Exodus & Fit For An Autopsy w/ Darkest Hour & Undeath | Fall North American Tour | 11/24/23 | Photos + Review

December 9, 2023 1 Comment

Exodus & Fit For An Autopsy Obliterate The Stage in Anaheim

Venue: House of Blues in Anaheim, CA

Date: 11/24/23

Over the past several years, I have been lucky to check off many bands from my bucket list in terms of both seeing and photographing. I first saw Fit For An Autopsy back in 2017 and finally got them in front of my lens in January of 2022. This US tour is their biggest to date, and they co-headlined with the thrash metal legends in Exodus, who I finally got to check off my bucket list. The icons in Darkest Hour and the death metal boys in Undeath provided support for this tour. Coming through my favorite venue, the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA, this was a show I simply could not pass up.

Undeath from Rochester, NY opened the show up with a bang. This was my third time seeing and photographing these boys and they seem to get better and better each time. Vocalist Alexander Jones is a force to be reckoned with as he commands the stage. Guitarists Kyle Beam and Jared Welch brought the riffage and the headbangs galore. Bassist Tommy Wall is an absolute beast, strumming and creating those deep tones. Finishing out the band’s lineup is drummer Matt Browning, who’s clean and precise drumming holds the foundation down. The band played a mixed setlist of 7 songs, 3 of which came from their 2020 album “Lesions of a Different Kind” and 2 of which came from their 2022 album “Rise From The Grave”, both released via Prosthetic Records. The band even played two new songs, titled “Brandish The Blade” and “Cramped Caskets”, both of which continue the band’s sound of brutal death metal meets hardcore, which is truly a unique sound. I’ve loved seeing this band three times now, and I cannot wait to see and photograph them again!

SETLIST

  1. Rise From The Grave
  2. Necrobionics
  3. Brandish The Blade
  4. Cramped Caskets
  5. Acidic Twilight Visions
  6. Chained to a Reeking Rotted Body
  7. Lesions of a Different Kind

Darkest Hour from Washington D.C. was up next as direct support for the co-headlining tour. This is a band that has been on my bucket list for quite some time with their melodic death metal verging on metalcore sound that also has some inspiration from thrash metal. From the moment I saw guitarist Mike Schleibaum and vocalist John Henry walk out, I knew this was about to be iconic. Drummer Travis Orbin immediately blew me away with his intricate drum patterns that are truly showcased throughout the band’s nine song set. Bassist Aaron Deal was truly energetic, giving me the windmills and headbangs. Finishing out the band’s lineup is guitarist Nico Santora, who I previously photographed with one of his’ other bands Fallujah. He fits perfectly into Darkest Hour’s sound and is always so fun to capture. The band played a well-mixed set of songs spanning many of their albums, but primarily from their 2017 record “Godless Prophets & The Migrant Flora”, and a couple from their upcoming 2024 release “Perpetual | Terminal”. This was truly an incredible set with high energy that really set the stage for the co-headliners. I’m so glad I finally got to see and photograph these guys! I own all of their records on CD, so it was cool to finally check them off my list!

SETLIST

  1. Perpetual Terminal
  2. The Sadist Nation
  3. Stand and Receive Your Judgement
  4. Knife In A Safe Room
  5. Those Who Survived
  6. The Flesh & The Flowers of Death
  7. Rapture in Exile
  8. With a Thousand Words to Say but One
  9. Amor Fati

