Sonic Temple 2024: Final Day Recap

Any reduction the clouds of day three had supplied evaporated simply as rapidly as those self same clouds now retreated. As day 4 of Sonic Temple started, tens of 1000’s of concertgoers had been left to broil beneath the unyielding components and a vibrant spring solar. With the advantage of hindsight, the comforting gray shroud of day two had been a blessing in disguise, one which was now exchanged for an aggressive, brilliant solar alongside downright soupy humidity.

Australia’s rising star Kim Dracula appeared to don’t have any downside dealing with the warmth as they conquered the Cathedral Stage simply after midday. Initially rocketing to worldwide acclaim with their cowl of Girl Gaga’s “Paparazzi,” this artist has wasted no time in carving out a singular id for themselves with a refreshing mix of metallic, different rock, and lure. They started their set by throwing open the lid of a coffin that lay in entrance of the drum package, dragging themselves out like a corpse reanimated, their physique draped in adorned uniform jacket.

The guttural screams interspersed with nimbly-rapped verses are the staple of Kim Dracula’s fashion, and this expertise shone by on stage with songs like “Reunion and Reintegration” in addition to their breakout authentic hit “Make Me Well-known,” all met with raucous cheers. They embodied all of the hallmarks of a practiced performer as they stalked the stage, underwent costume modifications, and switched fluidly between numerous vocal kinds. It was clear to see what the quickly rising hype has been about.

Shortly thereafter, the mighty Plush joined the fold of all-female vocalists who carried out at Sonic Temple 2024, alongside each Kittie and L7. Though these rockers are younger, what you assume they’d lack in expertise they make it up for ten instances over in pure enthusiasm and a fun-loving angle.

Frontwoman Mariah Formica – the band’s singer, songwriter, and guitarist – gave a heat welcome to all attendees gathered earlier than opening up with a delightfully heavy set. This opening act isn’t any stranger to supporting heavy hitters like people who would seem later within the day 4 lineup. Their set was appropriately loaded with simply loved rock anthems, together with their Billboard Prime 40 charting track “Hate” and their cowl of Heart’s “Barracuda,” which has change into a setlist staple. Plush are recent artists with a nostalgia-inducing sound, and so they slot in on the Sonic Temple lineup like a long-missing puzzle piece.

On the essential Temple Stage, grungy nu-metallers Saliva wasted no time in making an already sweat-drenched viewers even hotter. The resounding cry of “click on, click on, BOOM!” echoed by Historic Crew Stadium, and numerous ft rattled the very bleachers that shielded 1000’s of others from the solar. This band was fast on their ft and much more fleet-fingered with their riffs, including a nice texture to the early afternoon with a canopy medley together with Eminem’s “Lose Your self” and Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls on Parade.”

As recognizable as these songs had been, they had been equally reworked to suit Saliva‘s aggressive and pleasantly filthy timbre. Whatever the solar of their eyes, they stored tempo with demanding drums and riffs and placed on an effortlessly crowd-pleasing set that gave new and outdated followers alike the possibility to sing alongside.

It is troublesome to make a pageant as huge as Sonic Temple really feel private and intimate, but Reignwolf frontman Jason Prepare dinner managed simply that through the band’s comparatively temporary set on the Cathedral Stage. With a nice contact of blues, this indie rock trio made the stage really feel nearer to the viewers on the barricade by pacing alongside the entrance of the stage, leaning down and reaching out to the group, smiling as the group reached again as much as them. “Are You Happy?” will be the band’s largest hit, however Prepare dinner made it the snug spotlight of the present as he lowered himself to the sting of the stage and let his ft dangle free, enjoying by the solo whereas seated and seemingly serene. It was obvious how a lot these musicians had been feeling their very own music, and it left a nice ambiance over the gathered plenty, if not calming when in comparison with the extra violent-inciting metallic acts that had come earlier than and would come after.

Crobot added a little bit of velocity and hearth to distinction Reignwolf‘s comforting embrace. The deep groove laid down by Pennsylvanian rockers Crobot was irresistible and certainly one of many performances on the pageant that includes visitor artist crossovers. There have been additionally few artists on day 4 as earnestly expressive as Crobot’s frontman Brandon Yeagley. From his smiles to his snarls, from his headbanging to his hip swaying, he was in continuous movement as he sang. This included his acrobatics as he jumped atop the shoulders of the band’s guitarist Chris Bishop, and staggered throughout the stage perched atop him.

