Ahead of Easter Sunday, Black Label Society visited their “Boston Chapter” at the MGM Music Hall, located right next to Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. For this particular tour, the band was doing something special. Instead of having other acts open the show, they were going to do it themselves. Joining the Black Label Society (or BLS) was Zakk Sabbath and Dark Chapel, featuring BLS guitarist Dario Lorina.
It’s extremely rare for a band to have its members open for themselves. While rare, it’s a unique, tiresome and bold mood. To pull something off this grand, the other two bands have to be unique in their own right, while complementing the rest of the bill. Luckily for all parties involved, this was the exact case.
Opening the show was Dark Chapel. Out of all three bands on the bill, they are the heaviest in terms of sound and overall mood. Singer and guitarist Lorina’s voice has the same vibe as Chris Cornell’s. Lorina has a dark and mysterious tone that brings out a unique sound from the band. The quartet’s set was only thirty minutes, and it was a very strict 30 minutes.
At the start of their 30 minutes, the band’s intro music was dramatic and had a cinematic feel as noticeable anticipation rose over the audience. By the time the band was done, Dark Chapel had won over the audience. Once the crowd realized how talented the group was, it didn’t take long for the people to enjoy the music.
Dark Chapel Is:
Dario Lorina – Lead Vocals / Guitar
Brody DeRozie – Guitar
Mike Gunn – Bass / Background Vocals
Luis Silva – Drums
Setlist:
1. Afterglow
2. Hollow Smile
3. Sign of Life
4. Hit of Your Love
5. Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers Cover)
6. We Are Remade
Immediately following Dark Chappel was Zakk Sabbath. The band features three-fourths of Black Label Society and is fronted by none other than Zakk Wylde. But, before a note was played, Wylde donned his Ultimate Warrior alter ego. With the Ultimate Warrior mask on, he ran to the front of the stage with his three action figures in hand while recording the whole event on his phone that was in his other hand. By now, whether it’s with BLS, Pantera, or Zakk Sabbath, Wylde has begun to go out into the crowd as “The Ultimate Warrior.” It’s a funny way to have additional fun with the crowd.
When the threesome finally plugged in, they dove right into Black Sabbath’s “Children of the Grave”. If you didn’t guess by name, Zakk Sabbath is a Black Sabbath cover band. This version of Zakk Sabbath had BLS members, John DeServio on bass and Jeff Fabb on drums. Zakk Sabbath’s set only featured five songs, but they were Sabbath staples.
What felt right about the Zakk Sabbath set was that it felt like they were the official Black Sabbath cover band. For those fans who are die-hards, Wylde was the long-time guitarist in Ozzy Osbourne‘s solo band when Jake E. Lee was fired before the No Rest for the Wicked record in 1988. Wylde also went on to play on some of Osbourne’s most famous solo records, like the mega record, No More Tears, in 1991.
Zakk Sabbath wrapped up their set with “War Pigs.” The Boston crowd sang along to every single word from the tune. The audience even sang along to Wyldes guitar riff. The only other guitar player to play these songs better than Wylde is Tony Iommi. As the band got to the middle of the tune, Wylde hopped down from the stage and started to solo in the middle of the crowd. As he walked back to the stage – on the opposite side he came down from – he walked with this guitar behind his back. Wylde only proved why he is one of the best hard rock/metal guitarists on the planet.
Zakk Sabbath Is:
Zakk Wylde – Lead Vocals / Guitar
John DeServio – Bass
Jeff Fabb – Drums
Setlist:
1. Children of the Grave
2. Snowblind
3. Faries Wear Boots
4. N.I.B
5. War Pigs
The show got slightly pushed back as Zakk Sabbath stayed on a few minutes late. But by the time Black Label Society jumped on stage, they played for about an hour straight. Given that each band member played an additional set earlier in the night, it’s astonishing that they have this excellent stamina. Black Label Society went on stage a little past 9:30 p.m. and stayed on till 11 p.m. on the nose.
Throughout the night, it was great to see some of Wyldes classic guitars come out for an appearance. Whether it was his signature Flying V’s, the double neck, or the regular Wylde-patented spinning circles guitar, it all added to the Wylde mystique. Throughout both the Zakk Sabbath set and the BLS set, the entire band was headbanging. At times, you couldn’t even see their faces due to all the hair in front.
What makes the band so watchable is the fact that Wylde captivates the audience. When he solos, he stands up on a riser. Wylde is a tall guy to begin with, so when he jumps on the riser, long hair and all, it makes it seem like he’s standing on a tower above the mountains as he looks down on everyone. It was amazing to see Wylde get up on his platform, wearing boots and a kilt and shred away on his guitar while fans stood in awe.
Halfway through the set, the band played “No More Tears” off the record of the same name. As they naturally transitioned from the previous tune, “Heart of Darkness,” fans immediately recognized the riff and began to cheer and yell. Once the song was all wrapped up, the audience chanted “Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy!” Their chants were deafening to everyone at the MGM Music Hall. “No More Tears” would be the first of two head nods the band would give Osbourne that night.
As the setlist wound down, BLS played “Ozzy’s Song.” This heartfelt tribute featured Lorina on piano as the band belted out a beautiful tune. Behind them, a banner with pictures of Osbourne was hoisted up as the crowd cheered and reminisced on memories.
The band closed their set with “Stillborn” and called it a night. As the band was winding down, they tossed their guitar picks, drumsticks and bass picks into the crowd. As they did so, they gave their bandmates hugs in a true sign of brotherhood. It’s great to see when a band genuinely gets along with each other for the sake of the music.
The 2026 Black Label Society tour is a show you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re a fan of BLS, Black Sabbath, or metal in general, this is your show. For three and a half hours, the band truly gives it their all on stage. It’s commendable for being able to play multiple sets in a night, all tour long. Additionally, the entire tour feels like a celebration of Osbourne, which makes it all the more memorable. Black Label Society’s 2026 tour is a memorable one as a celebration of metal.
Black Label Society Is:
Zakk Wylde – Lead Vocals / Guitar
John DeServio – Bass / Background Vocals
Dario Lorina – Guitar / Background Vocals
Jeff Fabb – Drums
Setlist:
1. Whole Lotta Sabbath
2. Funeral Bell
3. Name in Blood
4. Destroy & Conquer
5. A Love Unreal
6. Heart of Darkness
7. No More Tears (Ozzy Osbourne Cover)
8. In This River
9. The Blessed Hellride
10. Set You Free
11. Fire It Up
12. Suicide Messiah
13. Ozzy’s Song
14. Stillborn
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My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in the Boston, Massachusetts area. I am always looking for the next concert to attend.