Fit For An Autopsy from Jersey City, NJ came up next as the first of the co-headlining bands to perform. I was beyond excited to see and them again as their 2019 album “The Sea Of Tragic Beasts” tied for first in my top albums of 2019 with Jinjer’s “Macro”. Their 2022 album “Oh What The Future Holds” had just dropped when I photographed them last year, and it’s been truly incredible to see their growth as a band in the span of the past year. The band opened with the title track “Oh What The Future Holds”, which set the stage for the set to come. With an incredible light show, the band came prepared with the theatrics. Vocalist Joe Badolato is front and center, and performed the best I’ve seen him, and that says a lot because he’s always pretty powerful on the mic. The band then went into the next track on the album “Pandora”, which is a very riff heavy song that showcases the talents of guitarists Pat Sheridan and Tim Howley, as well as the rhythmic bass coming from Peter “Blue” Spinazola. The breakdown in this song especially goes hard live, and the light show was on POINT here. The band then went into one of their new songs titled “Hellions”, which can be heard on the new split EP released in 2023 via Nuclear Blast titled “The Aggression Sessions” with Thy Art Is Murder and Malevolence, which is a heavy aggressive deathcore sounding song. The drums are especially booming in from Josean Orta. The band played some of my favorite songs, like “The Sea Of Tragic Beasts”, “Warfare”, and “Two Towers”, which were all absolutely incredible to see them play live. They had the crowd truly going nuts with crowd surfers and moshing galore.  The band played a total of eleven songs with songs from every album from 2017 on. This is truly Fit For An Autopsy at their best I’ve seen them thus far. I cannot wait to see and photograph them again and to continue seeing their growth.

SETLIST

  1. Oh What The Future Holds
  2. Pandora
  3. Hellions
  4. Warfare
  5. Hydra
  6. Iron Moon
  7. A Higher Level Of Hate
  8. The Sea Of Tragic Beasts
  9. Your Pain Is Mine
  10. Far From Heaven
  11. Two Towers

The all mighty Exodus from San Francisco, CA came to the stage next. I was very excited to finally see these guys after listening to their music for quite some time, and they surely did not disappoint. From the moment they walked out on the stage, they were insanely high energy. Opening with the song “Impact Is Imminent”, vocalist Steve Souza truly had control over the stage and the crowd. Guitarists Gary Holt and Lee Atlus were in total sync, riffing those thrash riffs that get the crowd going wild. Going into R.E.M.F. from their newest album “Persona Non Grata”, I was hooked in on that drum beat from Tom Hunting the moment the song started. The dude is an absolute machine and as the sole founding member of the band, he is truly the foundation. Alongside Hunting in the rhythm section is bassist Jack Gibson, who’s headbangs and rhythmic strumming truly adds that edge to the band. The band in total played ten songs that spanned over five of their twelve albums. With an expansive discography and history dating back to 1979, Exodus remains strong and prominent in the metal scene. I am so glad I finally got to see and photograph these guys. They were truly so much fun to capture with their high energy. I highly recommend seeing them when they hit a city near you!

SETLIST

  1. Impact Is Imminent
  2. R.E.M.F.
  3. Blacklist
  4. Fabulous Disaster
  5. Prescribing Horror
  6. The Beating Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)
  7. A Lesson In Violence
  8. Bonded By Blood
  9. The Toxic Waltz
  10. Strike of the Beast

This tour was truly one for the books to capture. With so many different styles of metal, it was a night that felt like a mixture of nostalgia and eclecticism. You have the thrash from Exodus, the deathcore and post-metal from Fit For An Autopsy, the melodic death metal and metalcore from Darkest Hour, and the brutal death metal and hardcore from Undeath. This was truly an incredible show that I cannot say enough was a night to remember. I am so thankful any time I get to do a show like this.

Exodus | Fit For An Autopsy | Darkest Hour | Undeath

Photos + Review Courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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Wrecking Ball Metal Madness 2023 | Photos + Review

November 4, 2023 Leave a comment

October 27 & 28 |  Dallas,TX

A night of chaos, death metal and metalcore, mosh pits, crowd surfing, stage dives, and non stop metal.

Creeping Death a local death metal group from Denton, Texas brought the madness to the stage. They sure do not disappoint when they come to town. They played some heavy hitting songs like, Bloodlust Contamination, Intestinal Wrap, The edge of Existence, and the last song called The Common Breed from the latest album Boundless Domain.

