This Is Hardcore- Part 2: Live At Electric Factory


tihc-2015-announcement

Biohazard by Anne Spina Photography

Biohazard by Anne Spina Photography

On Saturday at This Is Hardcore we got an awesome all-day lineup with Brooklyn’s Biohazard killing it still. Pennsylvania’s own Wisdom In Chains played, who are a fan favorite and a gift every year. Mad Joe even gave us the gift of telling us he was going to be a father again. New Jersey’s Lifleless is a band that is making the east coast look amazing again for hardcore. If you haven’t heard Dream it’s a must to own.

Lifeless, by Anne Spina Photography

Lifeless, by Anne Spina Photography

 

Sand of Japan came close to stealing the show. Makoto, their lead singer is wilder than Greg Puciato of Dillinger Escape Plan. It was sad to see Philly’s Rock Bottom come to an end, but they were amazing. The guys basically threw a party and chucked a bunch of toilet paper around the Electric Factory the whole set. It was actually pretty fun. Xibalba from Los Angeles is the band that is bringing hardcore and metal to the extreme. I think to me they remind me of the 90’s Swedish Death Metal bands. Turnstile killed it. In my mind Nonstop Feeling is the best album of 2015. Bane, those Boston boys, will always hold this festival night down. They “won” This Is Hardcore 2K15 to me. It’s sad to see a band who mattered in hardcore to me since 2000 call it to an end.

Foreseen (HKI) by Anne Spina Photography

Foreseen (HKI) by Anne Spina Photography

Twitching Tongues, by Anne Spina Photography

Twitching Tongues, by Anne Spina Photography

 

On Sunday the winners for the fest were Foreseen (HKI) from Finland. If you are a D.R.I. & Municipal Waste fan, bands like Foreseen are the best. I definitely thrashed like an athlete. You also had Twitching Tongues who to me is the most metallic hardcore band out there. Tongues also recently signed to Metal Blade Records. They are a game changer in heavy music. All Out War also played Sunday and featuring some songs off the new EP which I have to say is heavy. All Out War is a great band. Their moshers are wild and as a band they are a must to see. H2O killed Sunday night for me. Toby Morse playing a 20th Anniversary set and getting friends and family to come up and sing with him on songs. Of course The Exploited from the U.K. who I say kicked arse. They still are there to prove “punk is not dead.”

H2O, Anne Spina Photography

H2O, Anne Spina Photography

The Exploited, by Anne Spina Photography

The Exploited, by Anne Spina Photography


Besides the music at This Is Hardcore, you have food trucks all over the fest. Distros of all kinds like Shop Shogun, Bridge Nine, Deathwish, Fast Break Records, and Harvcore Records. And even apparel like American Straight Edge Apparel. There’s also SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) Demo Fighting in the parking lot so if you want to fight like a knight or a viking. it’s the right place to do it. This is Hardcore is a fest that is important to this city. The fact that this fest moved from a small venue to the biggest venue in Philly, proves something. It was even heart-warming to hear that Joe Hardcore proposed to his longtime girlfriend Jessica Parr here. I have to say that this fest has something for everyone. It’s cool to see how packed it was for days like Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. When I look back at all the fests I’ve gone to, this is the one I approve at all costs. If you haven’t been here you’re missing out.

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WORDS BY MATT O’TONIC MCGROARTY
PHOTOS BY ANNE SPINA


This Is Hardcore- Part 1: Live At Union Transfer & Electric Factory


tihc-2015-announcement

Snapcase, by Anne Spina Photography

Snapcase, by Anne Spina Photography


Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The city of brotherly love, cheesesteaks. Rocky Balboa, and the almighty This Is Hardcore Fest, the biggest music festival on the east coast that supports the hardcore and punk. Joe Hardcore McKay started this fest 9 and he still does not disappoint. The first day of the fest this year was held at Union Transfer in Philly. The other three days were held at The Electric Factory (very close to The Transfer). Day one the fest had reunions and goodbyes. Buffalo New York’s Snapcase headlined this day. Singer Daryl Taberski said to the crowd Thursday Night “It’s great to perform to old fans and new fans”. The great vegan/straight edge band Chokehold from Canada also had reunited at This Is Hardcore. Not only did they co-headline the first day, but they also played an after show at the Voltage Lounge the next night. The sad part about Thursday was saying goodbye to Foundation, probably one of the most promising hardcore bands in this decade.

