Godsmack to smack Edmonton another time

A band so heavy as to challenge the Almighty Himself is returning to Edmonton.

Godsmack comes to live up to their name at least every three years, and this time it’s in the big building: Rogers Place on Friday, May 3. Volbeat will open. Tickets will go on sale Friday (the presale starts Dec. 11) – and we’re going to see a lot of metal next summer: Ozzy, Priest, Maiden, who only need one name, and now this.

The Massachusetts Metallica-like metal band, which epitomizes the rugged yet charming culture of its native Boston area – no one named Sully is going to be from anywhere else – is touring behind its seventh studio album When Legends Rise. This is a presumptuous title for their first album in four years, but it seemed to work – the record debuted in the top 10 when it came out in April. Reviews of Godsmack shows this year talk about relentless sonic assaults, the band being “back with a vengeance,” and most of all, references to impressive pyrotechnics – an expected bonus for Godsmack fans.

Volbeat, no slouch, meanwhile, sits – on a mountain made of human skulls – at the zenith of the already rich Scandinavian hard rock scene. In tune with both the groove of rockabilly and the power of metal, channeling both Motorhead and Johnny Cash, they’ll be releasing a new live album just in time for Christmas, Let’s Boogie! Live From Telia Parken (their hometown in Denmark).

READ: Review of Volbeat show at Rexall Place, August, 2016 (last rock show in that building)

READ: 2011 song battle between Godsmack and Motley Crue