When two titans of comedic metal like Nanowar of Steel and Tragedy hit the road together, it’s bound to be a spectacle. Their co-headlining TOYBOYS FROM HELL tour promised an unforgettable evening of metal, humor, and over-the-top theatrics, drawing in a diverse crowd eager for the clash of parody and heavy riffs. Nanowar of Steel, Italy’s absurdist metal masters, have built a reputation for blending parody with power metal, mocking everything from IKEA furniture to the genre itself. Meanwhile, Tragedy, the New York-based “All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees and Beyond,” brings a tongue-in-cheek disco-infused metal flair to their covers of iconic songs. Together, these two bands were sure to be a night of fun, chaos, and unrelenting energy at the popular Crafthouse Bar & Grill.

The local Pittsburgh scene was represented by opener Disease of the Mind, a band whose mix of death metal and slam created an ominous contrast to the bright and upbeat comedy that would follow. Though they were the least comedic act on the surface, their musical performance was intense and raw, grabbing the audience’s attention with thunderous riffs and unrelenting aggression. But instead of the gutteral vocals that typically accompany this style of face-melting music, the frontman took a more performative route, opting instead for sideshow-esque stunts rife with humor. From walking on broken glass to using a saw to shoot out sparks, everyone was left guessing as to what shenanigans would be next. By the time they ended their set, they had primed the crowd with an undercurrent of tension, adrenaline, and dark comedy ready for the madness to come.

Tragedy then took the stage with an explosion of glitter and spandex, kicking off their set with a metal version of their namesake – the Bee Gees’ “Tragedy.” The audience, fully aware of what they were in for, erupted in cheers and laughter, quickly swept up in the band’s over-the-top theatrics. Tragedy’s signature blend of disco-era hits and metal riffs was on full display, as they seamlessly merged 70s kitsch with a full-on rock assault. Their set wasn’t just a concert – it was a glam-metal party, with synchronized dance moves, flashing lights, and lots of tongue-in-cheek banter between songs.

Tragedy’s ability to cover well-known pop songs while injecting them with a heavy dose of metal was nothing short of mesmerizing. From their pounding rendition of “How Deep Is Your Love” to an epic take on Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” each track was reimagined with thundering riffs and bombastic solos. The band managed to balance the humor of their covers with genuine musical prowess, ensuring that the novelty of their act didn’t wear off. The audience was fully invested in the ridiculousness, singing along to every word while headbanging to the punishing metal arrangements.

The true star of the set was towelboy Lance. Between cleaning up spills and wiping off the other band members, Lance made sure everyone was well taken care of. This included the fans too, as Lance made his way through the crowd dancing and making sure everyone was having a good time. Every band needs a towelboy as attentive as Lance.

Tragedy’s set reached its crescendo when they invited all of the women up on stage to help close the set with their riotous take on the Village People’s “YMCA.” As soon as the unmistakable intro hit, the entire crowd threw their hands up in the iconic “Y” formation, chanting along while headbanging to the heavy riffed version of the disco anthem. Tragedy fully embraced the absurdity of the moment, turning a campy classic into a full-blown metal anthem. The band members played off each other’s larger-than-life personas, leaving the audience dancing, laughing, and ready for more. It was a perfect ending to a set that managed to be both hilarious and musically impressive.

Nanowar of Steel, no strangers to bombastic performances themselves, followed Tragedy with a set that was equally ridiculous but with a decidedly European flavor. They opened with one of their newer fan-favourites, “Sober,” a perfect parody of certain alcoholic pirates. The crowd instantly lost it, dancing and laughing along to the absurdity. Nanowar’s brand of humor is highly self-aware, poking fun at the more serious tropes of metal while delivering technically impressive performances. Their stage presence was nothing short of electric, with each band member embracing the comedic spirit while still showcasing their instrumental chops.

Nanowar of Steel’s setlist was a rollercoaster of hilarity, featuring iconic songs like “Norwegian Reggaeton” and “The Call of Cthulhu.” To match Tregedy’s freak disco flair, Nanowar made sure to include their own disco metal track, aptly titled “Disco Metal.” And it wouldn’t be a Nanowar of Steel show without celebrating the beloved barn owl, or barbagianni as the Italians would call it, with their iconic “Il cacciatore della notte” – complete with actual real life barbagianni. With this being a headlining tour, Nanowar was able to bring a much more fleshed out setlist than their US debut last year with Dragonforce, complete with deeper cuts like “Afraid to Shoot into the Eyes of a Stranger in a Strange Land,” which, in spite of the very subtle title, is an homage to Iron Maiden, an the very sexy and relatable love song “…And Then I Noticed That She Was a Gargoyle.”

The band brought a new level of insanity to each track, donning costumes and engaging in playful banter that had the crowd in stitches. Despite the comedic antics, their musical talent was undeniable, with shredding guitar solos and intricate drumming that matched the skill of any traditional metal band. Their humor never once detracted from their technical proficiency, creating an experience that was both side-splittingly funny and musically impressive.

As the night went on, Nanowar of Steel showed no signs of slowing down. Their encore performance started with “Uranus,” a song about a space journey that’s really just a barrage of cheeky innuendo and had the crowd in hysterics. The band fully leaned into the absurdity, making even the most ridiculous moments feel like a shared inside joke with the audience. Nanowar closed out the night with arguably their most well-known track, one about vikings and the holy land of IKEA – “Valhalleluja.” By the end, it was clear that Nanowar of Steel had mastered the art of combining humor with heavy metal in a way that felt both entertaining and authentic.

As the final notes of Nanowar of Steel’s set faded into the night amidst a conga line, fans were left grinning, exhausted, and thoroughly entertained. Both headliners had brought something unique to the stage, Tragedy with their glitzy, disco-metal fusion and Nanowar of Steel with their unpredictable antics. It was a night of laughter, headbanging, and pure theatricality, one that left an indelible mark on everyone in attendance. In an era where metal often takes itself too seriously, the TOYBOYS FROM HELL tour proved that sometimes, the best way to enjoy the genre is with a healthy dose of humor and a whole lot of fun.

October 9th, 2024