Word and Live Photos: DJ
Myglobalmind and Screaming Digital Productions
There’s something to be said about doing things the right way. While Zakk Sabbath’s current tour has typically been closed to media coverage, we were fortunate enough to secure proper credentials through alternative channels for this Huntsville stop. After years of building relationships and maintaining integrity in this industry, we’ve never been about sneaking in the back door—and we’re not about to start now.
The evening kicked off with Dark Chapel, featuring Black Label Society guitarist Dario Lorina. While Zakk Wylde rightfully commands legendary status in the metal world, Lorina deserves far more recognition for his formidable six-string prowess. Standing alongside Wylde in BLS might cast a long shadow, but Dark Chapel proved Lorina is a force in his own right. Their rendition of “Afterglow” hit hard, and their cover of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” offered an unexpected but welcome departure from the evening’s heavier fare.
Bonfire followed with a high-octane tribute to early AC/DC that had the crowd fired up. With a frontman who could pass for a young Bon Scott, the band nailed the stage antics and delivered note-perfect renditions of the classics—though this reviewer was secretly hoping for “Let There Be Rock” to make an appearance. Still, they accomplished their mission: warming up the Alabama faithful for the main event.
Zakk Sabbath took the stage with a slightly modified lineup for this run, featuring Wylde’s longtime BLS bassist JD DeServio filling in for Blasko, alongside Joey Castillo (Danzig, Queens of the Stone Age) on drums. The timing of this performance carried extra weight—coming so soon after Ozzy Osbourne’s recent passing, these Sabbath tributes felt less like covers and more like sacred ground.
And who better to walk that hallowed territory than Wylde, ranked among metal’s greatest axemen? His mind-shattering shredding and that signature groove transported the packed house through a nostalgia-soaked journey. “Snowblind,” “Fairies Wear Boots,” and a crushing “Children of the Grave” reminded everyone why these songs have endured for over five decades. The inevitable closers—”N.I.B.” and “War Pigs”—were delivered with the groovy impunity only Wylde can muster.
The night held special significance for another reason: December 3rd was Ozzy’s birthday. The band led the Alabama chapter of the Sabbath faithful in a rousing “Happy Birthday” that surely made the late Prince of Darkness smile—whether from above, below, or somewhere in between. There’s no denying the debt Wylde owes to his mentor, having joined Ozzy’s band in 1987 and forging a relationship that shaped both their legacies.
On a personal note, having initially purchased a ticket before knowing if photo credentials would materialize, I brought my nephew to his first proper metal show. Watching him experience one of his favorite guitar players live added another layer to an already memorable evening.
All told, it was a night of reflection and celebration—sweet, iconic, and tinged with the beautiful irony of how life circles back on itself. Sometimes the stars align in the most unexpected ways.
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