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The renowned South Florida musical celebration dubbed Welcome to Rockville has been a mainstay in the rock and metal scene for more than a decade now, etching their name in the musical history of the Sunshine state due to its unmatched live performances, and also life-changing experiences for thousands of devoted fans that flock to its grounds, year after year. The anticipation for the 2023 edition was tremendous, thanks to a lineup that included headliners like Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera, and Tool, along with a host of other outstanding rock and metal acts. During four consecutive days, concertgoers from all over the world gathered at the Daytona International Speedway, defying the customary hot weather during this time of the year, eager to experience the unbridled intensity and aural extravaganza that Welcome to Rockville never fails to offer.

Whether it’s an up-and-coming indie act, a mainstream band, or a stadium ready heavy hitter, there are always plenty of chances to catch any or all of the above, while WTR is underway. And this year was no exception. Things kicked off with a bang, as Silly Goose took the stage, and continued to progressively heat-up through several performances by the likes of Rain City Drive, Austin Meade, Black Stone Cherry and specially Bloodywood, who really brought the house down with their sonic mixture of folk sounds and in-your-face metal. Sadly, the shades of last year’s weather made presence again – and fortunately only this time – cutting short the Avatar's performance after a song and a half, for a close to two hours impasse that also prevented Trivium from performing. 

(Photo by Steve Thrasher)

With things back to normal, much to the relief of everyone in attendance, Welsh outfit Bullet For My Valentine’s superb dueling guitar work and dualistic clean and dirty vocals reignited the crowds, followed by the ever-eclectic stage display of Puscifer, in their never-ending hunt for alien lifeforms. With the evening taking over and the darkness settling in, Rob Zombie brought forth another enthralling performance, and even when we sorely missed the presence of John 5, the crowd knew the songs and were singing along word for word. The curtain on day one festivities closed with yet another fierce display of stage theatrics paired with a brutal baggage of punishing riffs, as Slipknot pulled all the stops during their set, leaving a sea of fans, and unremitting crowd-surfers, clamoring for more.

Day two would bring the attention to acts whose musical careers took off in the 2000s or at even more recent years, while also offering a glimpse of what the future of metal would look like. It started with a couple of riveting performances by two bands who count in their ranks with the offspring of metal royalty: Ottto, the trio led by Robert Trujillo’s son Tye, and Bastardane, the quartet whose drum throne is handled by Castor Hetfield, the song of Papa Het. 

Another trio, this time around The Warning, formed by three young sisters hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, would wow the crowds reunited since the early hours in the Zebra stage, with a mixture of stage aplomb and high-quality compositions that forecasted a bright future. Bluesy swagger and a masterful blend of eclecticism that includes hard rock, grunge, and even hip-hop, would be the ace under Ayron Jones’s balls-to-the-wall performance, elevating the concept of enjoying themselves on stage, to an art form. 

(Photo by Lexi Ealley)

Motionless In White brought forth the fire – in literal ways – as their cathartic and supercharged set, filled with tons of fan-favorites, was as copious in riffs, melodies, and crowd-surfers, as it was in pyro, and stage effects. As the sun started to fade we were treated to a triple punch of massive proportions: I Prevail enacted the rowdiest reaction from the audience inspired by the infectious grooves of songs like “Bow Down”, “Body Bag” and “Self-Destruction”; Evanescence mesmerized the audience with their eerie tunes, led by the unmatchable powerful vocals and soaring melodies of Amy Lee, combined with a beautiful light setup that turned their entire set into a captivating and visually stunning experience, and the long-awaited headliners for the night, Avenged Sevenfold, which haven’t graced a South Florida stage since WTR 2018, blended staple tracks like “Nightmare”, “Hail To The King”, and “Buried Alive”, with some of the songs from their soon to be released new album. 

They were all greeted with dangerous levels of passion, with the hurricane-force wails of M. Shadows and the elaborated six-string divination of Synyster Gates stealing the spotlight through a closing set that was comparable in fam reaction and compelling delivered to the one from the previous day.

The third day was unquestionably one infused with the most metallic side of the event, with the highlights being two unrelenting sets by Kreator and Sepultura respectively, both bands gracing the DWP Presents stage, the smallest of the four, and arguably the wrong one for them, as the gargantuan crowds and frenzied, over-the-top moshing, and European-style “walls of death” comprised by hundreds and hundreds of rabid fans, almost brought down the barricades in a couple of occasions by the sound of “Territory” and “Hordes Of Chaos”. 

