Ozzfest's metal is light on wizardry
MANSFIELD -- Ozzfest was once the hot alternative summer festival. Tuesday , when the heavy- metal circus, now in its 11th year, rolled into town for its annual stop at the Tweeter Center, there was no denying the heat. But little of it was generated by counter culture artistry.
Mostly, it was simply scorching: Over the course of the daylong festival, the emergency medical station became an encampment for recovering black-clad fans. (One girl's black vinyl ensemble made scarily little sense in 90-plus degree heat.)
Onstage, band after band played on heavy-metal stereotypes. Except, that is, for System of a Down, which took the penultimate spot on the main stage and provided Ozzfest with its buzz this year: The Los Angeles quartet's appearances on this tour are reportedly its last before an undefined hiatus. System of a Down, which has played Ozzfest four times now, certainly has many metal hallmarks: bombast, histrionics, mania. But it's the astutely crafted intricacies that make the band's music genuinely thrilling.
Singer Serj Tankian abruptly switched from slow, maudlin passages to speedy falsetto to dramatically wailed Eastern European scales. Guitarist and songwriter Daron Malakian, who added lead vocals to some songs, didn't just rely on the usual speedy riffing and throaty chugging. He also plucked at his guitar to create surf riffs and fashioned syncopated reggae chords.
Disturbed attempted a more melodic metal sound that fell astoundingly flat. UK quintet DragonForce opened the main stage and revisited some Anthrax-esque speed metal that, though adept, was derivative and showy.
Later, Avenged Sevenfold looked back to heavy metal 's mid-'80s heyday and struck up soaring anthems reminiscent of Iron Maiden.
Italy's Lacuna Coil promised an update, what with its industrial and, at times, pop edge. But the outfit became lost in sludgy guitar riffs and turgid rhythms. New England hard - core favorites Hatebreed laid it out more simply and effectively: Their succession of fast, hard songs were uncompromising and brutal.
Never a critics' favorite, Ozzy Osbourne's closing performance was one of only a dozen dates the 57-year-old singer is playing on this year's Ozzfest. He wasn't out to break new ground or impress anyone but the faithful.
He was his lovable, nervous self and whipped up the crowd with his beloved old numbers, such as set closer ``Crazy Train." It's a good tune with plenty more mileage in it -- not something easily assumed about Ozzy. But with just about every seat in the amphitheatre filled, it's clear that his faithful fans aren't going anywhere.
