Celestial bodies were a prevalent theme on Friday night when STEMM played its first show in Western New York since November. The four-piece took the stage in their hometown of Niagara Falls at the Evening Star Music Hall accompanied by special guests HeavensDust from Tokyo, Japan.

This was HeavensDust first show ever in the United Stateswho had met STEMM through the popular social networking website, MySpace.

"We wanted to play a show that was away from Japan," said HeavensDust vocalist and guitarist Shin. "We heard that American crowds were awesome. STEMM is our friend so we asked if we could play a show together. No one listens to metal in Japan. It's not a good music scene."

STEMM has played its fair share of shows at smaller venues like the Evening Star but are also no strangers to performing with many major acts.

"We played with Godsmack in front of 3,000 people and soon later played with American Head Charge to just 50 people at the Icon," said STEMM's vocalist and lead guitarist Joe Cafarella. "(After a big show) it feels weird just going to work the next day, going to clock in."

Buffalo metal bands Frailty and Kingdom Denied kicked off the show. Both bands first shows were as opening bands for STEMM, with this concert being Kingdom Denied's first gig.

"There's unity in the scene but it could definitely be a lot tighter," Cafarella said. "We help out just about any band that needs their first show."

HeavensDust was introduced onstage by Cafarella who mentioned to the audience that the band had never seen a mosh pit before in Japan. This barrier was quickly broken when a group of hardcore dancers erupted into a circle pit during HeavensDust's opening song.

With the incorporation of a Japanese flute, taiko drums and a female vocalist, HeavensDust produced a sound similar to an Asian-styled Lacuna Coil. The Japanese instruments were featured in separate solo pieces, with Ajo playing the taiko drums and Okaji on a traditional drum set in a percussion solo that represented the blending of traditional Japanese and Western music.

STEMM took the stage with Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine" serving as its entrance music. The band played several new songs that will be released on its upcoming album later this year.

Half way through the set, STEMM brought HeavensDust back onstage and toasted with their Japanese comrades and the crowd, recording it for a future DVD that will accompany the next album.

The band's set list also included the song "Poop Mouth" that will appear in the April 2008 edition of Metal Edge. STEMM also unleashed the song "Monster," which has received play on local radio station 103.3. the Edge, as well as "Inside" and "Face The Pain" that have been featured on various Ultimate Fighting Championship programming.

"I really didn't know anything about the UFC and then I got hooked into it when I did," Cafarella said. "It's one of the best sports since hockey."

The band capped the night off by thanking the fans and playing a cover of Pantera's "Domination" as a tribute to deceased guitar legend "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

"I think it's important to stay ground level with the fans," Cafarella said. "I try to make them more as friends than fans."