This is part of the only footage I have left from my days of filming, photographing, and street teaming for Zephaniah in 2008. This was shot at my birthday party down in Terre Haute, Indiana (my actual birthday was 2 days later). My father came up to visit and asked if I wanted to go and see Dream Theater. My reply to him was "No...we're going to travel with a few of my friends down to Terre Haute for a show...and prepare to be blown away!! There is a long story to share with all of you about this awesome power metal band from the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana. It's a story that I will hold dear to my heart for the rest of my life. To sum up the words about 2008, I've only got 3: WHAT A RUSH!!!!!!
I first heard of Zephaniah thanks to a friend of mine named Karl Jones, who was playing drums for a local Fort Wayne band called Under The Wake. I had seen UTW play a few gigs during the last 3 months of 2007, and when I heard they were releasing an album in March, I immediatly bought a ticket. The lineup was Verge Of Submission, 80,000 Dead, The Blood Reckoning, Act Of War, Zephaniah, and Under The Wake. VoS was debuting a young new bassist, Justinian Dispenza, and impressed me again (I saw them in November 2007open for Under The Wake at the Firehouse Theater) with a few new songs. The 3 next bands I wasn't into all that much, but I definitely remember one of the vocalists with this big, long mullet. Then, a moment that changed things dramatically.
Zephaniah's intro, Metal Prayer, started blaring through the PA. Towards the end of the "Viking Holy Prayer", the walked on stage with each member following the other. Three words were chanted: "HAIL!" HAIL!" "HAIL!". Immediately, I was floored with what came next. With a sudden burst of ferocity, they launced into "Flame Of The Dragon", with vocalist Logan Detwiler leading the crowd into a fist pumping frenzy. Guitarists Justin Zych and Tyson Miller kept the crowd entertained with their frantic and energetic stage prowess, just like you witness in this video. Never before, in all the bands I have seen nationally and locally, was I ever this impressed. In my head, and to a lot of people, these guys were the future of Heavy Metal.
I had the highest honor and privelage to travel with Zephaniah out on the road for a few shows (Terre Haute, IN in April and Toledo, OH in May), and attended probably 10 or 15 shows of theirs in Fort Wayne alone. From the CD release party, to the Battle Of The Bands, to the farewell show for Under The Wake (this took place 2 nights before I had to move to Virginia, so it was a farewell in many ways).
The memories I have shared, whether you enjoy reading about them or not, are some of the best memories that I have of my entire life. I finally felt like I belonged to something. It felt like family.
Extra Special Thanks to Logan Detwiler, Ian Bender, Justin Zych, Tyler Sumwault, Tyler Bender, Nate Perry, Karl Jones, Greg Quandt, Peter Dragnev, Justinian Dispenza, Darrell Robinson, Logan Graves, and all the bands we partied with and had numerous shows with: Imminent Demise, Habitual Coersion, 80000 Dead, Blood Reckoning, Act Of War, and anyone that was there for the ride of a lifetime.
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i wish i could hear logan more
amethyst9393 7 months ago