Chokehold, by Anne Spina Photography

Chokehold, by Anne Spina Photography

We also some great friends and hometown heroes in Agitator. They were ready to call it quits and I for one say it was great Joe Hardcore put them on this bill. I heard Joe say a month ago on The Post America Podcast “It wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t put them on”. One band who stole the show that to me was Code Orange. Code Orange is one of the best bands out of the keystone state. The album I Am King (Deathwish Inc.) is a must own. The fact they came off Mayhem Festival and played this and not to mention all surprise guest vocalists to sing including Jeremy Tingle of Lifeless. It was a must see show. It will be amazing when Sunny Singh of Hate5six.com posts that set.

Code Orange, by Anne Spina Photography

Code Orange, by Anne Spina Photography

On Friday there were a lot of main event heavy hitters especially the main event. Another reunion that is very important to talk about here. Boston’s American Nightmare (AKA Give Up The Ghost) headlined and made it beautiful. The band played probably one of their greatest sets out of all the reunion shows they’ve done so far. I’ve seen some footage of the Boston and New York shows they played, but tonight they amazed me. Being an American Nightmare fan since my junior year of high school, and now getting to see them thirteen years later, I felt like a kid again.

American Nightmare, Anne Spina Photography

American Nightmare, Anne Spina Photography

Cruel Hand, by Anne Spina Photography

Cruel Hand, by Anne Spina Photography

Another band that impressed me was Seoul, South Korea’s The Geeks. One of the best hardcore bands to graceful the U.S. surface in a minute. They definitely know how to get a crowd going. So does Cruel Hand of Portland Maine. They are that metallic hardcore band who can take the heaviest breakdown into the most thrashy beat to blast. It’s very much it’s a party when they play. Friday also featured power violence band Nails, who also made me a fan.

The Geeks, by Anne Spina Photography

The Geeks, by Anne Spina Photography

Nails, by Anne Spina Photography

Nails, by Anne Spina Photography

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WORDS BY MATT O’TONIC MCGROARTY
PHOTOS BY ANNE SPINA


Impericon Never Say Die Tour With The Amity Affliction and Defeater This Fall


Imperion Never Say Die Tour 2015

The Impericon Never Say Die Tour has announced its lineup for its 9th year of bringing metal, hardcore and metalcore bands to UK audiences. The tour will be headlined by The Amity Affliction with support from Defeater, Being As An Ocean, Cruel Hand, Fit For A King and Burning Down Alaska. A teaser for the tour can be seen at this link or below:

 

 

 

Ivonne Davies Kreye of Avocado Booking commented on the tour:


We are hoping kids are as pumped for INSD 2015 as we are! What a line up and what a great team we got for the tour. The tour will be a home run!″

 

Martin Böttcher of Impericon also shared his thoughts on the long running tour:

This year, Avocado Booking remains faithful to the Impericon Never Say Die! Tour as they once again deliver another unprecedented line up. We look forward to celebrating with a proper party in Europe.″

 

The Amity Affliction singer, Joel Birch, also weighed in:

″We′re really excited to get back to Europe and the UK on the Impericon Never Say Die! Tour, not only because we always feel so welcomed there but also because the lineup we have is killer. It′s not often you want to watch every band on the bill – it′s going to be fucking wild, see you there!″

 

nsd_layer1

Impericon Never Say Die Tour dates:

Nov 08: Koko – London, UK

Nov 09: Club Academy – Manchester, UK

Nov 10: Garage – Glasgow, UK

Nov 11: Marble Factory – Bristol, UK

Nov 13: Patronaat – Haarlem, NL

Nov 14: Markthalle – Hamburg, DE

Nov 15: Astra – Prague, CZ

Nov 16: Meet Factory – Budapest, HU

Nov 17: Dürer Kert – Wien, AT

Nov 18: Arena – Bologna, IT

Nov 19: Zona Roveri – München, DE

Nov 20: Backstage – Pratteln, CH

Nov 21: Z7 – Lyon, FR

Nov 22: Razzmatazz – Barcelona, ES

Nov 23: Sala Cats – Madrid, ES

Nov 24: Rock School Barbey – Bordeaux, FR

Nov 25: Machine Du Moulin Rouge – Paris, FR

Nov 26: LKA – Stuttgart, DE

Nov 27: Turbinenhalle – Oberhausen, DE

Nov 28: Werk 2, Leipzig, DE

 

