Black Label Society returned to the Burgh after a few years away with a powerhouse lineup to celebrate their new album Engines of Demolition. Born out of decades of raw groove metal and Zakk Wylde’s legendary guitar wizardry, BLS has long stood as a titan in the heavy music world. The outdoor stage provided the perfect backdrop for a wall of amplifiers and a crowd ready to throw down all night long.
Kicking off the night was Dark Chapel, who brought a dark and heavy tone right out of the gate. Their sound hit like a freight train, blending heavy riffs with atmospheric passages that gripped the crowd early on. Frontman Dario Lorina ruled the stage with raw intensity, pulling the early arrivals into their carefully crafted world full of sludgy riffs. It was the exact kind of high-energy opening set needed to wake everyone up and set the mood for the rest of the night.
Following that impressive start, Zakk Sabbath took over the stage to deliver a proper tribute to classic metal royalty. Treating the crowd to timeless Black Sabbath tracks, the band played every note with genuine passion and incredible technical skill. The crowd sang along to the iconic chorus, transforming Stage AE into a massive choir of metalheads. Watching the musicians channel the classic doom sound was a complete blast for everyone present. The set closed with “War Pigs,” and Zakk decided to spend some time jamming in the pit, up close and personal with the BLS family.
When Black Label Society finally took the stage, the crowd erupted into a total frenzy. Zakk Wylde stood front and center, ready to lead the Black Label family into a set of pure metal bliss. Dario Lorina traded lightning fast leads with Zakk while bassist JD DeServio kept the low end thundering alongside Jeff Fabb’s crushing drum work. Every single guy on that stage brought endless energy, constantly engaging with the front row, tossing picks, and stomping across the risers. What made the night extra impressive was watching these musicians pull double duty across the lineups, showing off their sheer stamina and dedication to the craft.
The setlist offered a fantastic mix that gave every era of the band a chance to shine. They unleashed several killer tracks from Engines of Demolition, and those new songs proved to be absolute heavy hitters live. “Name In Blood” was deliciously chuggy and felt right at home with the old-school tracks. The set took an emotional gutpunch with “Ozzy’s Song,” a stunningly beautiful tribute to the legend who started it all, without whom the metal world wouldn’t exist as it does today. Alongside the new material, the band tore through classic fan-favourites filled with pinch harmonics, heavy grooves, and epic guitar solos. It wouldn’t be a BLS show without “The Blessed Hellride” and “Fire It Up,” and the crowd devoured these classics. The sound mix was dialed in perfectly, allowing the crushing guitar tones and pounding bass to hit you right in the chest. There was a great flow to the set, balancing total chaos with melodic, soulful guitar passages.
The atmosphere throughout the entire show felt like a massive family reunion for the BLS allegiance. Everywhere you looked, fans in leather or denim vests and band tees were high-fiving, sharing laughs, and headbanging together in the pit. The bond between the band and the audience was undeniable, creating a warm vibe despite the loud and aggressive music. As Zakk introduced his bandmates, he included their favourite football teams, which unfortunately included both the Browns and the Ravens, but Zakk reassured the wild yinzer crowd that he loves the Steelers! He had the old-school fans completely mesmerized with gritty charm, and bad-ass guitars certainly helped too. By the time the set ended with “Stillborn,” nobody wanted to leave, lingering in the bliss of metal greatness as long as possible.
September 18th, 2026
