Black Veil Brides: Alive and Burning

For their first live release, the Los Angeles quintet Black Veil Brides played a 2014 homecoming concert at the Wiltern Theatre, on tour in support of their self-titled fourth album. With their sing-a-long choruses and goth-tinged imagery, it's not surprising that the band has attracted female fans; what is surprising is that the women (mostly teenagers) here vastly outnumber the men. Frontman Andy Biersack, who wears a BVB tank top, plays to his target audience, smiling broadly while complimenting the “beautiful motherfuckers” and thanking everyone “for supporting rock music.” Throughout the dozen-plus song set, Biersack climbs on amplifiers, bangs his head, and sticks out his tongue—antics that perhaps account for the group's large following (Black Veil Brides are not bad, per se, but their sound is so generic). If their look seems like a throwback to hair-metal acts like Faster Pussycat, their music comes across as a modern rock gloss on speed metal. Guitarists Jake Pitts and Jinxx, bass player Ashley Purdy, and drummer Christian “CC” Coma all play quickly and efficiently, but the songs tend to run together, with the exception of “Wretched & Divine,” which layers electric violin over a stately backing. The fans clearly feel they are getting their money's worth here in this energetic show that also features pyrotechnics, laser lights, confetti, and balloons. Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include a fan featurette. Optional. (K. Fennessy)