 

Impericon Never Say Die Tour online

Impericon Never Say Die Tour on Facebook


H2O Confirm Upcoming Tour, Cruel Hand Supporting Select Shows


H2O have confirmed a June tour run celebrating their 20th anniversary with Cruel Hand supporting, alongside a series of festival appearances.

May 06-08: St. Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY
May 09: The Drunk Horse Pub – Fayetteville, NC
May 10: Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY
May 19: Old Fire Station – Radcliffe (UK)
May 20: Epic Studios – Norwich (UK)
May 21: The Fleece – Bristol (UK)
May 22: Think Tank – Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK)
May 23: Slam Dunk Festival – Leeds (UK)
May 24: Forum Hertfordshire – Hatfield (UK)
May 25: Civic – Wolverhampton (UK)
Jun 12: Thee Parkside – San Francisco, CA (with Cruel Hand)
Jun 14: The Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA (with Cruel Hand)
Jun 15:– The Underground – Mesa, AZ (with Cruel Hand)
Jun 17: Gators – Corpus Christi, TX (with Cruel Hand)
Jun 18: Korova – San Antonio, TX (with Cruel Hand)
Jun 19: The Prophet Bar – Dallas, TX (with Cruel Hand)
Jun 20: Midway Fieldhouse – Austin, TX (with Cruel Hand)
Jun 21: Walter’s Downtown – Houston, TX (with Cruel Hand)
Jun 23: The Syndicate Lounge – Birmingham, AL (with Cruel Hand)
Jun 24: New Brookland Tavern – Columbia, SC (with Cruel Hand)
Jun 25: Shaka’s Live – Virginia Beach, VA (with Cruel Hand)
Jun 26: Revolution Bar & Music Hall – Amityville, NY (with Cruel Hand)
Jul 17: Herk Fest – Herk De Stab (BE)
Jul 18: Traffic Jam – Dieburg (DE)
Jul 18: Underground – Koln (DE)
Jul 19: Logo – Hamburg (DE)
Jul 20: Lido – Berlin (DE)
Jul 21: Szene – Wien (AT)
Jul 22: Free & Easy – Munchen (DE)
Jul 23: Haus der Kulturen – Gottingen (DE)
Jul 24: NORD Open Air – Essen (DE)
Jul 26: This Is Hardcore Fest – Philadelphia, PA
Aug 07: Portland Expo Center – Portland, OR (Warped Tour)
Aug 08: White River Amphitheater – Auburn, WA (Warped Tour)

H2O 20yr Headline Shows May-July dates. Also @thisishardcorefest July 26th & then @vanswarpedtour shows Aug 7th & 8th….

Posted by H2O on Sunday, May 3, 2015


This Is Hardcore Fest Announce Daily Lineups


This Is Hardcore Fest has announced their daily lineups for the 2015 edition and the venues where each day’s event will be held.

Thursday, July 23rd – Union Transfer:
Snapcase
Chokehold
Code Orange
Morning Again
Foundation
Blistered
Break Away
Eternal Sleep

Thursday July 23rd@ Union TransferSnapcaseChokeholdCode OrangeMorning AgainFoundationBlisteredBreak AwayEternal Sleepremaining day by day breakdowns to come, keep your eyes open…

Posted by This Is Hardcore on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Friday, July 24th – Electric Factory:
American Nightmare
Suicide File
Nails
Defeater
Cruel Hand
True Love
The Geeks
Malice At The Palace

Friday July 24th @ the Electric FactoryAmerican NightmareSuicide FileNailsDefeaterCruel HandTrue Lovethe GeeksMalice At the Palace

Posted by This Is Hardcore on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Saturday, July 25th – Electric Factory:
Misfits (“Earth A.D.” in full)
Cro-Mags
Bane
Killing Time
Biohazard
Reach The Sky
Turnstile
Xibalba
Suburban Scum
Sand
Lifeless
Homewrecker
Time Bomb
Absolute Suffering

