Local yokels Divine Heresy stormed the staging area with both guns blazing to the delight of the hometown crowd. New vocalist Jake Veredika was fiery and energetic and helped maintain the crowd's enthusiasm throughout their set, but vocally he is not even in the conversation with recently-fired singer Tommy Cummings. As far as growling goes, Veredika can hold his own, but when it comes to belting out the melodic choruses crafted around the acrobatic vocals of Cummings, Veredika is not even close. During the epic chorus of "Failed Creation" - which closed the band's set - Veredika was completely incapable of hitting the high notes. Hopefully, the band can patch up relations with Cummings before the next time I see them.

I really dig the most recent Dark Tranquillity album, Fiction, so I was pumped to see the melodic Swedes perform some new tracks. They did not disappoint in the least. Clearly ecstatic to be playing in front of a wildly enthusiastic crowd, the band ripped off "The Lesser Faith," "Terminus (Where Death is Most Alive)," "Inside the Particle Storm," "Misery's Crown," and "Focus Shift." They were sure to mix in some older material as well, including songs from as far back as 1995's The Gallery. Maybe it was something about playing in Los Angeles, but the band did not seem to want to leave the stage after their set. In a very cool display, singer Mikael Stanne pulled a Jay Leno, immersing himself in the front rows of fans and making sure to shake every last hand.

While the openers got great responses, it was clear that the band the masses were really there for was Arch Enemy. Marking the fourth Swedish band I've seen this month - Opeth at Progressive Nation, In Flames at Gigantour - Arch Enemy gave the crowd all they wanted and more. I am not a huge fan of their material, as I find it to be rather overrated. The members of the band are all extremely talented and great at what they do, but their albums have just not caught on with me. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed their performance as the band clearly gave it all they got. Taking a cue from guitar god Eddie Van Halen, guitarists Chris and Michael Arnott twice hit the spotlight for impressive atmospheric solos and duets. Of course, the hallmark of the band is vocalist Angela Gossow, and it must be said that she cuts an impressive figure live. Drop dead gorgeous and possessing a remarkable growl, not just for a female, she simply knows how to rile up a crowd. Arch Enemy closed the night with a killer rendition of their hit, "We Will Rise." All in all, not a bad way to spend a Friday night.