The next group that hit the stage was The Acacia Strain, Albany New York’s best deathcore band. They brought there best out to Dallas and fired it up like it was no one’s business with there songs, Carbomb, The Hills Have Eyes, Dr.Doom, Beast, and Skynet. This set was accompanied many stage divers and a giant most pit! The energy was intense, even after they got off the stage.

It’s been 4 years, FOUR YEARS, since Montreal, Quebec’s finest deathcore band, Despised Icon tore up the dance floor, and the stage. Being a fan of this band, I was just as amped up as the rest of the crowd. They came in with there best tracks, Snake In The Grass, The Aftermath, Beast, MVP, and a real banger of a song called Purgatory.

The headlining act. came all the way from Marlboro, Maryland, a technical death metal band, better known as Dying Fetus. They are a force to be reckoned with coming with some deep heavy hard drums, vocals and ear melting guitar riffs. From there old school tracks to the new bangers. The setlist included: Fixated On Devastation, Subjected To A Beating, Unbridled Fury, Grotesque Impalement, but let’s not forget these last two that got the crowd losing their minds, From Womb To Waste and Wrong One To Fuck With.

Overall it was a crazy night, with incredible performances from all the bands that played tonight.

Coverage courtesy of Angel Castillo

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Thy Art Is Murder Brings the Decade of Hate to Ventura w/ Kublai Khan TX & more | 2/25/23 | Photos + Review

March 11, 2023 Leave a comment

Let me take you back 10 years. Thy Art Is Murder released their album “Hate” to the masses and captivated audiences worldwide. I’ve seen them many times throughout the years, so to hear them finally play this album in its entirety was an experience to say the least. To celebrate the album turning 10 years old, the band set out on a world tour. The North American lineup brought a mixture of hardcore punk, death metal, and of course, deathcore. Kublai Khan TX, Undeath, I Am, and Justice For The Damned came out to SLAY! This show was a banger from start to finish!

First up was first to the stage from Sydney, Australia. This was their debut tour hitting North America and they absolutely set things off strongly. They are that perfect blend between hardcore and deathcore, which is the perfect blend. This quintet consists of vocalist Bobak Raffiee, guitarists Kieran Molloy and Nic Adams, bassist Ben Mirfin, and drummer Chas Levi. The band played a 7-song set, most of which came from their 2020 album “Pain Is Power” which was released via Greyscale Records. The band absolutely set this show off CORRECTLY with high energy and headbangs.

SETLIST

  1. Final Cataclysm
  2. Dragged Through The Dirt
  3. The House You Built Is Burning
  4. Blister of the Plague
  5. Deep Rotting Fear
  6. Pain Is Power
  7. Guidance From The Pain

Up next was I Am from Dallas, TX. This was my third time seeing these guys and they absolutely get better and better each time I see them. With a blend of deathcore, hardcore, and death metal, I Am truly brings it. The lineup consists of vocalist Andrew Hileman, guitarists Chris Burgess and Tom Reyes, drummer Brandon Busa, and touring bassist Jayden Baker. The band played an 8-song set, 3 of which came from their newest album “Eternal Steel” which was released in 2022 via MNRK Records. It has been amazing to see the trajectory of this band since I first saw them back in 2017 and I seriously cannot wait to see and photograph them again the next time they hit the West Coast.

SETLIST

  1. Texas Death
  2. Surrender to the Blade
  3. Peel Back The Skin
  4. Sacred Cries
  5. Eternal Steel
  6. Vicious Instinct
  7. Paid In Sin
  8. Burn Slow

Next to the stage was Undeath from Rochester, NY. This was my second time seeing and photographing Undeath with the last being in September of 2021 and boy did they once again exceed my expectations. These guys are straight up brutal death metal meets hardcore, which is such a unique combo but works out so well. The band’s lineup consists of vocalist Alexander Jones, guitarists Jared Welch and Kyle Beam, drummer Matt Browning, and bassist Tommy Wall. The band played a 7-song set with songs spanning most of their discography up until this point. I am always thoroughly impressed with these guys and highly recommend checking them out!