Bassist Pat Seals was equally dynamic, leaning down deep in the direction of the displays whereas he plucked away on the thick strings of his bass, his face equally expressive to Yeagley. Nonetheless, Crobot saved the perfect for final, as their setlist nearer was a rendition of Turbonegro‘s “All My Mates Are Useless” with visitor appearances from L7’s bassist and vocalist Jennifer Finch alongside CYK‘s drummer, bassist, and guitarist, a mixture that turned a supercharged show of pandemonium power, for the delight of these witnessing it. It was unattainable to not stroll away from Crobot‘s set with a smile in your face, as they really embodied what soiled and feel-good rock n’ roll is about.

With a drum package as brilliant because the illuminated brand behind them, veteran punk band Bad Religion had been simply as recent and bright-sounding as if Sonic Temple had been put by a time machine. Vocalist and longtime member Greg Graffin made a number of digs on the band’s tenure however nonetheless belted out longtime favorites like “American Jesus” with obvious effortlessness. That punk spirit was alive and properly as Jamie Miller all however demolished the drum package whereas offering virtually continuous backing vocals. It was an awesome match for the principle stage, the type of music that simply sounded higher with a wall of audio system below the solar, and let songs like “Contaminated” fire up the group in all their glory.

The warmth of the day greeted different metallic band Of Mice & Men on the Cathedral Stage, no bushes or stadium buildings in attain to supply shade as a reprieve, however Sonic Temple’s attendees confirmed no signal of slowing down. Vocalist Aaron Pauley didn’t let the solar cease him from leaping and bounding throughout the stage, roaring together with his chest throughout aggressive verses, after which seamlessly main the group within the hovering choruses of acquainted songs. This set was punctuated by safety tearing open water bottles and spraying their contents throughout the headbangers sandwiched towards the barricade in anticipation of the units but to come back.

Mid-afternoon haze match with Red Fang’s fuzzy model of stoner rock. Regardless of the identify of the style, this band was something however sedate, crackling with power as sound exploded from their brilliant Orange-brand amps. The string-wielding fiends – Bryan Giles and Aaron Beam – developed an unbelievable texture as bandmate John Sherman beat away on the drums. It was an brisk and galvanizing set that matched the muggy summer-like day with an aural headiness that one couldn’t assist however sink into.

The next hour was hit after hit, with Royal Blood, While She Sleeps, Wage War, and Helmet all taking the stage inside the similar 50-minute interval. Though it might need been troublesome for attendees to find out which of those stellar artists they need to see with their restricted time, Wage War and Helmet had been each highlights of the day. Helmet’s bass was so thick you might virtually swim by it, laid down with many years of expertise at venues throughout the nation, and it gave severe meat to the choice metallic bones underlying the sound. Taking part in a style distinctly advanced from the choice metallic sound got here Wage War, and though shaped roughly twenty years after Helmet, each bands had been matched in power. Helmet engaged with a nuanced and dynamic musicianship, whereas Wage War handled audiences to spectacular pyrotechnics and thunderous booms. Two exhibits, each thrilling and interesting in their very own proper, on two sides of the identical coin (or, on this occasion, two sides of the identical pageant grounds).

A Day To Remember proceeded to drench the principle stage in a tantalizing combination of metalcore and punk rock with a real sampling of the sounds that outlined the day. Their setlist gave the plenty delightfully catchy hooks that had been simply as straightforward to take heed to as they had been to mosh to and supplied a powerful stability between heaviness and sonic accessibility. If there have been any potential followers within the viewers there’s little query that this set had the potential to transform them, notably by vocalist Jeremy McKinnon’s effort to make the band’s songs attain everybody, whether or not it’s at their aching coronary heart or through their have to rock.

The humanities included in Sonic Temple’s Artwork & Music pageant went past the artist distributors, poster tent, and stay work all through the grounds. Along with the extra conventional arts, together with every little thing from artist portraits to vibrant psychedelic tapestries, the attendees on the pageant had been usually strolling artworks themselves. Elaborate costuming and face portray had been resplendent amongst attendees. Those that spent the whole weekend at Sonic Temple might have observed some friends who appeared misplaced, draped in flowing brown and black garments, sporting otherworldly silver jewellery, and darting between different concertgoers on curler skates. One such particular person, introducing himself as Lilio, launched the Dawnbringers in all of their glory. Stranded after an incident with an off-course ship, they spent the lengthy weekend at Sonic Temple to harmonize with the pageant’s frequencies and attempt to get again house. Concertgoers fortunate sufficient to run into this wayward group can be handled to skilled roller-skating artistry, pleasant dedication to their mission, and keen interactions with different attendees that ranged from pictures to Lilio’s personal “tunings.” A run-in with the Dawnbringers was simply one of many many delights one may count on at Sonic Temple’s ongoing and oft-eclectic gathering.

