With the start of 2024 coming together, that means one special thing for the Orange County area of California. It is NAMM weekend! NAMM brings a flurry of music industry companies, insiders, traders, and most importantly musicians from every genre. Because of this special gathering, it has opened the door to a metal supergroup known as Metal Allegiance to put on a show every year. Celebrating 10 years of Metal Allegiance, this supergroup packed the House of Blues Anaheim with a slew of special guests to put on a one of a kind performance for the screaming metal fans. Playing with them for this one off show was Dieth, Held Hostage, and QUOR. As the battle weary fans trudged on from the convention center to the venue, they were woken up when the music kicked in and the fans found a second breath that brought them all back to life. Ready to rage on all night.

Opening the night was a band from San Diego known as QUOR, who was more than honored to be opening a show of this magnitude. Guitarist and vocalist Brian Corn captivated the audience with his Viking demeanor. However, it was when his vocals cried out to the audience the people were truly drawn into the band. His voice carries so much weight and strength to it, that you can’t help but listen in. Bassist Doug Smith handles the low end with ease, perfectly sync’d with Corn to add more heft to the rhythm. Drummer Danny Gordo setup with a double bass drum can be seen blasting away in the back. The way he can float between powerful blast to flowing grooves helps to add layers and depth to QUOR’s sound. Playing songs like “Shallow,” “Fly little Bird,” “Raising the Dead,” “Unicorn,” “Life is A Hard Thing,” “December,” and ending with “Sam Meets Sara.” QUOR was the perfect fit to start the night as their sound helped to light the fire of metal that would continue to burn through the night.

Up next was a band known as Held Hostage who was bringing a dirty hard rock and roll sound to the masses. Fronted by singer Tom Collier who caried himself with a presence that screamed he owned this stage. This was his bands time to perform, and you were going to hear what they have to say no matter what. Guitarist Scott Gregg looked like he just walked off the Sunset Strip in the 80s and played guitar just like those Sunset strip bands. With tenacity and screeching guitar licks. Bassist Dave Carroll refused to let his role in the band be passed over as he was all over the stage. Playing it up for the crowd and making sure he was noticed by every member in the crowd. Drummer Jeff Murray brought the grit to Held Hostage with a playing style that let the fans head bang to the beats. Held Hostage’s old school 80s rock and roll style was eaten up by the patrons of the House of Blues.

With the next band, we were treated to a truly amazing surprise with the band Dieth. To those who were not in the know, like myself. Dieth is a supergroup that has been making waves in the metal community. Consisting of vocalist/guitarist Guilherme Miranda of Entombed A.D., drummer Fred Aching of Bullet Boys, and bassist David Ellefson of Megadeth. I have been a huge Megadeth fan since my teens when I discovered metal, and not knowing who was about to walk on stage and then to see David Ellefson standing in front of me, I was star struck. Followed by one of the biggest screams of joy I have let out in a while. Ellefson is a maser of his instrument who easily plays these blisteringly fast licks with precision while playing it up to the crowd that have been following him for years. Miranda has probably the most ferocious roar of the entire night, while bringing the heaviest riffs that make your head seize trying to headbang to them. Aching layered his blast beats with grooving fills that lit up the crowd and forced the crowd to move to the music. Though we were only allowed to indulge in the presence of Dieth for a 30 minute set, they made it count with songs like “To Hell and Back,” “Don’t Get Mad…Get Even!,” Wicked Disdain,” “Free Us All,” “Heavy is the Crown,” “Dead Inside,” “The Mark of Cain,” and “In the Hall of the Hanging Serpents.” I was truly awe struck with the performance from Dieth that I can only hope that they will soon announce a full National tour, as I need to experience them again.

Finally, it was time to say our pledge to the Metal Allegiance. This is a supergroup that officially consists of Mark Menghi (BPMD) on bass, Alex Skolnick (Testament) on guitar, David Ellefson (Megadeth) on bass, and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) on drums. But what truly makes a Metal Allegiance show special is that they bring in all their friends to swap in and out through the entire set. Opening with “The Accuser” and moving into “Bound by Silence” they brought out John Bush (Armored Saint) and Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) to sing and play guitar respectfully. Other guests that got brought out during the show include: Chuck Billy (Testament), Bobby Blitz (Overkill), Phil Demmel (Vio-lence), Chris Poland (Megadeth), Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves), Troy Sanders (Mastadon), Brann Dailor (Mastadon), and Gary Holt (Exodus). With members swapping out almost every other song, you never knew what kind of line up you would get from song to song. The surprises helped keep the crowd screaming and cheering all night long. Metal Allegiance gave us two hours of this one of a kind excitement with original songs and covers like “Can’t Kill the Devil,” “Gift of Pain,” “Hellraiser,” “Rapid Fire,” “Wrecking Crew,” “Wake Up Dead,” “Let Darkness Fall,” “Mother of Sin,” “The Preacher,” “Blood & Thunder,” “Only,” and “Pledge of Allegiance.” With a three song encore the stage was barely able to contain the performers as every person came out on stage to all play “Damage, Inc.,” “Damage Case,” and ending with “Iron Maiden.”

Hearing that this many artists would be performing throughout the show seems like it would be overkill. But just like how Anthony & Joe Russo balanced over 70 heroes in Avengers: Endgame. Metal Allegiance balanced their multitude of musicians to give each person multiple spots to shine throughout the night. This mix match of artists also allowed the fans to enjoy team ups like drafting a fantasy football team. No matter who was on stage, they all carried themselves with an air of casualness like they were all just jamming in a garage. Walking over to just chit chat throughout the set. Yet still playing with the finesse and tenure of the exalted musicians they are. This is an annual NAMM show that I always look forward to, and highly advise anyone who is in town next year to make sure they make it out to pledge their loyalty to the Metal Allegiance.