The Divinity Of Purpose tour rolled through Flint on Thursday October 10th, 2013. The tour featured Michigan’s own Battlecross and Massachusetts bands The Acacia Strain, Shadows Fall, and headliner Hatebreed. This was the last date of the US tour with 2 Canada dates remaining.
As per usual the show was a sell out at The Machine Shop and the bands did not disappoint. Battlecross started the night with a blistering 30 minute set featuring tracks such as Force Fed Lies, Flesh And Bone and Never Coming Back from their latest effort War Of Will which was released in the US on July 9th via Metal Blade records. Gumby and the boys got the hometown crowd primed for the rest of the evening ending their set with their classic Push, Pull, Destroy from 2011’s Pursuit Of Honor.
Up next was Rise Records artist The Acacia Strain. Supporting their 2012 release Death Is The Only Mortal, Vince Bennett and crew featuring newcomers Richard Gomez (ex- Molotov Solution) and Devin Shidaker (ex-Oceano) kept the energy up and blazed through their unique brand of death/metalcore.
Following The Acacia Strain was current Razor & Tie recording artists Shadows Fall and as you probably know, they always bring it. Brian Fair screamed through all the bands classics as well as some material from the bands latest 2012 release Fire From The Sky which was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage). I could watch these guys every night. Guitar Duo Jonathan Donais and Matt Bachand always impress and this night was no different.
Hatebreed finished off the night with their easily identifiable style of hardcore. Jamey Jasta and bandmates belted out 3 minute classic after 3 minute classic also squeezing in a couple of songs from the bands sixth studio album The Divinity Of Purpose which was released on January 29 2013 in North America via Victory Records. There were circle pits aplenty and the crowd did not leave dissatisfied. The band will be heading down to Brazil next week to play The Monsters Of Rock fest in Sao Paolo on 10/19, then its off to Europe with Dates in the UK, Slovakia, Poland, Germany and the Netherlands. Best of luck with them on that and we will see you next year for another sure sell out.