The Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia is always host to fun and unique events, and this night was a perfect example of the fun and free spirit of the city. Mac Sabbath’s 10th anniversary tour stopped in the city of brotherly love, and people were lovin’ it (ba da ba ba da). Two excellent openers, Flummox and Guttermouth, with vastly different but equally entertaining styles, and topped off with the themed stage, costumes, and witty parodies of stoner metal classics of Mac Sabbath, made for a delightfully quirky and heavy night of music.
Opening the night was the eclectic and powerful Flummox. With a brand of rock that combines pretty much every genre from death metal to soft melodic hardcore, some of the quirks and whimsy of a band like System of a Down. With a set that included a metal ballad about opposums, and vocals that shook the barriers paired with complex and shredding riffs on top of ear-thumping drums, it was an incredible way to kick things off. Following upon the energy of the opener was the uber energetic Guttermouth. A band that was supposedly kicked off the Vans Warped Tour and are banned in Canada, and the music checks out. Guttermouth has mastered the speedy skate punk of the '70s and '80s, with a sound similar to Dead Kennedys or Black Flag and sarcastic and sometimes offensive lyrics. It was a 45-minute set that felt like 15. With songs that race at supersonic speeds while lead singer Mark Adkins bounces around and jumps across the stage, Guttermouth kept the energy up and got the crowd totally prepared for the headliner to come.
Hitting the stage and immediately dropping the audience in the grease fire, Mac Sabbath were excellent and definitely cooked up some sweet beef. Consisting of metal twists on famous Fast food chains' mascots (Ronald Osbourne, Slayer MacCheeze, Grimalice, and the Catburglar), they perform unique parodies of Black Sabbath that use fast food-themed lyrics. The stage show is electrifying, boasting a steamy grill and ketchup/mustard water bottles. While on the surface, Mac Sabbath can appear as a pure gimmick, the music and performances speak for themselves as they are immensely talented, and frontman Ronald Osbourne absolutely controls crowds and has vocals to match, if not exceed, the theatrics. A spot-on not-so-cover band that reels you in with awesome imagery and pure dedication to the bit, and keeps you in with their amazing skill and musicality. A must-see show if you get the chance anywhere! May 2nd, 2025, at the Brooklyn Bowl in Philadelphia was a whimsical and heavy night that shows there is creativity and excitement in every corner of the metal community. Thank you to the energetic and genre-jumping Flummox, the quick and witty Guttermouth, and the mighty Mac Sabbath, as well as the Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia.
Mac Sabbath
Guttermouth
Flummox
