Acid Bath’s Triumphant Return: A Night 28 Years in the Making

Justin Hammer and Charles Sagona

Apr 27, 2025

The Sludge Metal Legends Reunite for a Long-Awaited and Historic Performance.

Friday night, the mythical Louisiana sludge metal legends Acid Bath returned to the stage, kicking off their reunion tour with a sold-out show at the Fillmore in New Orleans — their first performance in precisely 28 years.

Acid Bath at the Fillmore in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 25, 2025 for Mixed Alternative Magazine courtesy of Justin Hammer Photography — Credit: Justin Hammer Photography

The current lineup features original members Dax Riggs (vocals), Sammy Duet (guitar), and Mike Sanchez (guitar), joined by Goatwhore's Zack Simmons on drums and Crowbar's Shane Wesley on bass. It's a blend of old blood and new energy, and from the moment they launched into the opening notes, it was clear this wasn't just nostalgia — Acid Bath came to reclaim their legacy.

Dax Riggs of Acid Bath at the Fillmore in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 25, 2025 for Mixed Alternative Magazine courtesy of Justin Hammer Photography — Dax Riggs by Justin Hammer Photography

Acid Bath was one of Louisiana's most influential sludge metal bands in the 1990s, known for their unique blend of doom metal, punk, grunge, and Southern rock. The band was active from 1991 until 1997, when they disbanded following the death of founding member and bassist Audie Pitre. After their final performance in Shreveport, Louisiana, on April 25, 1997, it seemed to everyone, including the remaining band members, that this marked the end of an era and that their music would never be heard live again.

Sammy Duet of Acid Bath at the Fillmore in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 25, 2025 for Mixed Alternative Magazine courtesy of Justin Hammer Photography — Sammy Duet of Acid Bath by Justin Hammer Photography

What makes Acid Bath's return even more remarkable is how their legend status grew during their long dormancy. In their original run during the '90s, Acid Bath wasn't selling out venues like the Fillmore. They were packing into dive bars like Papa Joe's in Baton Rouge, Zeppelin's in New Orleans, and gritty all-ages shows in small-town halls like Gonzales, LA. Their glory days weren't measured in ticket sales, but in the cult following that quietly spread over the years, turning their two albums — When the Kite String Pops and Paegan Terrorism Tactics — into sacred texts of underground metal.

In October 2024, the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas announced its lineup, and to everyone's surprise, Acid Bath was included. However, shortly after the announcement, the festival was canceled. Despite this setback, more shows began to be organized, officially confirming the remarkable return of the iconic Louisiana band. Fast forward 28 years to the day: Acid Bath made their highly anticipated return to the stage at the Fillmore New Orleans on April 25, 2025, performing to a packed and sold-out crowd.

The show opened with an electrifying performance by Eyehategod, another iconic band from New Orleans and friends of Acid Bath's members. Fronted by Mike Williams and featuring founding member Jimmy Bower from Down on guitar, Gary Mader on bass, and Aaron Hill on drums, Eyehategod set the stage with an incredible 45-minute set that energized the crowd.

The biggest question lingering over the night: could Dax still deliver after three decades away? — was answered immediately. His voice was astonishing, shifting effortlessly from throat-shredding screams to hauntingly beautiful melodies, often within the same song. The years had done nothing to dull his dynamic range or emotional power.

The audience was diverse, consisting of older fans who remembered seeing the band at their peak in the '90s, and younger attendees who were born well over a decade after the band disbanded.

Acid Bath took the stage to a roaring, packed crowd. The moment's significance sank in as they began to play: Acid Bath was back. Looking over the audience, we could see everyone mouthing and singing along to their iconic songs, regardless of age, fully immersing themselves in this historic moment in music history.

Immediately following 'Bleed Me an Ocean,' the crowd couldn't contain their excitement and broke into chants of "Acid Bath! Acid Bath! Acid Bath!" Sammy grinned and told them, "Hey, y'all calm down — there's plenty more where that came from," which drew a giant pop.

Midway through the set, Sammy paused to ask the crowd, "Be honest — did you think this would ever happen again?" The thunderous "NO!" that followed said it all.

The setlist, while powerful, leaned toward deeper cuts rather than expected anthems. Classics like 'The Blue,' 'Cheap Vodka,' 'Jezebel,' and their traditional closer 'Cassie Eats Cockroaches' were notably absent, leaving some fans both exhilarated and a little wistful.

It wasn't a flawless performance. Early-show jitters led to a few songs being stopped and restarted. "Sorry," Sammy told the crowd after one hiccup. "You guys don't deserve this. Hold on — I just want to give you the best experience ever," before relaunching into a blistering rendition of 'Dr. Seuss Is Dead.'

But in the end, none of the minor missteps mattered. The sheer joy radiating from both the band and the audience was undeniable. It wasn't just a concert — a resurrection, a testament to how far their shadow had stretched while they were silent.

This band has had a tremendous impact on the metal scene in New Orleans, and they continue to do so by selling out every show they announce within minutes. Their music resonates with younger generations, inspiring both local bands and fans. Even after being absent for 28 years, their influence remains significant.

The merch line snaked through the venue, with fans waiting over an hour to score shirts, posters, and a piece of history. Acid Bath's long-dormant flame has been reignited, burning brighter than ever.