SETLIST

  1. Lord of the Grave
  2. Necrobionics
  3. Rise From The Grave
  4. Grave Osmosis
  5. Brandish The Blade
  6. Chained to a Reeking Rotted Body
  7. Lesions of a Different Kind

Kublai Khan TX from Sherman, TX hit the stage next. This was my first time seeing the band in almost 4 years and boy did they come to DESTROY the stage. Opening with the song “The Hammer”, the band truly came out swinging. The band played a whopping 13-song set, spanning a majority of their discography including the entirety of their newest EP “Lowest Form Of Animal” which the band released in 2022 via Rise Records. The band’s lineup consists of vocalist Matt Honeycutt, bassist Eric English, drummer Isaac Lamb, and touring guitarist Nic Adams who was filling in for guitarist Nolan Ashley. I have seen this band many times, but after going so long without seeing them, it felt like that spark the band has is brighter than ever. They truly bring that metalcore and hardcore punk style to the nth degree. I highly recommend going to check them out live because the energy exuding from this band is indescribable.

SETLIST

  1. The Hammer
  2. Eyes Up
  3. True Fear
  4. Us & Them
  5. Dynasty
  6. Swan Song
  7. Taipan
  8. Resentment
  9. The Truest Love
  10. Loyal To None
  11. Boomslang
  12. Self-Destruct
  13. Antpile

Thy Art Is Murder from Blacktown, Sydney, Australia finally hit the stage next. Opening with “Reign of Darkness”, Thy Art Is Murder showed just how hard they went on this tour. With syncopated lighting and props, the band truly set themselves up for success. The band’s lineup consists of vocalist CJ McMahon, guitarists Sean Delander and Andy Marsh, bassist Kevin Butler, and drummer Jesse Beahler. Along with playing 10-songs from “Hate”, the band also played a song from each of their other albums released on Nuclear Blast, totaling out to a 13-song set. I am truly always blown away from the sheer presence from this band live and I truly cannot wait to see and photograph them again soon! This show was so much fun and I am truly glad it was my first for the year for The Camera Affect!

SETLIST

  1. Reign of Darkness
  2. Purest Strain Of Hate
  3. Vile Creations
  4. Shadow of Eternal Sin
  5. Immolation
  6. Infinite Forms
  7. Dead Sun
  8. Gates of Misery
  9. Defective Breed
  10. Doomed From Earth

ENCORE

  1. Death Squad Anthem
  2. Holy War
  3. Puppet Master

Thy Art Is Murder | Kublai Khan | Undeath | I Am | Justice For The Damned

Photos + Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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Fit For An Autopsy featuring Enterprise Earth, Ingested, Signs of the Swarm, Great American Ghost, & Zombie Eating Horse | Winter US Tour | 1/19/22 | Photos

January 26, 2022 Leave a comment

Fit For An Autopsy Packs The House For Their Album Release Tour in Los Angeles

Venue: 1720 in Los Angeles, CA

Date: 1/19/22

Zombie Eating Horse

Great American Ghost

Signs of the Swarm

Ingested

Enterprise Earth

Fit For An Autopsy

Photos courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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Butcher Babies w/ Infected Rain, Stitched Up Heart, & The Unsung | Butcher Babies VS. Goliath Tour | 10/7/21 | Photos + Review

October 20, 2021 Leave a comment

Butcher Babies Slay Their Final Battle Against Goliath at 1720 in Los Angeles, CA

Venue: 1720 in Los Angeles, CA

Date: 10/7/21

When a band hits their 10-year milestone of being together, that is a huge accomplishment that deserves celebration. Unfortunately, that milestone for Butcher Babies came during the global COVID-19 pandemic, where they couldn’t party like the rockstars they are. One year later, the band came back with a vengeance to dominate the country with their first headlining tour in well over two years, where the band would play their debut album “Goliath” in its entirety, along with other songs. In the battle against Goliath were: Infected Rain, Stitched Up Heart, and local support from The Unsung. With this quartet of bands, Butcher Babies led the clan to victory at the final date of the Butcher Babies VS. Goliath Tour!

