Cutting Like Knives Tour
The Trocadero Theater – Philadelphia, PA
October 22nd, 2012

Let’s pretend it’s 2006. I’m a Junior in college, and just getting into the hard rock and metal scene. I walk into one of my first festivals early in the day, and head to the little bitty side stage, with no expectations what-so-ever. The first band walks out, with a dude that has dreads hanging below his shoulders leading the way. I have no idea who they are, but immediately I like their sound. By the third song, I was hooked, and their last song (Wasteland) would soon become one of my all time favorites.

Fast forward 6 years. I now know that band is called 10 Years, and I have been listening to them ever since. In fact, I’ve learned that for the past decade, they have created quite a name for themselves in the mid-market hard rock genre, and they are only getting better. Earlier this year, they released their strongest album to date, called Minus the Machine, which highlights their signature intense yet reserved vocals, but with a much heavier spin than albums in the past. The album also features an increased usage of backup screams that works very well, and overall, the album sticks out as one of 2012’s best.