Black Label Society:
The New Jersey CHapter
The quiet of Montclair didn't stand a chance against The Chapter convening for an unforgettable evening with Black Label Society on Friday night at The Wellmont Theater, a hometown stop on their 2026 North American Tour. With an undeniable bill including Zakk Sabbath and Dark Chapel, New Jersey fans packed the sold-out venue wall to wall on April 3rd in a sea of black and leather.
The moment the iconic Black Label Society skull tapestry hit the floor and the stage exploded in a wall of smoke, the room erupted. The band tore into "Whole Lotta Sabbath" followed by a transition straight into "Funeral Bell" and "Name in Blood." Frontman and band founder Zakk Wylde stood center stage in his signature attire: a red and green plaid kilt and a BLS leather vest, wielding an orange Engines of Demolition guitar behind a mic stand weighted by layered grey skulls and a silver crucifix. Alongside him, JD DeServio, Jeff Fabb, and Dario Lorina played with a ferocious intensity for the local fans, and the crowd gave that energy right back.
Despite the dozen speakers stacked each side of the stage to create an enveloping wall of sound, the night was defined by a distinct familial Jersey intimacy. The band’s passion was palpable as they played through a powerful cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “No More Tears” before slowing down for an acoustic break. Wylde, a Bayonne native, made sure to pay homage to his East Coast roots before serenading the room with “In This River” on the piano, shouting out his love for Jersey pizza, the Giants, and the shore towns, including Asbury Park and Seaside.
Chaos returned with beachballs bouncing through the pit and an intricate double-neck guitar solo by Wylde for "The Blessed Hellride.” Fists pumping in the air, friends dancing along the edges of the pit, and countless hands reaching for thrown picks made it impossible not to get swept up in the enthusiasm. Throughout the night, DeServio and Lorina, both decked out in black BLS vests, swapped sides of the stage, leaning into the front row to bridge the gap between themselves and the fans. “Fire It Up” and “Suicide Messiah,” followed by a final instrumental breakdown set the stage for the perfect closer for the evening: a crushing rendition of “Stillborn,” which proved to be a fantastic goodbye to an audience soaked in sweat and Jersey pride.
Photos and review by Bek Allergetti
