October 8th, 2022

Performing a stellar main support performance with Malevolent Creation earlier in May, Narcotic Wasteland’s insanely talented Death Metal frenzy would reprise the role of main support again just a few months later, this time with Heavy Metal icons Accept, which I’ll admit wasn’t the choice I was expecting.  However, upon a second reflection, the amount of eyeballs, and new audiences to perform in front of, especially with the talent level of Narcotic Wasteland, it would be seen as a prime opportunity to put themselves in a unique spot, and getting your name out there to a different, yet popular crowd before the year ends.  The mixture would be a must to see. 

            A sold-out crowd here in Hollywood, opening up definitely to a different type of crowd than what Narcotic Wasteland normally would, yet the mission remains the same:  Bring the house down with amazing, brutal music.  There were a number of Death Metal fans in attendance, easy to tell by the headbanging, Immolation/Nile shirts I saw, and just general movement.  What I was certainly more curious about, is how the rest of the Accept crowd, would feel about hearing extreme music.  And, as soon as “Absent Friends’ opened their set, I already felt an indication that the songs would be some of their non-blasting kind, as the beautiful riff sequence with higher melodic notes palm-muted, in a slower time signature.  A solid first minute-introduction for those in attendance, the dynamics of the riffs stayed aggressive, but performed at such a buildup of tempo, it’s something you appreciate a lot more of as you grow in age, and not expect high-speed blasting.

            No question or doubt about it, Narcotic Wasteland were not only the best group of musicians performing tonight, I’d imagine that the case regardless of the other different local bands, opening up the rest of the tour.  Dallas Toler-Wade’s brilliant guitar playing, signature vocal diction, and stunningly shown between songs, outstanding front man fiber, guiding the crowd note-for-note between songs, and firing them up at the most opportune times. The end solo in “Keeping up with the Jones”, beautifully picked leads, chaotic tapping section, and a tremendous sense of melody placement, and musical wonder.  It’s beyond an honour to watch Dallas perform generally, and the fans loved watching the solos and technical play.

But make no mistake, this is not “Dallas and The All-Stars”, this is Narcotic Wasteland.  The three musicians in this group, create for a vivid, dynamic sound.  Chris Corcione’s swift gallops and bass slaps, kept the rhythm flaring with energy, and especially felt during the various palm-muted sequences.  Headbanging and windmilling non-stop, his presence on-stage takes a life of its own, difficult to describe the aura someone displayed as Chris does.  The passion for performance, capsulated so effortlessly.  “The Best Times Have Passed”, Narcotic Wasteland’s latest single, arguably one of their slowest songs in tempo, and yet, a desolate, mirror-facing in yourself type of depressive atmosphere, heard with the opening chord structures.  Joseph Howard’s swift pace in his drum fills, and ‘harmonizing’ with Dallas on several tracks, including this one, gave the vocals added variance, and without Howard breaking a sweat, doing both simultaneously.  Ending the set with their fastest song of the night, “Introspective Nightmares”, the ending harmonizing solo with Dallas and Brett Lee, got the crowd’s attention, appreciating the memorable skill between both guitarists. 

            While the only large flaw in Narcotic Wasteland’s performance, was the 30-minute set they were given for this tour.  For being a main support, 45-minutes was to at least be expected, and their set felt over before it began.  However, the overall dynamic of their set, was as powerful, if not greater, than their San Diego show previous.  The mid-tempo choices not only worked with this different type of crowd, but I gained an even further perspective on the overall vision of Narcotic Wasteland, and what helps them stand out.  The extreme musical candle, continues to flicker strong.     

1. Absent Friends

2. Keeping up with the Jones

3. Bleed and Swell

4. The Best Times Have Passed

5. Introspective Nightmares