Anywhere else, deathcore pioneers Suicide Silence filled the airwaves with their ruthless mixture of down-tuned guitars, and vocal mayhem, keeping the spirit of the day confined in some sort of auditory carnage; master of ceremonies Alice Cooper lightened up the pace a bit, with his habitual over-the-top theatrics – including guillotines, snakes, and electric chairs – commanding the stage with his larger-than-life persona, toped-off with the high energy exuding from his companion band, led by the magnetic stage presence of Nita Strauss, while Massachusetts post-grunge/ metal heroes Godsmack ignited the stage with a rumbling mixture of their hard-hitting anthems, and most recent songs that were equally received and sung to the top of the lungs of thousands, sprinkled with a medley of familiar classic rock covers dubbed “Batalla De Los Tambores” – consisting of a renditions of “Back In Black”, “Walk This Way”, “Moby Dick”, “Enter Sandman” and “Tom Sawyer”, with Sully Erna taking his place on a second drum kit to jam with for an extended period. 

(Photo by Nathan Zucker)

As the sky painted with stars, the new line-up of groove metal originators Pantera took over the proceedings, and whether you believe they should be using the name or not, one thing was absolutely incontrovertible: those songs, that served as the musical soundtracks of millions, carry such a deep and timeless meaning, that it was literally impossible not to feel the electricity vibrating from every corner, while the four men on stage gifted us with an assortment of uncompromisingly sonic violence spanning most of the band’s musical output, only matched by the physical obliteration they inspired amongst the immense sea of onlookers.

The final day started with really high temperatures, and as is customary, and to better fight the extreme heat, the festival's management ensured that visitors had access to refill water fountains and covered locations, minimizing the impact of the weather, plus massive fans devices sprayed air mixed with water to those standing for hours in the front rows. With thousands of fans coming together to celebrate their shared passion, the massive attendance demonstrated the enduring love and support for rock and metal music. The musical offerings for the concluding hours veered more into the punk, industrial and progressive variants of rock. Known for their outspoken lyrics about social justice and political activism Anti-Flag brought that same passion to their live show, spreading their message of peace, equality, and social justice. 

(Photo by Steve Thrasher)

Alternative/industrial rock veterans Filter drew a truthfully impressive mass of spectators to their presentation, with the oddities and peculiar stage presence of vocalist Richard Patrick matched with a reigning performance. The Coheed & Cambria set was one most energetic and overall enjoyable of the day – despite the fact I missed the presence of their usual light set – projecting an infectious energy, that reached the apex with the classic fan favorite and slow metallic march of "Welcome Home”, the roar from the crowd reaching deafening levels as the band walked through the Arabic-infused note progression that set the song in motion. 

Incubus showcased their dynamic range and more melodic stylings, led by the charismatic presence of helmsman Brandon Boyd, in stark opposition to the distinctive alternative and metal fusion of Deftones, whose colossal array of lights turned the presentation into a visual feast, amplifying the atmospheric blend of Chino Moreno’s moving vocals, the searing and melodious guitar work of Stephen Carpenter, and the driving and propulsive drumming of Abe Cunningham. 

(Photo by Steve Thrasher)

To bring things home and put a final note to four days of musical extravaganza, Los Angeles modern prog-rock torch-bearers Tool were in charge of offering a suitable conclusion. Even when their set was shorter than usual, all the elements that have made them the biggest progressive rock band of our generation were on full display: Danny Carey polyrhythm and uber-complex drumming, Adam Jones and Justin Chancellor challenging guitar structures and basslines, and Maynard James Keenan's haunting vocals. To say the crowd was completely enraptured by the performance, singing along to the songs, and swaying to the music, would be a real oversimplification of the spectacle that we witnessed. The atmosphere during the Tool’s set was utterly electric, and it became clear that the band and the crowd were feeding off each other's energy.

Welcome to Rockville 2023 was a resounding success, leaving fans with lasting memories and a renewed appreciation for the power of rock and metal. The festival's diverse lineup and electrifying executions ensured there was something for everyone, regardless of their musical preferences. From the explosive energy of established acts to the innovation of emerging artists, Rockville proved itself as a melting pot of talent, uniting fans and musicians alike. As the sun set on the final day, the legacy of Welcome to Rockville 2023 continued to resonate, reminding us of the enduring spirit and impact of rock and metal music.

(Top photo by Steve Thrasher)