Up first was The Unsung from San Diego, CA. This quartet is the perfect example of progressive metalcore. One thing I always note whenever I see The Unsung live is just how tight these guys are. Like bands like Periphery, Veil of Maya, and many more in the genre, the vocals are a great mixture of cleans and screaming, courtesy of Tyler Sinclair. However, what sets them apart is that their music tends to have more cleans than screaming, which helps them reach a wider audience. Guitarist Devin Castro is an absolute beast, creating melodic hooks, leads, and solos that shred the hell out of the crowd. Drummer Garret Brown is a beast, playing many different styles and rhythmic patterns throughout the band’s music, sometimes changing time signature and tempos mid-song, which is common within the progressive metal genre. Closing out the band’s lineup is Thomas Sumstine on bass, who absolutely SLAYS adding in those deep grooves and tones that are pretty much essential to the music The Unsung releases. The band played a total of 7 songs, bringing out songs from their first EP, “Rise,” for the first time in a while, along with songs from their sophomore EP “Sin Cera” and new singles “Manic” and “Awake.” The band also brought their iconic light show with them, which adds that extra edge and atmosphere that helps set the tone. It was an epic start to the show, and I am so happy to have seen them again! The last time was around Christmas time in 2019, so it had been almost 2 years without hangs and without seeing this epic band live.

SETLIST

  1. Manic
  2. Herald
  3. Awake
  4. Rise
  5. Lacuna
  6. Chosen
  7. Desolation

Up next was Stitched Up Heart from Los Angeles, CA. I last saw and photographed Stitched Up Heart back in 2019, so I was excited to see and photograph them again and do so at an actual venue, this time and not at a bar. I’d best describe Stitched Up Heart’s sound as a combination between gothic metal, hard rock, and alternative metal. Touring alongside bands across the hard rock and metal genres, they have a sound that is quite versatile and diverse. The band started their set with the song “This Skin” from their 2020 album “Darkness,” released via Century Media Records. This song has a light electronic backing in parts and the downtuned guitar and bass tones, making the song a bit more light sounding than a lot of their other music. You could hear vocalist Mixi’s singing on full display out of the gate, showing a newfound strength and force behind her vocals that I didn’t hear at the last show. The second song, “Warrior,” also came from their newest album and is more of a stadium rock-style track. Those bass tones courtesy of Randy Mathias are on full display in this song, along with the crushing beats from drummer James Decker. The band then went on to their third song, “Catch Me When I Fall,” from their 2016 album “Finally Free.” Overall, this album has a darker vibe, and the guitar tones are much more gritty and dark, and guitarist Merritt Goodwin delivers on this tenfold. The band played a total of seven songs throughout their thirty-minute set, completely blowing my expectations out of the water. As it was the last day of the tour, there happened to be the last day of tour pranks. The other bands ran on stage during the band’s final song, “Monster,” and started randomly taking apart Decker’s drum kit mid-song. It was pretty funny, to say the least, and it made me wonder what pranks would come going forward. Stitched Up Heart as a whole seems to have stepped things up since the lockdown, really fine-tuning things and coming back tighter than ever.

