METAL FUCKING MONDAY! Arch Enemy, Exodus, Arsis and Mutiny Within steam-rolled through San Francisco last night at the Grand Ballroom.

I have mixed feelings about this place, but most of them lean towards that one feeling, what’s it called? Oh yeah – MURDER. As in, “I want to murder everyone that works here.” So many rules! “Don’t stand here.” “No video allowed.” “4 dollars for water.” on and on and on. It’s like, with all these rules in place you’d think there would at least be awesome sound, but of course, it’s the complete fucking opposite. For such a grand ballroom their sound blows grand ball sacks.

I missed Mutiny Within because the Bay Bridge had traffic and because I’m always late. Arsis had a pretty good set list, but the sound was shitty and they kind of lacked stage presence. Malone looked all bummed-out and uninspired. I actually saw him at the merch booth (which was completely sold out of new CDs, by the way), and he looked the same way. Is he always like that? Jim! Cheer up! I know you called us “Seattle” by accident, but dude, just rock out and say “who gives a fuck!”

Exodus, on the other hand, those guys rocked so hard they made Arch Enemy look like Nickelback. I saw Michael Amott in the bleachers watching Exodus, I could just hear him saying, “Shit, I hate following these guys.” They were much better than the last show I saw them at in San Jose. They even had a special guest vocalist…

I only saw one Arch Enemy song and then split – I’ve seen them like 4 times now, I know what to expect.

Check out the bootlegs after the jump!

(more…)