Saturday July 25th @ Electric Factorythe Misfits playing EARTH AD in its entiretyCroMags Bane – Last TIHC…

Posted by This Is Hardcore on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Sunday, July 26th – Electric Factory:
Exploited
H2O (20th anniversary show)
Negative Approach
All Out War
Power Trip
Rival Mob
Slapshot
Wisdom In Chains
Twitching Tongues
Mindset
Foreseen
Fuck You Pay Me
Disengage

Sunday July 26th @ Electric FactoryExploited – first US show in over a decadeH20 – 20th anniversary showNegative…

Posted by This Is Hardcore on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

The moment is upon us.This is Hardcore X or TIHC 2015 Official Announcement.Dates : July 23-26, 2015Thursday July…

Posted by This Is Hardcore on Monday, March 30, 2015


Turnstile, Eternal Sleep and Jagged Visions Added To New England Metal and Hardcore Festival


new england metal and hardcore april 2 2015

The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival has added Baltimore hardcore outfit Turnstile for the Saturday lineup, and Eternal Sleep and Jagged Visions for the Sunday lineup. The event will be at The Palladium in Worcester, MA on April 17, 18 and 19, 2015.

The updated lineup is:

Friday April 17th
Between The Buried And Me
The Red Chord
Cavalera Conspiracy
Corrosion of Conformity
Jasta
Code Orange
Overcast
On Broken Wings
Within The Ruins
Fit For An Autopsy
The Atlas Moth
The Banner
Black Mask
Homewrecker
Discourse
Phinehas
Downpour
Boris The Blade

Saturday April 18th
Testament
Exodus
Nuclear Assault
Nails
Turnstile
Indecision
Incendiary
Suburban Scum
Incantation
Vital Remains
Allegaeon
Rivers of Nihil
The Agonist
Wisdom In Chains
Disgrace
Gods Hate
Thy Will Be Done
No Zodiac
Extinction AD
Vice
Absolute Suffering
Shattered Sun

Sunday April 19th
Motionless In White
For Today
The Color Morale
Vanna
Death Before Dishonor
Cruel Hand
Sworn In
Lionheart
The Plot In You
I Declare War
These Streets
My Ticket Home
Rude Awakening
Lorna Shore
The Last Ten Seconds of Life
World of Pain
Shark Ethic
GhostXShip
Living Laser
Brick By Brick
Nasty
Gift Giver
Oath
Exalt
Unity
Eternal Sleep
Jagged Visions

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Worcester, MA. – Worcester, Massachusetts-based concert promotions company, MassConcerts, is pleased to announce…

Posted by New England Metal Fest on Thursday, April 2, 2015


Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t and The Beautiful Ones On The Negatives Tour


cruel hand the negatives tour

Cruel Hand will be venturing on a US tour with Angel Du$t and The Beautiful Ones. Angel Du$t released their debut full length, A.D., in 2014 via React! Records / Reaper Records to high praise and a number of year end list appearances. The Beautiful Ones will be releasing their highly anticipated first full length, Jaded Love, through 6131 Records in early 2015 (more details to be announced soon).

Angel Du$t / The Beautiful Ones on Tour with Cruel Hand
Jan 08: Now That’s Class – Cleveland, OH (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 09: Pike Room – Pontiac, MI (with Four Years Strong, Comeback Kid, Handguns)
Jan 10: Beat Kitchen – Chicago, IL (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 11: Jackpot – Lawrence, KS (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 12: Marquis Theater – Denver, CO (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 13: Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 15: Chop Suey – Seattle, WA (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 16: Boreal – Eugene, OR (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 17: Oakland Metro – Oakland, CA (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones, Chains)
Jan 18: The Echo – Los Angeles, CA (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones, Chains)
Jan 19: Nile Underground – Mesa, AZ (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones, Chains)
Jan 20: Electric Banana – El Paso, TX (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 21: The Door Side Stage – Dallas, TX (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 22: Red 7 – Austin, TX (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 23: Walter’s – Houston, TX (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 24: Masquerade – Atlanta, GA (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 25: Burro Bar – Jacksonville, FL (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones, Frameworks)
Jan 26: Propaganda – Lake Worth, FL (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones, Frameworks)
Jan 27: Epic Problem – Tampa, FL (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones, Frameworks)
Jan 28: Local 506 – Chapel Hill, NC (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 29: Strange Matter – Richmond, VA (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 30: Voltage Lounge – Philadelphia, PA (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 31: Middle East Upstairs (Early) – Cambridge, MA (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Jan 31: Port City Music Hall (Late) – Portland, ME (with Cruel Hand, Angel Du$t, The Beautiful Ones)
Feb 03: The Livery – Dayton, OH (The Beautiful Ones only)

