It has been ten years since bands like Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, God Forbid and Unearth released a handful of signature albums that would divide the history of metal music as 'before' and 'after' 2004. The so-called New Wave of American Heavy Metal swept the metal world and changed it forever.

One of the places that it somehow missed seeping, however, is Bulgaria. UNEARTH's show in Sofia's Mixtape 5 Club on Tuesday was only the third time such a band played in Bulgaria. And the first time one did as a headliner. In a way, it was the Bulgarian audience's first contact with 'the real thing.' And the real thing sure makes all of the imitations that we've seen so far – both local and European – seem like a cargo cult.*

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