to the stage as the Munchkin-esque dwarves chanting came over the speakers giving away the next song, a cover of Accept's hit, "Fast As A Shark".

This led directly into the impeccable rendition of "Heaven & Hell" which Mark has pulled off before. I was really hoping they would do this, as his voice on this song is so awesome, Ronnie would have been proud. The entire audience sang every word with him and it was a very powerful moment.

They introduced a special guest for the next song, Andreas Kisser of Sepultura came out on stage with his guitar and they played a cover of one of his songs, "Territory". It was huge and chugging and required mandatory head banging, the three guitarists and Dave on bass had the floor rumbling as Troy belted out the lyrics.

Troy and Mark joined forces for the next song. One of their original creations, Mark announced that this song was voiced by legendary frontman, Phil Anselmo on the album and that it was called "Dying Song".

I love this song on the album and I am a huge Pantera fan but I have to say, Mark and Troy made this even cooler live than it is on the album. Another freaking goose bump moment here.

Mark introduced the next song as their anthem. Their Manifesto, if you will. He said it is about not fitting in, like a kid at a new school who knows no one, but wears a certain patch, or pin and someone else notices and opens up to them.

They don't fit in but they are together, no judgements, just like-minded interests that unite us. That is Metal Allegiance. They are together for the love of music, the love of Metal, and joy of playing it. He said not just the people on the stage but all of us in the audience are part of that Allegiance. The song was called "Pledge of Allegiance" and kicked ass.

Mark introduced the next song as being from the band that was at the beginning of it all for everyone on stage, Black Sabbath. I also am a big fan and wouldn't know where to start selecting my favorite song but they chose a great one with "Into The Void".

Mark is quite aggressive in his own project but when he sings a bit more melodic like he did for this cover, it is quite staggering how awesome his voice can sound. Don't get me wrong, I like his aggressive style but I love this other side where he captures the mood and style of old Ozzy and Dio perfectly.

Troy swapped with Mark and led the charge on a fun version of "Running With The Devil" which we all loved immensely. Everyone left the stage except Alex who did a rendition of "Eruption", also by Van Halen, that was simply blistering.

He was so fast, so good it was mind boggling. Alex is a force in his own right and while I absolutely love Testament, I have to say I didn't realize how amazing he was until tonight, as he got to really play up so many different aspects and styles and he was loving it, you can tell and that only feeds the audience that much more.

Mark came back out and they finished up the main set with a hilarious cover of AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie". It was such a light-hearted moment compared to the darker stuff I really love but I have to say it put a huge smile on my face and was a great way to end the show.

Mark said they were going to take a break and then come back with a special set dedicated to Lemmy. Check out some more pictures from the main show below as you scroll down to check out all the details of an even more amazing lineup than above!




