The Machine Vs. Monster’s Tour Featuring Static-X and Gwar take over The Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.
First band of the evening was American alternative metal band from Cleveland, Ohio A Killer’s Confession. It was formed in 2016 by former Mushroomhead vocalist Waylon Reavis. It currently consists of bassist JP Cross and keyboardist Richard “Stitch” Thomas. It also consists of Drummer Daniel “Lil’ Dan” Fox, who is currently a member of Dope, filing in for this tour.
The band wasted no time igniting the crowd, opening with “Purpose.” Tracks like “Greed” and “Filth” cut deep, tapping into themes of struggle, addiction, and redemption, while “Qwerty,”a Mushroom Head cover, showcased a more melodic, vulnerable side that had the crowd singing along with raised fists and glassy eyes.
A Killer’s Confession isn’t just a band; it’s an emotional purge, a sonic therapy session, and a fierce declaration of survival. Whether you’ve followed Reavis since his Mushroomhead days or just discovered this powerhouse outfit, their live show is a must-see — raw, real, and absolutely unforgettable.
The next band of the evening is American industrial metal band from New York City, formed in 1997 Dope. The band has released seven full-length studio albums with their most recent studio album, Blood Money Part Zer0, being released in February 2023. The lineup currently consists of founding member and lead singer, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Edsel Dope, lead guitarist Virus, bassist Acey Slade, and drummer Daniel Fox. As of 2022, they have sold over one million albums worldwide.
Unlike many of the popular bands from the 1990s, Dope derived their sound from influences taken from heavy metal bands and fused that with the sound of industrial rock acts who had made waves earlier in the decade, such as Ministry and Skinny Puppy.
It’s been over two decades since Dope first exploded onto the scene with their raw fusion of industrial metal and street-punk attitude, and Edsel Dope and company proved they’ve lost none of their edge — if anything, they’ve become even more dangerous.
Opening with “Blood Money,” the band hit the stage. The room instantly erupted as Edsel, masked and manic, tore through the lyrics with venomous precision. Backed by the thunderous rhythm section and razor-sharp guitars, it was clear from the first riff that this wasn’t going to be a nostalgia trip — it was war.
The setlist was a carefully balanced mix of old-school anthems and newer, more refined material. Tracks like “Debonaire” and “Die MF Die” brought out longtime fans in full scream-along mode, while “Bring It On” and “Bit**” showcased Dope’s evolution — still aggressive, still raw, but smarter and more sinister.
The night closed with “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record),” a Dead Or Alive cover that, decades later, still carries a visceral punch. The mosh pit exploded one last time, ending the show in a fitting blaze of chaos.
Dope’s live show isn’t polished — it’s feral, cathartic, and unapologetically in-your-face. In an age of overproduced performances, Edsel Dope and crew still bring the kind of live fury that makes you feel like you’ve survived something. It’s not just music — it’s a blast of sonic rebellion straight to the gut.
Next band of the evening was an American heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, in 1984, GWAR, composed of and operated by a frequently rotating line-up of musicians, artists, and filmmakers collectively known as Slave Pit Inc. Since the death of frontman Dave Brockie in 2014, the collective has continued recording and performing without any of its founding artists or musicians.
There are concerts, and then there are GWAR shows — blood-soaked, apocalyptic, intergalactic slaughterfests masquerading as metal gigs. The legendary shock-metal warriors invaded the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, turning the seaside venue into a technicolor battlefield of gore, satire, and total musical mayhem.
Tonight however was not like any other GWAR show. Due to venue restrictions the band had to tune down their theatrics. There couldn’t be their typical blood, gore and other fluids through the crowd. They had to keep it minimal and not do the extreme show fans were used to.
The floor was already packed with fans in white t-shirts0 and foam armor (GWAR superfans). The anticipation was electric, and when the lights dropped, the room erupted into gleeful screams. GWAR emerged like Roman gods of chaos — towering, grotesque, and fully armored — and launched straight into “F*ck This Place.” As soon as the first riffs started the barricade for the crowd started to move so security had to move in and get the crowd to back off so they could fix it.
Blöthar the Berserker, in all his horned, gut-spilling glory, commanded the stage like a true interstellar warlord. His vocals were thunderous, his banter hilariously profane, and his thirst for carnage insatiable. He “executed” a parade of absurd political effigies, celebrities, and alien overlords throughout the night, all of which were promptly decapitated, disemboweled, or exploded in fountains of fluorescent fluids.
Musically, GWAR was as tight and punishing as ever. Tracks like “El Presidente,” “The Salaminizer,” and “Slap You Around” sounded massive — crunchy guitars, relentless drums, and just the right amount of theatrical chaos. Even beneath the armor, these are top-tier musicians, and their decades of experience shined through the controlled madness.
Between songs, Blöthar and company took time to mock humanity, politics, climate change, and themselves — all in the name of hilarious, equal-opportunity offense. And the audience loved every minute of it.
GWAR doesn’t perform shows — they wage battle.
The final band of the evening was American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1994 Static X. The line-up has fluctuated over the years, but was long-held constant with band founder, frontman, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Wayne Static until his death in 2014.
Static-X isn’t just a band — it’s a machine built from gasoline, grinding gears, and cybernetic rage. The “Evil Disco” pioneers delivered a scorching performance that honored their past while roaring full-throttle into the future.
Taking the stage in a shroud of smoke and pulsating lights, the band launched into “I Want To Fu**ing Break It” with mechanical precision and explosive energy. The crowd, already buzzing, erupted as the unmistakable pummeling riff and digital grit kicked off a night filled with industrial groove, metallic hooks, and cyberpunk theater.
Front and center was Xer0, the masked vocalist channeling the late Wayne Static with eerie accuracy. Clad in futuristic armor and a towering spiked hairpiece, Xer0 paid tribute not by imitation, but by embodying the essence of Static-X’s DNA — raw, robotic aggression with just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek attitude.
The band tore through a career-spanning setlist, including fan favorites like “Wisconsin Death Trip,” “Black And White,” “Bled for Days,” and “Get To The Gone.” Each track hit like a hydraulic piston to the chest, with pounding rhythms and crunchy guitars that sent the crowd into synchronized convulsions. Static-X’s signature blend of metal, industrial, and electronic elements remains as potent and infectious as ever.
One of the most powerful moments came during “The Only,” when a large projection of Wayne Static appeared behind the band. Instead of feeling somber, it felt like celebration — a moment of unity where old-school fans and new alike could scream in tribute to the man who built this juggernaut.
Static-X isn’t just surviving — they’re thriving. In a world that’s increasingly automated and hollow, they remind us that machines can still have heart — especially when they’re fueled by distortion, grief, and pure adrenaline.
Static-X
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GWAR
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Dope
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