Black Label Society, Zakk Sabbath, Dark Chapel – Buffalo Riverworks, Buffalo, NY- 08/26/2026

THOMAS S. ORWAT, JR.

Buffalo, NY — The mighty Black Label Society (BLS), led by former Ozzy Osbourne guitar legend Zakk Wylde, delivered a nearly sold‑out performance at Buffalo RiverWorks on Wednesday night. This stop marked the second date of their “Engines of Demolition” tour, supporting the band’s first studio album since 2021.

Wylde, who at the age of 59 has stayed relentlessly busy in recent years, not only fronting Black Label Society but also touring with his Black Sabbath tribute project Zakk Sabbath, who performed second on the bill. He additionally completed multiple runs with the reformed Pantera lineup, which returned to the road in 2022 with surviving members Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown, joined by Wylde on guitar and Charlie Benante of Anthrax on drums.

This “Engines of Demolition” tour carries a unique twist in that all four members of Black Label Society — Zakk Wylde, guitarist Dario Lorina, bassist John “JD” DeServio, and drummer Jeff Fabb — are pulling double duty, performing not only with BLS but also as part of the opening acts. So, if you’re a fan of the insanely talented members of Black Label Society, you’re going to absolutely love seeing this show.

Kicking off the evening was Dark Chapel, fronted by Dario Lorina. The band released its debut record Spirit In The Glass on February 28, 2025. The full Dark Chapel lineup consists of Dario Lorina (vocals, guitar, piano), Dylan Dyce (guitar), Jeremiah Walker (drums), and Mike Leon (bass). Their short set went over really well.

While most opening acts of a three‑band bill struggle to get the attention of the audience, Dark Chapel had practically everyone’s full attention — and deservingly so. Dark Chapel was locked in, focused, and playing in eerie, dark lighting which amplified the mood and gave the performance a sinister, atmospheric edge.

Highlights of their performance included the haunting, piano‑driven track “Dead Weight” and the all‑out heavy guitar assault of “Afterglow.”

Next up was Zakk Sabbath, the Black Sabbath tribute trio featuring Black Label Society members Zakk Wylde on vocals and guitar, bassist John “JD” DeServio, and drummer Jeff Fabb. Their five‑song set opened with a hard‑hitting version of “Children of the Grave.”

As with Dark Chapel, the stage lighting stayed intentionally dim, with red strobes flashing throughout the performance. The rest of their set included tight, faithful renditions of “Snowblind,” “Fairies Wear Boots,” and “N.I.B.”

Before launching into the final song, “War Pigs,” Wylde led the crowd in a loud OZZY chant in tribute to his former boss and the late Black Sabbath singer. Midway through the song, Wylde left the stage, walked into the audience, and tore into a long, behind‑the‑head — and then with his teeth — guitar solo that had the crowd roaring with approval.

Black Label Society hit the stage shortly after at approximately 9:30 p.m., delivering an absolutely EPIC and crushing set that showcased the undeniable chemistry among the band members. As the giant black Black Label Society curtain covering the front of the stage dropped to the floor, the band launched into “Funeral Bell” from the 2003 release The Blessed Hellride, immediately setting a heavy, commanding tone for the rest of the night.

Unlike the openers, BLS performed under big and bright, full‑stage lighting — a welcome change for the dozen or so hobbyist photographers in the pit, who suddenly had a much easier shoot. The band looked great, with Wylde resembling a Viking warrior as he commanded the stage with his custom‑built WYLDE signature guitar.

Midway through the set, Black Label Society tore into a blistering version of the Ozzy Osbourne hit single “No More Tears,” which had the crowd once again chanting “OZZY, OZZY, OZZY” after the track. Following the song, Wylde introduced the other band members and jokingly claimed that each one was a fan of a Buffalo Bills division rival. He quickly made up for it by adding, “It’s okay because I’m a massive fan of the Buffalo Bills,” drawing a loud roar from the audience.

Afterward, the band performed the piano‑driven song “In This River,” which Wylde has dedicated to his friend, the late Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott. Wylde took to the piano while Dario Lorina handled all of the guitar work, with a large photo of Dimebag displayed on one side of the stage and another of Pantera’s late drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott on the other. It was a sobering moment, and one of the highlights of the evening.

Another sobering moment came when the new track “Ozzy’s Song” was performed. Lyrically, this may be one of Wylde’s strongest compositions — profound, reflective, and deeply personal. The band delivered it with clear passion and genuine emotion. It’s the kind of track that truly deserves to be a hit single.

Black Label Society closed the evening with the track “Stillborn,” which originally featured Ozzy Osbourne on backing vocals. On this evening, Black Label Society played the opening riffs of Black Sabbath’s “Black Sabbath” before punching into “Stillborn.”

Overall, this was an incredible evening of dark, heavy metal music. Zakk Wylde remains one of the best guitarists in music today, and Black Label Society is clearly experiencing a major resurgence. The band is currently approaching three million monthly Spotify listeners and was recently announced as an opener for Megadeth’s upcoming European tour. For more on Black Label Society, please visit Black Label Society – Official Website | Tour Dates, Merchandise, Music Videos

Black Label Society setlist 08-26-2026

Funeral Bell
Name in Blood
Destroy & Conquer
A Love Unreal
Heart of Darkness
No More Tears
In This River
The Blessed Hellride
Set You Free
Fire It Up (With a snippet of Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water”)
Suicide Messiah
Ozzy’s Song
Stillborn (With Black Sabbath’s “Black Sabbath” intro)