React Records on Bandcamp
6131 Records on Bandcamp


New England Metal and Hardcore Festival 2015 Announces Next Round of Acts


new england metal and hardcore fest 2nd wave 2015

New England Metal and Hardcore Festival 2015 has announced another wave of artists, held April 17, 18 and 19, 2015 at the Palladium in Worcester, MA. This new batch will be added to previously announced headliners Between the Buried and Me (Friday), Testament (Saturday) and Motionless In White (Sunday). The next batch of confirmed artists include:

Friday, April 17th:
The Red Chord
The Atlas Moth
Phinehas
Code Orange
Discourse

Saturday, April 18th:
Suburban Scum
Allegaeon
Rivers of Nihil
The Agonist
Disgrace
God’s Hate
Thy Will Be Done
No Zodiac
Extinction AD
Vice
Absolute Suffering

Sunday, April 19th:
Lorna Shore
The Last Ten Seconds of Life
Rotting Out
Death Before Dishonor
Cruel Hand
Rude Awakening
World of Pain
Shark Ethic
Ghost x Ship
Living Laser
Oath

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New England Metal & Hardcore Festival Day 2, Live at The Palladium, Worcester MA


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Nursing a wicked bangover from the first night, I was already in scramble mode when I got to the venue for day two. We got there in time to hear the last strains of Carnivora, a top local death metal prospect. These guys definitely deserve your attention. Next up on the main stage was Black Crown Initiate, who are on their stint on the Metal Alliance Tour, opening for Behemoth. It’s too bad the festival environment had them playing this early because they are amazing. Their blend of Meshuggah tech riffs and Opeth-ian prog is going to take them very, very far. Taking a short break to run around and do some other Ghost Cult business, the next band I saw was Reflections. They were slightly better stage presence-wise than the flat showing I saw earlier this year, but their music still puts me to sleep.

inquisition (2 of 2)

The shame of alternating stages is the overlap of certain bands. While I really wanted to see Warhound, Lifeless, and especially Born Low upstairs, they were playing opposite better bands on the main stage. Inquisition was highly anticipated by the crowd that had filled up considerably by now. It was almost a nighttime atmosphere for the show as Dagon and Incubus took the stage in a cloud of red lights and smoke. People were literally losing their shit, and it was a great thing to see a lot of people I chatted with seeing this band for the first time. A lot of people donned the corpse paint in tribute to this band and others we saw on this day, which was pretty funny in an un-ironic way. Their best song and my personal favorite song they played was ‘Command of the Black Crown’. A true mix of true kvlt black metal influences, modern sensibility and sonics. For a change of pace, the maulers in Fit For An Autopsy took the main stage next and slayed. Immediately noticeable is the change over from former front man Nate Johnson to the new guy Greg Wilburn (The Devastated). Greg is a beast of vocalist and has far better stage presence than Johnson, giving this already good band a real shot in the arm. They are a fan favorite at the Palladium so the pit was very active for them. I Declare War had to follow them and it was an embarrassment by comparison to FFAO.

fitforanautopsy (5 of 27)

Staying in the big room for 1349, I don’t think fans were prepared for the mind-blowing performance we were about to see. It’s always the bands that don’t tour a lot that surprise you at these things. Positively evil and putting forth a great set, 1349 were one of the standouts of the weekend. Not to be out done in the showmanship, Goatwhore does what they usually do when they come to town, audio live carnage. Rev. Ben Falgoust might prefer the intimacy of the smaller stage, such as when they played the fest last year on the upstairs stage, with all the people raging in his face, but they belong on the more worthy platform. They flat out owned the main stage. Playing their hits like “Alchemy of the Black Sun Cult” and ‘Apocalyptic Havoc’ as well as a new song, that, also crushed; they ruled all. It’s gonna be a good summer when that new album drops from Metal Blade.

