Tyler Rockin' the Park review - 4.29.06
Reviewer - BrokenKeith

Tyler Rockin' The Park was undoubtedly the biggest event ever for Tyler metal. With over 500 people in attendence and coverage by the local news, this event has served to open the eyes of many in the area as to what we metalheads are capable of.

Due to last minute ordinances by Tyler PD (very unproffesional to wait until the day before the show I might add), the show was moved from a noon starting time to 2pm. While the event was suppose to end at nine, it was ordered to cease at seven thirty.

The crowd was still there in mass when the first band This Is Forever, took the stage. This four-peice came out with a sound that could be compared to Coheed and Cambria, very tight, but not too interesting to the crowd. The vocals were solid, as was the guitar work, but the tone and sound were not in their favor.

Next up was The Sterling, a local alt-rock band with a poppy feel and a strong fanbase. Some of the guys instantly won over the female fans by taking the stage in workout shorts and no shirts. They were very tight and got some of the crowd more into their sound than did the previous band, but were still ignored by a moajority of the metal fans.

Concieved in Kaos was the third band of the day and had the honor of riling up the very first real pit of the afternoon. Pretty talented guys that had a heavy style comparable to Mudvayne and Machinehead. The rythm of bass and drums underneath was very dominant throughout the set. The singer, or mainly screamer I should say, did have a good range and a lot of power. Some of their set didn't stand out so well and was a bit bland, but they did have many moments where groove and technicality shined brightly. I have seen these guys before, but I will say that this was there best performance so far, which goes to show what the rush of a big crowd can do for a musician.

The next band is a new one in the area, Laid To Waste. Featuring Aaron, formerly of Beneath The Black Sky on drums, and first time vocalist Kody from Tyler, this band presented material that sounded like a band with more than a few years under it's belt. They definatly have a lot of potential to be the next big thing in extreme metal around East Texas. Various infuences shine here, from hardcore to black metal. Kody's vocals are very similar in style to both Himsa and Lamb of God. Also of note is the strength of songwriting, very few dull moments in any verse, bridge or breakdown. You can tell they take their material very seriously. Look for these guys to be DFW ready very soon.

The fifth band was some friends of mine I haven't seen in a while, Cinder Cell. These guys are ready to make a name for themselves around here. Very catchy alternative metal, with influences ranging form Breaking Benjamen to Killswitch Engage. Do they sound mainstream, yes! But they surely don't suck. Very catchy riffs that can get anyone's head to bang and chorus's that everyone can sing/scream to. While the singer can still have a few flat moments here and there, there has been some vast improvement over the years, due to nonstop gigging around East Texas. Songs such as "Window" and "Shades Of Violence" are already stuck in the minds of those who came to the show.

The sexiest band in Longview, My Plastic Friends, followed Cinder Cell with a similar style, but a lot heavier and more deliberate delivery. This five-peice started their set with every member playing while standing stiff as a board. But when the first breakdown occured, so did the high-flying kicks and guitar swings! These guys (and Ruth) know how to move a crowd. Jonathon showed that he has all the makings of a true rock lead singer; flashy, always moving, never stopping for a minute. The band also showed the ability to play through adversity, with Dreadlock dropping his bass after a third attempt at a spin broke the strap, sending the bass to ground hard on it's head. MPF troopered on and won many a new fan in Tyler.

The main supporting band got the crowds full attention the minute they took the stage. Halo Down's following in Tyler has few rivals. It was all I could do to keep the nuts off stage while the band set up and played. The guys were in rare form today as the crowd was now near the 500 mark. The mix of dark groove and tight rythm had the girls swinging and all the guys moshing. After powering through "Circus Freaks" and debuting the new song "Dirty" (to the pleasure of many sexy ladies in the crowd), Halo Down invited the entire crowd onstage to rock out as they performed "Horns And Halo's". It was definately a memorable moment for a band that has always carried a flag for Tyler metal. Oh, and if I may be so bold, Wolf has got to be one of the most unique and entertaining bassists around, period!

And then came the main eventers, Derision. Not letting all the other great bands show them up at their own show, these guys launched straight into cuts from their newly released CD "The Fear". The crowd never let up for one moment, even after many long hours in the sun. Derision's highights included "The Fear, "Reflection", and Kody from Laid To Waste joining them for "Written In Flames." They are honestly everything that is still good about the metalcore genre, as their style is on par with that of Killswitch Engage and God Forbid. Jordan's vocals flow easily from ballsy screams to beautiful (but manly) melodics. And what can I say bout Kendrick's stage energy that people don't already know, the kid is a freak! Bringing the show to a close, the guys were ready to depart when the crowd urged them back for one more song, and they were glad to oblige with a rendition of "Domination" by Pantera. Very tastefully done might I add.

There you have it. Despite all the setbacks that occured that tried to derail the show, it was a great event for the community and all the fans desperate for some metal here in Tyler. And look for a lot of these bands when they come to DFW in the next few months!