Review and Gallery by: Jaime “Chino” Flor

GWAR The Stoned Age Tour took over The Studio at The Factory in Dallas, Tx last Friday and it was an incredible show that lived up to it’s reputation. It’s hard to put into words without spoiling much but it is a show I highly encourage fans of the heavy metal genre who enjoy theatrics and showmanship (that don’t mind getting a little ink and water) to experience.

Squid Pisser opens the night and when vocalist Tommy Meehan jumped from the stage into the pit and crowd, I knew it was going to be quite the show. The band from Los Angeles recently released their album Dreams of Puke and EP Vaporize A Neighbor this year. Tommy and Seth Carolina formed the band in 2022 conceptualizing and masterfully growing their unique sound into what it is at present.

Dark Funeral follows with the crowd going into a frenzy as they hear the riffs and beats of “Nosferatu”. The band from Stockholm, Sweden has been in the game since 1992. They pioneered the black metal genre and populated a loyal following worldwide. They have released 7 full length albums since their inception. Their most recent album We Are The Apocalypse was released 2022 and Dark Funeral continues to be one of black metal’s most prominent acts. Performing “Atrum Regina”, “To Carve Another Wound”, and “Where Shadows Forever Reign” among other fan favorites, Dark Funeral looked as good as ever through all their years.

GWAR! GWAR! GWAR!

And finally, GWAR takes on the stage and stays true to the themes that they have been known for all these years. Costumes, blood, gore, satire, and crazy visuals make a classic GWAR experience. The band was formed 1984 and has become a collective of multiple musicians and performers that have since released 15 albums including their most recent, The New Dark Ages. “El Presidente”, “Bring Back Bomb”, “Saddam”, and Biledriver” were among the songs they performed that resulted in mosh pits, crowd surfers, and fans happily immersing fully into this one-of-a-kind show.

The Stoned Age Tour has a few more shows before it ends in Nashville on November 20, 2024. I highly implore you to catch this show if you’ve never seen GWAR live yet. It is truly a unique show that must be experienced at least once. You will not be disappointed!