By Photojournalist Ryan Marchese
The Awaken the Fallen Tour was a mash up of different genres under the rock umbrella that had something for everyone at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union in Tampa, FL. Headlining the tour was the alt metal legends, Breaking Benjamin. They were accompanied by Staind, Wage War and Lakeview. The performances were all top notch and carried the momentum of each band prior.
Lakeview kicked off the evening with a blend of country and rock that I was pleasantly surprised by. Having no familiarity prior to the show, it was a great way to kick things off. Despite being the opening act, people were jumping out of their seats and digging the country twang combined with heavy riffs. “Wrong Side of the Track” and “Home Team” seemed to get big responses and made some new fans for future shows.
When metalcore masters Wage War hit the stage, the whole dynamic shifted.
The crowd’s size and intensity grew for the Ocala-based band as soon as they heard “Nail5.” They played several bangers like “Godspeed” and “Low” right off the bat, followed by a blend of tracks showcasing their discography, particularly their latest album, Stigma. It was a solid mix for fans of the band, and a great sampling for anyone new. I was pumped to finally get to see them, after initially discovering them a few years ago and seeing them climb into my Spotify’s “Wrap Up” top bands every year since.
It’s almost impossible to tell from their unwavering sound quality that Staind has been around for 30 years. They sounded exactly like they did the first time I heard “It’s Been Awhile” back in 2001. Mike Mushok was still shredding on guitar, jumping around and headbanging as hard as ever. Aaron Lewis may not be running around stage like some of the other frontmen out there, but he had a cigarette and drink on standby and still made his screams and sustained notes seem effortlessly flawless. From the pit to the lawn, the crowd was filled with rock fans singing along to hits like “Eyes Wide Open” and “So Far Away.”
By the time Breaking Benjamin took the stage, the amphitheater was packed with metalheads of all ages. They closed out the night with a set specially curated for their fans. “Failure” and “Evil Angel” were among some of the first songs performed, energizing the crowd. But the vibe hit 11 when “Red Cold River” came on. The audience went insane, screaming along “RUN, RUN, RUN, RED COLD RIVER!” Hearing “Blow Me Away” brought me back to the release of Halo 2, which the song is synonymous with.
The screens surrounding the stage had images of the Halo 2 mini radar as well as band members morphing into Spartan armor. It was glorious. They continued to play tracks they’ve come to be known for over the years like “Dear Agony” and “Blow Me Away.” As always, they closed out the show with their quintessential hit, “Diary of Jane,” and it never gets old. I’m never disappointed seeing Breaking Benjamin, but all of the supporting bands elevated the night to make this one amazing and diverse tour.