goatwhore (3 of 11)

With more running around to do and needing to get a primo spot to see Slapshot close the main stage, I only caught a glimpse of Within The Ruins, Carnifex, and Thy Art is Murder each, with the latter getting the best response from the crowd. With the fest in full swing- it was cool to see some of the metal band people just hanging out at fest, even if they were not playing. Among those I ran into: Dave Davidson and the Revocation guys, Tony from Vital Remains, Adam from Mongrel, and Jayson Keyser of Origin. I also chatted with actor Brian O’Halloran of Clerks fame who was participating in the Rock And Shock Festival sponsored signings along with horror writer Joe “Zombie Bukkake” Knepper. Brian told me he loves to people watch at metal shows, much more than the bands.

As we were grinding toward the end of the second day I steadied myself for the last few hours with some communal drinking at the bar, which I rarely do at shows anymore. After catching the last half of an excellent set by Cruel Hand, it was time for Slapshot. Slapshot put on a show that put bands half their age to shame. It’s not just about the classic tracks that gets everyone excited, it’s the true spirit of hardcore they embody. There were some pit dancers having fun, and surely some violence going down, but none of the nonsense that pervades the scene at times. No gang BS, even though I suppose there were those types around. From my vantage point in the balcony, keeping my old ass safe and sound, I watched one of my buddies, Anderson Moura, right up at the front, just going nuts the entire time. The Slapshot set was a thing of beauty to behold.

acaciastrain (10 of 12)

Finally done with the second stage I cooled my heels a bit and chilled out as I watched The Acacia Strain and Whitechapel as the penultimate acts of the day. Their respective fans went bonkers. I have seen each band, together and co-headline this venue cause total chaos with the whole floor as a non-stop violent pit of death. Both bands have their respective fans who love each bands take on meat and potatoes death core. The Acacia Strain is literally from “down the block” as Vincent Bennett likes to say, just a few towns over. They often feel like a headliner, even when they are not last on the bill. Whitechapel on the strength of their brand new album, Our Endless War (Metal Blade) played their “hits” and a few new cuts. With a bigger set and staging than ever before, they are definitely trying to step up into a bigger realm. They are knocking on the door of something really big, so I hope more than just casual fans pick up on it.

behemoth (3 of 10)

Finally it was time for the most anticipated band of the weekend to play. Behemoth had already made a grand return to this venue a few years ago, but this was a lot different. On the strength of The Satanist (Metal Blade), the band has never been more popular. Although some fans gripe about the bands new-found “it band” status, the quality of The Satanist attests to the fact that they are are not going any softer. They seem to be a band everyone likes universally, sort of a modern Slayer, without the drama. This can be further proved by the impressive performance they put down.

behemoth (10 of 10)

And what a show it was! Behemoth always had a flair for the dramatic, be it their make-up, masks or cool lighting, but they have reached a new zenith of quality now. They have achieved the perfect blend of theatricality and their black metal influenced -death metal (however commercially acceptable). Their set list was an impeccable blend of old-school classics and new material. Each song was acted out, as much as it was performed, with calculated introductions and interludes. Nergal spoke little to the crowd, other than some pleasantries, and it added to the drama and mood. This was a ground breaking, avant-garde inspired moment for this band, and this genre as a whole. Nothing will ever be the same again. Every band will have to be compared against what Behemoth is doing now and it won’t be fair. They were already a great band, but now they are all-time greats.

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Behemoth Set List:

Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel
Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer

Conquer All

As Above

So Below

Slaves Shall Serve

Christians to the Lions

The Satanist

Ov Fire and the Void

Furor Divinus

Alas, Lord Is Upon Me

At the Left Hand ov God

Chant for Ezkaton 2000

Encore:

O Father O Satan O Sun!

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WORDS: KEITH CHACHKES

PHOTOS: MEG LOYAL PHOTOGRAPHY