Only once in awhile will a good band come to the city of Laramie. Mainly bands that play in Laramie are local and only play at smaller venues. I’m not saying that going to a coffee house to hear Another Dream isn’t worth the money; I’m just saying something about a huge venue with hard rock blasting your ears just sets something off. This is why you travel to Denver.

                Recently my cousin and I took Wednesday off to hang out in Denver and go to the Music as a Weapon IV tour headlined by Chicago based band Disturbed. Also in attendance were Westfield, Massachusetts’s own Killswitch Engage, Italy’s Lacuna Coil and Cleveland’s home grown band Chimera. It would be the second time I have seen Disturbed and my first for the rest. It would be my cousins third time with Disturbed and second time for Killswitch. We were not disappointed. It sounded as though the fans were not let down either.

                Setting the mood and on stage first was Lacuna Coil. Lacuna rocked the house getting the crowd pumped while men envied the boyfriend of lead singer Cristina Scabbia, who has been featured in Revolver magazine as one of the “Hottest Chicks in Metal.” Lacuna played mostly new songs with the old hit “Our Truth” to end the set.

                Next Chimera stepped onstage. At first I was skeptical and a little bummed that Chimera had a longer set to play then Lacuna. I had heard Chimera on CD and wasn’t that impressed. After hearing them in concert I love them. The screaming and guitar solos were almost too much and almost made me want to jump into the pit, but I was too close to the stage to want to lose my spot.

                After that, it was the moment I had been waiting for, Killswitch. I had waited forever to see the band that made Dio’s “Holy Diver” a hit again. I wasn’t disappointed. The vocals of front man Howard Jones were absolutely amazing. The guitar of both Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz were fantastic (also the jokes of Dutkiewicz, a bit too graphic to repeat were hilarious.) The bass riffs of Mike D'Antonio were mind blowing and the drum beats of Justin Foley were heart stopping.

                Last, but certainly not least, Disturbed. David Draimen, lead singer, was put on stage by a man in a white coat. Draimen was tied to a dolly in a straight jacket with a Hannibal’s style mask. After shedding the gear and exposing the sleeveless Disturbed jumpsuit and beckoning to the rest of the band, went right into a hard rock melody before screaming “So! Are you breathing?” Starting the set with “Voices.”  Disturbed went on to play favorites such as “Sickness” and “Inside the Fire.” Also was a melody with four different songs made into one six minute song. For those who didn’t know what Music as a Weapon was Draimen offered the explanation (thanks to the bootleg of the concert, the explanation is word for word.) 

                “Music as a Weapon, you understand the meaning behind all this do you? For those who don’t allow me to explain. Music as a Weapon is a tour that began with the principal of uniting the power and the strength of the greatest and the best bands within the genre of hard rock and heavy metal. To stake our claim, in a world dominated by the other genres. Now I’m not questioning anyone’s artistry, everyone is entitled to do what they do, but for my money, as far as power is concerned, as far as getting through the difficult times in your lives are concerned. The music you work out too, the music you go to battle too, there is no substitute for good old fashion heavy [expletive] metal.”     

                After Disturbed walked off, the crowd was craving more. After about two minutes of screaming fans, on stage walked Disturbed showing off shirts supporting the four branches of the United States military, for two more songs (No surprise, Disturbed doesn’t disappoint.) The crowd was pleased and everyone could go home happy.

                It is very evident that Disturbed is well liked by Denver as last summer the Mayhem Festival sold out and Denver is the only show to have two nights of Music as a Weapon. You could even say Denver is Disturbed’s new home. I think I speak for many when I say Disturbed; you’re welcome anytime in Denver.