On the evening of November 30th, we were lucky enough to be graced with the presence of some of the godfathers of modern progressive metal, Opeth and Mastodon, along with special guests Zeal & Ardor. They took over the stage at the Mesa Amphitheater, a medium-sized outdoor venue that is a perfect choice for a cool evening in the Arizona fall. The venue charges for parking and only accepts cash for that, so welcome to the 21st century. But fret not! The parking lot attendants are more than happy to direct you to the ATM at the gas station across the street – complete with another transaction fee… but I digress. Zeal & Ardor kicked off the night with one of the most passionate performances I’ve seen. Not many bands can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up by d...