			Metal Allegiance Live at The Whisky a Go Go Featuring a Special Tribute to Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead Los Angeles, CA January 9th, 2016 Review and photos by Travis Baumann Metal Allegiance is composed of a changing roster of members, united under the premise of Metal Unity, and combines the talents of incredible musicians from all facets of Hard Rock and Metal styles of music. Started a year ago, the brainchild of Mark Menghi, powerhouse members from other Metal acts were brought in to fill the fundamental roles and relish in the act of playing music together. Initially playing covers, both songs that influenced them but also songs from their respective main projects, soon gave way to original material. Their debut album came out last year and is a masterpiece of Metal music showcasing some of the best talent on the planet. Already a special experience to see this type of show, the evening was also part of the Memorial festivities of the Late, Great Lemmy Kilmister who passed away recently, but left an undeniable impact in the global music scene and paved the way for modern Hard Rock and especially Metal music. The concert was basically broken into two parts: the main Metal Allegiance set and then the Tribute to Lemmy which was a second set in its own right, and drew a number of additional special guests that have not been a part of Metal Allegiance prior. The core of Metal Allegiance lies with its instrumental foundations. Pairing phenomenal musicians in both bass and lead guitar, we have the aforementioned Mark Menghi on bass, in addition to the impressive low end architecture of David Ellefson of Megadeth fame. In the lead department, the jaw dropping licks and riffage of Alex Skolnick from a favorite band of mine, Testament, barrels head to head with blazing axe-man, Phil Demmel of Machine Head. Putting the pound in the Metal, Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater and other projects slams out the drums and rounds out the insane talent and power on stage. The album features numerous vocalists and on this night we get to see two of the best perform for us. Frontmen of great talent in their respective bands Death Angel and Mastodon, Mark Osegueda and Troy Sanders, traded off vocal duties and performed together on a couple of songs as well. I have seen Death Angel numerous times in the past and think they are awesome but this is my first time seeing Troy perform and he was really captivating and really fun. You could tell that everyone on stage was having a great time. The setlist for the main Metal Allegiance performance was a great mix of classic, inspirational Metal anthems from some of the best bands of all time as well as a number of their original songs. The opener was one of my favorite Judas Priest songs, "Electric Eye" sang expertly by Mark. They led directly into the intricate instrumental, "Ides of March" by Iron Maiden. Troy took the stage for a smashing rendition of "Creeping Death" by Metallica with the entire audience singing along. Mike Portnoy said a few words about what Metal Allegiance was all about but also to commemorate the fallen Lemmy and his influence on everyone present. Mark switched spots with Troy as did the bass players and they did one of their original tracks, "Can't Kill The Devil". On the album this song is performed by Chuck Billy of Testament who has one of the best voices in Thrash Metal out there. Mark Osegueda did a great job taking on the song and had everyone singing along. Vocal duties switched again and Troy sang for the track he performed on the album, "Let Darkness Fall". This song became an instant anthem for me when I first heard the CD and it was great to see it live. The chorus, "No Way Out! No one cares..." was a great sing along. This was one of the highlights for me of the night. Mark returned to the stage as the Munchkin-esque dwarves chanting came over the speakers giving away the next song, a cover of Accept's hit, "Fast As A Shark". This led directly into the impeccable rendition of "Heaven & Hell" which Mark has pulled off before. I was really hoping they would do this, as his voice on this song is so awesome, Ronnie would have been proud. The entire audience sang every word with him and it was a very powerful moment. They introduced a special guest for the next song, Andreas Kisser of Sepultura came out on stage with his guitar and they played a cover of one of his songs, "Territory". It was huge and chugging and required mandatory head banging, the three guitarists and Dave on bass had the floor rumbling as Troy belted out the lyrics. Troy and Mark joined forces for the next song. One of their original creations, Mark announced that this song was voiced by legendary frontman, Phil Anselmo on the album and that it was called "Dying Song". I love this song on the album and I am a huge Pantera fan but I have to say, Mark and Troy made this even cooler live than it is on the album. Another freaking goose bump moment here. Mark introduced the next song as their anthem. Their Manifesto, if you will. He said it is about not fitting in, like a kid at a new school who knows no one, but wears a certain patch, or pin and someone else notices and opens up to them. They don't fit in but they are together, no judgements, just like-minded interests that unite us. That is Metal Allegiance. They are together for the love of music, the love of Metal, and joy of playing it. He said not just the people on the stage but all of us in the audience are part of that Allegiance. The song was called "Pledge of Allegiance" and kicked ass. Mark introduced the next song as being from the band that was at the beginning of it all for everyone on stage, Black Sabbath. I also am a big fan and wouldn't know where to start selecting my favorite song but they chose a great one with "Into The Void". Mark is quite aggressive in his own project but when he sings a bit more melodic like he did for this cover, it is quite staggering how awesome his voice can sound. Don't get me wrong, I like his aggressive style but I love this other side where he captures the mood and style of old Ozzy and Dio perfectly. Troy swapped with Mark and led the charge on a fun version of "Running With The Devil" which we all loved immensely. Everyone left the stage except Alex who did a rendition of "Eruption", also by Van Halen, that was simply blistering. He was so fast, so good it was mind boggling. Alex is a force in his own right and while I absolutely love Testament, I have to say I didn't realize how amazing he was until tonight, as he got to really play up so many different aspects and styles and he was loving it, you can tell and that only feeds the audience that much more. Mark came back out and they finished up the main set with a hilarious cover of AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie". It was such a light-hearted moment compared to the darker stuff I really love but I have to say it put a huge smile on my face and was a great way to end the show. Mark said they were going to take a break and then come back with a special set dedicated to Lemmy. Check out some more pictures from the main show below as you scroll down to check out all the details of an even more amazing lineup than above!







