Godsmack Fills Deftones Void

When two bands of similar sonic depth and intensity (and equally loyal followings) join forces for a tour, you know you’re in for an aggressive double-whammy.

Godsmack and Deftones both inspire unbridled energy when they play live, but the latter’s shows always feel more like backyard parties than arena concerts, while Boston-based Godsmack goes for a more ominous, grandiose vibe.

The contrast makes them intriguing tour mates, so it was unfortunate that Deftones had to cancel their appearance Wednesday at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater due to a severe vocal injury suffered by singer Chino Moreno (the band has canceled four shows, including tonight’s at the San Diego Sports Arena).

Some fans headed for the refund window, but most stuck around, putting some pressure on Godsmack to deliver something special. The band’s colorfully elaborate stage design and hit-heavy set seemed to do the trick.

Things started off lightheartedly, with a screening of a cartoon featuring caricatures of each member getting ready backstage, but it was the menacing props that better matched the band’s mystically themed tunes. The backdrop morphed from a gothic dungeon to a lava-encrusted cave to an otherworldly terrain, creating an eerie atmosphere enhanced by the band’s possessed stance.

Singer Sully Erna is an effective frontman, and his growling, soulful vocal style is impressive, even if it sounds like a less volatile version of Metallica’s James Hetfield at times. Erna’s croons did go flat on a few tunes, most noticeably the big hits “Awake” and “Whatever,” but his relentless renditions still offered the most boisterous moments of the show, with the audience singing along and filling in choruses.

A tribal drum jam also incited the crowd, and those in the lawn area even started bonfires, creating a ritualistic vibe that added to the spell the band cast.