By Christopher Crone
The upstairs room at DNA Lounge turns every show into something that feels like a secret gathering. No barricade, no distance—just a packed, low-lit space where the sound hits head-on and the bands feed off that closeness. March 12th was one of those nights.
From Hell opened the evening with a set that felt more like a ritual than an opener. Their blend of death, thrash, and black metal came wrapped in a theatrical darkness that fit the Upper Venue perfectly.
Frontman Aleister Sinn—silver‑haired, gothic, and fully committed—didn’t just perform the songs; he embodied them. Every gesture and stare added to the atmosphere, pulling the room into their world. A strong, ominous start to the night.
Bay Area metalcore outfit Captive State followed with a sharp shift in tone—tight, modern, and emotionally heavy without losing the punch. Their set balanced technical precision with melodic depth, keeping the crowd locked in from the first breakdown to the last. Confident, clean, and powerful.
When Vicious Rumors stepped onstage, the room tightened instantly. Fans pressed forward, ready for a band whose legacy runs deep in American power metal—and seeing them in a venue this intimate made the whole thing hit harder.
Formed in 1979 by guitarist Geoff Thorpe, Vicious Rumors helped shape the early U.S. power metal sound. Hearing that history come alive in a small upstairs room instead of a big stage gave the performance an edge—less spectacle, more connection.
A standout of the current lineup is vocalist Brian “Chalice” Betterton, whose tone cut through the mix with metallic clarity and just the right amount of grit. His presence elevated every song, especially in a room where nothing gets lost.
From the first note, the band came out swinging—no warm‑up, no easing in. Just high‑energy riffs, soaring vocals, and the kind of stage command that only comes from decades of doing this at a high level. In a larger venue, it reads polished. In a room this size, it feels raw, immediate, and personal.
Special nod to Stephen Paul Goodwin, who pulled double duty on bass for both From Hell and Vicious Rumors. The stamina alone earned respect from the crowd.
The Upper Venue’s tight acoustics worked in the band’s favor. Every guitar run was sharp, every drum hit landed with force, and the vocals carried cleanly through the room. You weren’t just watching the show—you were inside it.
What really stood out was Geoff Thorpe himself. After all these years, his energy hasn’t dipped. Whether tearing through leads or chatting with fans, he radiates genuine passion for the music and the community around it.
By the end of the night, the room felt like it had survived a storm—sweaty, loud, and fully alive. No big production, no massive stage, just a veteran band tearing up a small room and reminding everyone why live metal still hits harder than anything else.
Categories: Concert Photography, Vicious Rumors
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