Legends returned. Icons roared. Metal ruled. Shadows Fall, Hatebreed & Lamb of God tore up Springfield, MA on 7/18/25.

Review and photos by Holly Roy Photography

Shadows Fall (Homegrown Heroes)

By official decree of the Mayor of Springfield, MA, July 18, 2025 is officially “Shadows Fall Day!”

What happened tonight at the MassMutual Center was bigger than a concert, it was a homecoming explosion. From their early days tearing it up at Fat Cat’s to standing tall on the big stage with a city behind them, Shadows Fall proved that time might pass, but legends don’t fade, they evolve.

From the moment they hit the stage with "King of Nothing," it was like time folded in on itself. That first riff was a lightning bolt, and the crowd knew instantly this wasn’t a nostalgia act. This was a full-force resurrection.

Brian Fair, dreads flying and grinning ear-to-ear, tore through the stage with unstoppable energy. Jonathan Donais and Matt Bachand traded blazing riffs and leads like they were born to shred. Paul Romanko slammed the bass with crushing power, while Jason Bittner nailed every beat with precise, unrelenting rhythm. They were locked in.

They tore into "Thoughts Without Words" and "Souls Devoured" like men possessed. Fans were screaming every lyric, fists in the air. By the time they hit "Destroyer of Senses," the circle pit had swallowed the floor, and security just braced for impact.

“The Power of I and I” lit the place up like a firebomb, tight, relentless, and spiritual in the most metal way. And "In the Grey", one of their newer tracks, held its own right alongside the classics, heavy, emotional, absolutely massive live.

And then “The Light That Blinds.” You could feel the whole arena shift. That opening riff hit, and every fan in that room lost it. There were tears. Smiles. Chaos. It was everything.

This wasn’t just another show, it was a milestone etched deep into the heart of Western Mass metal. The pride, the passion, and the crowd singing every word like lifelong fans made it clear: this was the reward for years of dedication and love. Shadows Fall didn’t just show up. They owned the night. Humble, grateful, and absolutely crushing.

Hatebreed – Born for This

It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen Hatebreed, nothing hits like seeing them tear it up in New England with a crowd that’s lived every word.

The second the first notes of “I Will Be Heard” blasted out, the place lit up. No buildup, no easing in, just full impact. Crowd exploded, pit opened up instantly, and we were off.

Jamey Jasta owned the stage with his relentless energy and commanding presence. Matt Byrne, cool and steady behind the kit, drove every song with crushing precision. Frank Novinec laid down thick, punishing rhythm riffs with effortless swagger. Carl Schwartz (from First Blood) held the low end with raw power, locked in and unshakable. And Matt Bachand shredded with a fiery intensity that felt both fresh and familiar. Together, they moved as one unstoppable force, tight, focused, and fully in control.

They tore through:

• “To the Threshold”

• “Tear It Down”

• “Perseverance”

and it was just non-stop from there. When they hit “Destroy Everything,” the whole room moved together like one giant, loud, sweaty heartbeat. 

From there it was just banger after banger:

• “Proven”

• “As Diehard As They Come”

• “This Is Now”

• “Looking Down the Barrel of Today”

“Live for This” was one of those moments where the whole crowd just let loose. Every voice, every arm up, like it was a shared release. That song hits every single time.

They wrapped up with “Driven by Suffering” and “Last Breath,” and by then we were all pretty much wrecked in the best way.Hatebreed reminded everyone why they’re still one of the hardest, most respected forces in heavy music.

Lamb of God – Bringing the Heat to Springfield

After getting blasted by Shadows Fall and Hatebreed, you’d think the crowd might’ve been running low. Nope. Once Lamb of God took the stage, it was like hitting a reset button. Energy surged. Necks snapped. The MassMutual Center was absolutely ready.

They opened with “Resurrection Man,” and the place just dropped into a heavy, punishing groove. Right into “Ditch” fast, filthy, and it set the tone. This was not going to be a chill ride.

Randy Blythe stormed the stage like he owned it  and let’s be honest, he kinda did. The man’s a machine. Still one of the most commanding frontmen in metal.Mark Morton and Willie Adler were dead-on with every riff, tight and punishing, whether it was a deep cut or a fan-favorite.John Campbell held down the low end with that signature rumble, steady, heavy, and unmistakable. And Art Cruz, it’s wild to think he hasn’t been there since day one. His drumming is tight, explosive, and fits like he was built for this band.

Then out of nowhere came the surprise of the night…the live debut of “A Devil in God's Country.” No build-up, no warning, just straight-up heavy intensity that sent the crowd into a frenzy. A total standout moment.

From there, the band rolled through a mix of classics and deep cuts that kept the crowd moving:

• “Walk With Me in Hell”

• “Ruin”

• “Now You've Got Something to Die For”

• “The Subtle Arts of Murder and Persuasion”

• “Blacken the Cursed Sun”

• “11th Hour”

• “Remorse Is for the Dead”

For longtime fans, this was a dream. But the true holy shit moment? “O.D.H.G.A.B.F.E.” played live for the first time since 2001. First time in front of a real audience. You could feel people stop mid-mosh and realize what they were hearing. Historic moment, no exaggeration.

They closed out with a perfect run:

• “Memento Mori” 

• “Laid to Rest”

• “Children of the Grave” — killer Black Sabbath cover

• “Redneck”

They wrapped it up leaving the crowd breathless and begging for more. The energy was electric, and you could tell everyone there felt lucky to witness this night. Lamb of God showed exactly why they’re still at the top of their game, no frills, just pure, unfiltered metal power.

Tonight was more than a show, it was a statement. Whether you came for nostalgia or discovered today’s metal legends, this was a bill for the ages. From hometown heroes to hardcore icons, this night hit all the right notes. If you didn’t make it tonight, trust me, you missed history.