					After a brief pause, the band came back down to the stage. Mark Osegueda talked briefly about what a huge influence Lemmy Kilmister had on the music world and more importantly, everyone in the room and on that stage. They started off the tribute set with the awesome "Killed By Death" which sounded great. Mark introduced two special guests for the next song, John Tempesta from White Zombie and The Cult, who would play drums, and his brother Mike would add additional guitars. Both Dave and Mark played bass, and Alex and Phil handled the guitar assault. Troy sang, "We Are The Road Crew", another classic song. Mike Portnoy said that the first song he really fell in love with double kick drums was "Overkill" and to help them commemorate the song, the man who did amazing things with double kicks was coming to the stage, Dave Lombardo. People in the audience started chanting "Slayer, Slayer.." as he came down to take over the drum kit. Already a very impressive tribute and tons of fun for everyone involved, things were only going to get more interesting yet. For the next song Andrea Kisser returned to the stage but then they announced another special guest as Corey Taylor of Slipknot/Stone Sour fame came down to the stage. He said that Lemmy was one of the biggest influences in his life and that he was honored to have been able to actually be his friend as well as his fan. They did an awesome cover of "Iron Fist" which has always been, and remains my favorite Motorhead track of all time. Wait, it gets better. At this point Mikkey Dee himself from Motorhead came on stage. Corey started a chant of "Holy Shit!" which went on for some time. Finally everyone quieted down and Mikkey said that he was honored to have known Lemmy and be part of his band and asked everyone for 15 seconds of silence. Despite a rowdy, drunken crowd they complied and it was a touching moment for everyone. Mikkey then took to the drums with additional assistance from Dave Lombardo, Mike Portnoy, and John Tempesta all at once. They did a blazing cover of "The Chase" led once again by Corey Taylor. Mikkey thanked everyone and the audience chanted "Mikkey! Mikkey!" as he left the stage. Corey and the entire band were all smiles at this point, the excitement overflowing from the stage and throughout the entire venue. We could all feel it, we were witnessing something that was a one of a kind moment. It wont be repeated, not with the same energy even if it was attempted. It was truly a fitting tribute and memorial for The Man. They had time for one more and Corey was going to lead the charge. It would end with the most cited, most played, most known Motörhead song of all time, "Ace of Spades". Everyone sang along, on stage and in the audience, giving one last burst of energy in honor of Lemmy. It was really pretty awesome. Corey left the stage and Troy and Mark returned. They said a few words about Lemmy, it being a time of sadness but also celebration of his life and legacy. Everyone returned to the stage for one last song, a cover of the awesome "Seek and Destroy" by Metallica. What started out as seven guys at times now flooded the entire stage to many more. One last call out of the roster as they assembled for an insane anthem: Alex Skolnick, Phil Demmel, and Andrea Kisser on guitar, Mark Menghi and Dave Ellefson on bass, Mike Portnoy on drums along with Troy Sanders and Mark Osegueda on main vocals but soon joined by Corey Taylor as well as Dino Cazares from Fear Factory on backing vocals. It was epic! Finally it came to an end. Over two full hours of amazing talent and a room full of smiles. Troy Sanders at one point commented, "I see a lot of smiles out there. For me, that just was one of the best musical experiences of my life". Yeah... that pretty much sums it up.


























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