By Christopher Crone
The DNA Lounge was primed for a night of pure metal mayhem on March 28, and from the opening act to the headliners, this lineup delivered the goods like a well-oiled thrash machine.
Kicking things off were Shark in the Water, a last-minute addition that turned out to be one of the night’s most fun surprises. I had the pleasure of meeting them during soundcheck, where they confidently told me I’d love their “Shark Surf Metal”—and they were absolutely right. Their shark-themed stage props perfectly matched their over-the-top style, and they even made an impression on Rick Hunolt, who jokingly declared during Nefarious’ set that they were his new favorite band, drawing cheers from the crowd. Opening with “Shark Machine,” they tore through hilariously titled tracks like “The Ghost of David Hassel-Off” and “Death Certificate (a shark ate my baby),” before closing with “Sushi Will Kill” and a perfectly executed Shark Surf Metal ending.
Next up, all the way from South Carolina, were Slackjaw—and judging by the crowd, you’d think they were hometown heroes. The entire front row was packed with headbangers rocking Slackjaw shirts, and they wasted no time igniting the room with “Caught in the Crossfire.” Mid-set, they hit a snag when power cut out on stage right, but instead of killing the vibe, they turned it into a moment. While Brady worked to fix his gear, Dallas and Jacob improvised a hilarious on-the-fly song urging him to hurry up—complete with jokes about sticking to analog effects. Within minutes, they were back on track, handling it like seasoned pros and finishing strong with “Death Can’t Save You.”
Representing the Bay Area, Nefarious brought a polished, crushing set that hit like a sledgehammer. They opened with “Mirror Death” and powered straight into “Addicted to Power,” setting the tone for what was to come. Frontman Sean Rivera commanded the stage with a presence that felt like fury unleashed on high-octane fuel—equal parts feral and electrifying. His vocal range was massive and relentless, elevating every track. Closing with “One Nation Enslaved,” they left the crowd fully fired up and ready for the main event.
Headliners Raven took the stage like they never left it, with brothers John Gallagher and Mark Gallagher proving that their brand of “Athletic Rock” is still very much alive and kicking. Hailing from Newcastle, England, they looked completely at home in the Bay Area, feeding off each other’s energy in a way only brothers can. Their performance was so high-energy it felt like trying to track a speeding bullet through a camera lens—I could barely keep up. This was old school metal at its absolute best, and easily worth the 3-hour drive down from the Sierra Foothills. The only real downside? Forgetting to bring my original Raven vinyl—because having these legends sign it would’ve been the perfect ending to an already unforgettable night.
Categories: Concert Photography, Nefarious, RAVEN, Reviews, Shark in the Water, Slackjaw
Leave a Reply