While Corey Taylor, on CMF2 release day, had the headline slot, Wargasm and Luna Aura brought their energy and attitude to the Wallingford stage on what was a memorable evening.
Wargasm – Luna Aura
The Dome at Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford
15 September 2023
Words and Photography: Shannon Wilk
Wargasm
Taking the stage at 8:20 PM as direct support were Wargasm. Hailing from London, UK, this duo features guitarist/vocalist Sam Matlock as well as bassist/vocalist Milkie Way, who create music which can only be described as a revival of nu-Metal with an electronic edge.
The pair and their touring members have been on the road with Corey Taylor for a couple of weeks and have served as the perfect act to get the crowd absolutely hyped and ready for Taylor’s set. 
Matlock takes the stage with heart-shaped sunglasses and a sloppy black suit, and Way joins him with a Harley Davidson bomber jacket, a cheetah print miniskirt, and an olive green Gretsch bass slung over her shoulder.
Wargasm opened their set with two songs from their 2022 EP, Explicit: The Mixxxtape; Super Fiend and DRILDO. Way says into her mic, “You gonna sing along with us on this one? It’s only four words… DRINK! FUCK! FIGHT! LOVE!”
The band brought nonstop energy and motion around the stage throughout their entire set. Blink your eyes, and you will miss a critical moment.
Way brings the look of Cherie Currie and the attitude of Joan Jett, while Matlock is reminiscent of the oh-so-controversial Machine Gun Kelly. To my surprise, Wargasm only played a single song from their upcoming debut album, Venom, to be released October 27th. 
The group closed with what they dubbed “an angry song for sad people”, a track titled Spit.
Luna Aura
Luna Aura jumps on the stage at the Dome for their very first show on this tour. She and her band perform with intense energy and no holds barred attitude.
This is a perfect recipe when opening for someone like Corey Taylor.
Gritty, overdriven guitar is paired with even grittier riot grrrl-type vocals. Luna Aura’s avant-garde style is just the cherry on top of her performance, which features eloquent feminine aggression with a strong message of rebellion and individuality.