"No Fear, Killswitch is here"

The metal will not be stopped.

Despite an unexpected snowstorm wreaking havoc on the Niagara Falls/Grand Island area, the fans came in droves to watch Killswitch Engage, DragonFroce, Chimaira, and He Is Legend heat up the Dome Theater stage Sunday.

Anticipation grew steadily throughout the night and as the lights finally dimmed for Killswitch's set, the bruised, beaten, and sweaty masses let out an immense roar. This is where the fun begins.

Ripping through the opener and title track off their newest release "As Daylight Dies," Killswitch had the crowd throwing their bodies around like it was an episode of WWE's "Monday Night Raw." "My Curse" and "The Arms of Sorrow" off that same release produced similar results.

Notable (for obvious reasons) frontman Howard Jones carries with him a powerful voice and a persona that is greater than the vast majority of his metal brethren. During the only endearing moment in the show, Jones showed his dedication to wounded axeman and founding member Adam Dutkiewicz.

"This set, not this whole tour, is dedicated to Adam," said Jones. "He loves you guys...and wants your beef jerky."

A warm sentiment and an unabashed shout out for Dutkiewicz's "Jerky Across The World" campaign to say the least.

Former DamagePlanner Pat Lachman pulled off guitar duties without a hitch, but as any KSE fan knows, Adam D is and forever will be Killswitch. He was missed, but in each and every one of their fan's hearts, he was running around shredding riffs as his cape flowed elegantly behind him.

The highlights of the set came when Jones and his crew delivered on point renditions of the now ECW Wrestler CM Punk's theme "This Fire Burns" and fan favorite "A Bid Farewell." Their power had fans screaming their hearts out and grinding their bodies down in a fashionable circle pit.

Killswitch Engage is one of those bands that can't truly be appreciated until seen live. They've managed to perfect a sound that often doesn't translate well into live territory and deliver one hell of a performance in the process. Don't make the mistake of missing them.

DragonForce offered some direct support for Killswitch. Every song played out like an epic battle cry, resulting in massive cheers of victory at each song's end.

The band itself sounds like a cheesy European power-metal outfit, which they are. However, what sets DragonForce apart from bands like The Darkness is the fact that they possess some of the best guitar players in music. Lead guitarist Herman Li is unbelievably talented. Watching him blast through extremely long solos at an unprecedented pace will leave even the most talented guitar players in a daze.

"Valley of the Damned" and current single "Through the Fire and Flames" were among the most memorable songs of the set, and like every DragonForce song, showcased Li's unmatched talent.

Vocalist ZP Theart looks like a cross between Howie Mandel and Kirk Hammett and sounds like Bruce Dickenson after a swift kick to the junk. No joke, he seriously sings that high.

DragonForce delivered an epic performance, though their actual stage time lasted far less than the time in between Chimaira and their set.

Chimaira, the second opener, delivered a nearly flawless set of pure metal. For some reason there was a black phallic sex toy strapped to vocalist Mark Hunter's mic. It has not been documented as to why that object was there, but what is known is that Hunter tossed it aside half way through their first song.

Opening with the title track off their March 6 release "Resurrection," Chimaira got the crowd moving and the pits forming for the first time all night. Though they are touring in direct support of their upcoming release, they stayed true to the fan favorites.

Unapologetic tunes such as "Powertrip" and "Pure Hatred" had nearly everyone singing along to their new take on classic thrash metal. Their live set left nothing to be desired and no concertgoer unmoved. The taste of new material tantalized fans and if the full CD is anything like the few songs played off it, listeners may be in store for the first great metal release of '07.

He Is Legend were the first band to play, and like all other non-metal bands that tour with pure metal acts, were not readily accepted.

"The Seduction" and "I Am Hollywood" were the only memorable songs of their set. The rest went over about as well as a Dimebag Darrell joke at a Pantera cover band show.

Three stellar acts and a promising fourth made the No Fear Music Tour's stop in Niagara Falls the first great rock show of the year.