One more all-female rock band took over the stage on Day 4. L7, hailing from California and enjoying grungy punk-rock, stopped at Sonic Temple amidst an ongoing tour. The sheer swagger on stage was daunting as Finch and the remainder of the quartet dug their heels in and started to show why the band stays related in any case this time. And though L7 has lengthy thrived in smaller, extra intimate punk venues, they shone like superstars within the pageant setting, particularly with guitarist Donita Sparks ensuring that each side of the group obtained loads of time together with her strategic riffage.

Baroness was one of many extra distinctive placements at Sonic Temple, notably as a progressive-minded sludge act. Though they’re co-headlining a tour with Red Fang this month, it’s clear that the as soon as color-coded metallers had been met with a little bit of skepticism from the sun-scorched viewers. Taking inspiration from each their newest album, “Stone,” in addition to their acquainted fan favorites, it was clear that Baroness and their sludge-stoner magic had a spot alongside Red Fang and different psych-inspired rockers as a summer time crowd-pleaser. No worry of breaking the mould held John Baizley again from giving his all alongside lead guitarist Gina Gleason – sporting a a lot shorter haircut which didn’t impression her trademark, incessant headbanging, and because the set progressed, they drew in increasingly more curious viewers members like a moth to flame.

Including to the run of pure nostalgia that dominated the Sonic Temple lineup was none apart from nu-metal pioneers Limp Bizkit. It was becoming that the band got here on mere hours earlier than the pageant’s closing headliner, Slipknot, and Fred Durst had virtually an hour to do what he does greatest: entertain the group.

These world-class performers delivered a present that may go down in Sonic Temple’s historical past, from cowl songs to fan involvement, it was a testomony to how nu-metal has remained related regardless of the previous of many years since its arrival to the music panorama. Whether or not it was roaring by fan favorites like “Sizzling Canine” and “Break Stuff” because the set nearer, or digging into acquainted covers like The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes,” Durst and firm had been an plain phenomenon that almost rattled Historic Crew Stadium all the way down to its very bones.

Nonetheless, the set’s highest moments concerned greater than the band themselves. The primary one occurred when Slipknot‘s Sid Wilson joined DJ Deadly to play a bit of the track “Flip It Up, Bitch”. The second occurred when Fred pulled a fan – carrying a Slipknot‘s masks masking his face – from the group and introduced him on stage to sing the ultimate section of “Full Nelson”, with each screaming at their mic on the similar time. But the third was much more surprising: Danny Wimmer himself jumped on stage on the very finish of their cowl George Michael‘s “Religion” to trade hugs with Durst. It hardly will get extra epic than that.

Whereas Ronnie Radke lamented Tech N9ne’s absence from the previous’s set on day two, famous person rapper Tech N9ne nonetheless made his look at Sonic Temple on Day 4’s Sanctuary Stage. Not prepared to be outdone by Limp Bizkit’s fan interplay, Tech N9ne additionally invited a fan on stage to assist carry out “Aw Yeah (InterVENTion)” whereas nonetheless becoming practically two dozen songs into his night set. The span between Tech N9ne’s set starting and 311’s set starting gave time for the viewers to seize meals and refresh their drinks because the solar lastly started to set.

Regardless of being within the music scene for a few years, 311 various track selections and energetic performances made them stand out in what grew to become the final efficiency on the Cathedral Stage. Their quirky punk/ska components and the distinctive mixture of Nick Hexum‘s Morrissey-like baritone with Doug “SA” Martinez‘s nasally rapping maintain the viewers guessing. Traditional MTV favorites like their set opener “Lovely Catastrophe” – that includes intense rock moments with an Iron Maiden-style guitar duel – and the funkier, rap-infused “All Combined Up” had been interspersed with the power of “You Would not Imagine” and the unbridled power – and subsequent crowd response – of their breakout single “Down” which served because the set nearer.

One other profitable yr is within the books for Sonic Temple – who is aware of simply what subsequent yr will carry? If it’s something like 2024, it is going to be a protracted weekend, very a lot price remembering.

Special due to Samantha Buckman for her writing contributions to this article.