AUGUST BURNS RED

ROCK LITITZ STUDIO, PENNSYLVANIA

COVID-19 has brought a great deal of suffering but also some inspirational resilience and creativity, and tonight is an exhilarating reminder of the latter. This Pennsylvania metalcore five-piece have not only refused to cancel their tradition of hosting holiday shows but pulled out all the stops for Christmas Burns Red’s virtual maiden voyage. Impressive light displays, generous camera angles, and crisp surround sound do justice to all the festive stockings, Christmas trees, and Santa hats on set, and fans are treated to racing driver Bubba Wallace reading an alternative twist on ’Twas The Night Before Christmas before things kick off. The band gave it their absolute all and the joy on their faces is infectious as Jake Luhrs dances, roars, scans the invisible crowd, and demands that everyone bounce. His vocals are in spectacular form and the chat room loses its collective mind repeatedly for Dustin Davidson’s bass skills. Invisible Enemy and

The Frost are predictably brilliant but they also made good on their promise to play tracks from Guardians, with Bloodletter and

Paramount coming to life gloriously. No shoes are lost in the pit tonight, but a few sofas and lamps may be worse for wear. NIK YOUNG