This was my first time seeing Zakk Wylde since the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, and when you think about Ozzy's solo career you immediately hear the guitar voices that defined it - Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, and the epic Zakk Wylde. What I've always loved most about a Zakk Wylde show is the love in the room. Yes, love, from a kilted, hair-thrashing Viking who looks like he could bench-press a semi. Whether he's stepping up to carry Dimebag Darrell's legacy in Pantera or paying tribute through Zakk Sabbath, the respect for the music and the artists who came before him pours off the stage.

What made the night even more fun was the fact that Zakk is such a legend he had no problem being the opening act - for himself. Zakk Sabbath actually took second billing to Black Label Society, and the band treated it like two completely separate shows. Instead of rolling straight into another set, they reset the stage and the vibe entirely. And yes, we got a proper kilt change.

While Zakk was the main draw, Dario Lorina deserves serious credit for what might have been the hardest working performance of the night. His new side project Dark Chapel opened the show, and he would go on to play all three sets without missing a beat. What impressed me most was how each performance revealed a different side of his musicianship. It's hard to pull focus from Zakk Wylde, but as the night went on I found myself watching Lorina more and more.

Dark Chapel's debut LP Spirit in the Glass is worth checking out. Lorina's vocals were a real surprise, showing depth and control that matched the band's heavy atmosphere. Songs like "Afterglow" immediately locked the room in, while "Hollow Smile" and "Sign of Life" built slow-burning tension. "Hit of Your Love" delivered a soaring melodic moment that cut through the heaviness, but the real standout was their chilling reimagining of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine." Twisting the soulful classic into something dark and oppressive, it became one of the most memorable moments of the set.

By the time Zakk returned to the stage for Zakk Sabbath, the YouTube Theater had filled to capacity. I hadn't seen this project live before, and what struck me immediately was Wylde's approach to the vocals. He wasn't trying to reinvent the songs, he was honoring them, giving the audience a glimpse of what a classic Black Sabbath show might have felt like.

The seven-song set moved quickly but covered a great range of Sabbath material. The inclusion of deeper cuts like "Orchid" and "Basically," a showcase for Geezer Butler's bass brilliance, was a nice nod to the original albums while keeping the set tight and energetic.

For me, the highlight came during "War Pigs." Zakk left the stage and wandered into the crowd, launching into an extended solo directly in front of a kid who had apparently been following the band on tour. The crowd around them turned into a forest of raised phones, but the kid didn't pull his out. He stood there completely in the moment, staring in pure awe as his guitar hero shredded inches away. His face radiated a kind of joy that felt almost illegal to witness, and it was one of the coolest things I saw all night.

The final Black Label Society set was absolutely crushing. This band remains criminally underappreciated, which hurts almost as much as the thunderous speakers I was standing next to. JD DeServio's bass and Jeff Fabb's double-kick drums were powerful enough to rattle internal organs, and I loved every second of it.

This closing set felt completely different from the Sabbath tribute. Here, the band was celebrating its own legacy. With their 12th studio album, Engines of Demolition, set for release on March 27, 2026, I had hoped we might hear some new material, especially after loving Doom Crew Inc. Instead, the band delivered a career-spanning set that leaned on fan favorites from albums like Mafia and The Blessed Hellride, along with later material packed with groove-heavy riffs and massive solos.

During "In This River," images of Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul appeared on the screen. It was a moment filled with respect, but not a somber one. This was a "let's mosh" kind of tribute, and the floor responded instantly, erupting into a swirling vortex of thrashing bodies.

As the tour continues, I hope more new material finds its way into the set. Black Label Society has the songs, the sound, and the audience to break through in an even bigger way. If this show proved anything, it's that the legacy Zakk Wylde helped build - rooted in respect, loyalty, and pure heavy metal power - is still roaring louder than ever.