SETLIST

  1. This Skin
  2. Warrior
  3. Catch Me When I Fall
  4. Finally Free
  5. Lost
  6. My Demon
  7. Monster

Up next as direct support was Infected Rain from Chisinau, Moldova. I got into Infected Rain’s music shortly after 2019’s “Endorphin” was unleashed to the world via Napalm Records. This was the band’s first US tour, as their 2020 tour with Swallow The Sun was cancelled due to the pandemic. The band’s sound is the perfect combination of metalcore, melodic death metal, and progressive metal. The band started their set with the song “Pendulum” from that 2019 album I just mentioned. This song is the perfect showcasing of vocalist Lena Scissorhands’ vocal prowess, showing a good amount of her harsh fry screaming, along with lots of her cleans, making for probably their most dynamic song on “Endorphin.” A core part of the band’s sound is downtuned guitars with djenty riffs, courtesy of Vadim “Vidick” Ojog and Serghei Babici. The band then went on to their second song, “Mold,” from their 2017 record “86”, which the band released independently. A big part of progressive metal is the deep, intricate bass tones provided by Vladimir Babich. The band is tight as all hell, and the foundation of any tight band is the drummer, whose part is essential in terms of tempo and keeping on the beat. Drummer Eugene Voluta is an absolute beast on stage, demolishing those double bass parts and obliterating the stage. The band moved onto their third song, “Black Gold,” one of the singles from that 2019 record “Endorphin.” In my honest opinion, Infected Rain blew me away with their control of the stage and just how tight they were. I was very much looking forward to their set, and they did not disappoint. Just like with Stitched Up Heart, Infected Rain found themselves in the midst of the end of tour pranks. During the final song, “Sweet, Sweet Lies,” of the band’s ten-song set, members from Butcher Babies and Stitched Up Heart came on stage and unleashed a pillow fight onto the members of Infected Rain. It was an all-out pillow fight to the death, and I couldn’t help but hysterically laugh. Infected Rain was absolutely incredible and set a very high bar for the whole night.

SETLIST

  1. Pendulum
  2. Mold
  3. Black Gold
  4. Passerby
  5. Freaky Carnival
  6. Endless Stairs
  7. Fool the Gravity
  8. Orphan Soul
  9. The Earth Mantra

Sweet, Sweet Lies

Finally, Butcher Babies come home to Los Angeles, CA, and hit the stage! For the band’s tenth anniversary tour, they decided to play eight of the twelve songs from their debut 2013 album “Goliath,” released via Century Media Records. I would best describe the band’s sound as a perfect blend between metalcore, death metal, thrash metal, and progressive metal. The band came prepared for this tour, with a light show and headbangs galore. Opening the show with “I Smell A Massacre,” the stage lit up bright red, showcasing the brutality and grittiness these songs from “Goliath” have. This first song is a fast one and showcases the vocal stylings of Heidi Shephard and Carla Harvey. Carla has a deeper guttural sound, while Heidi has the high screams on point. They both have a mixture of clean singing and screaming in their registers during this opening song, really showcasing a large amount of variety within this heavy song. Their second song, “The Mirror Never Lies,” opens up with this groovy guitar hook that can be heard throughout the song, courtesy of guitarist Henry Flury. This song is just groove central, even showcasing the bass in the forefront in sections. It’s moments like this where each member really shines, and you really feel all of the puzzle pieces individually come together. I love me a groovy djent song, and those bass tones from Ricky Bonazza are really showcased deep in the roots of this groove-heavy song. The band then moved on to their third song, the popular single from 2015’s “Take It Like A Man” titled “Monsters Ball.” This song is super thrashy, groovy, and heavy. You can really hear the intricate drum parts from drummer Chase Brickenden as he slams those drums to his’ heart’s content. “Monsters Ball” was the song that got me into the band in the first place, so to photograph them during this song was AMAZING. The band played many other songs from Goliath, my personal favorite being “In Denial.” This song has a classic metalcore vibe and is more on the tame side while also being heavy. It has the perfect yin and yang. The band also played quite a few of their new singles, such as “Bottom of a Bottle,” “It’s Killin’ Time, Baby!”, “Sleeping With the Enemy,” and “Yorktown.” They even played a game of Red Light, Green Light with the crowd, paying homage to the viral Netflix sensation “Squid Games.” Their set was absolutely incredible, and they seem to have somehow leveled up since the last time I saw them back in 2018. They absolutely killed it and proved why they are still so beloved 11 years after their debut in the scene. They definitely defeated Goliath in Los Angeles.

SETLIST

  1. I Smell a Massacre
  2. The Mirror Never Lies
  3. Monsters Ball
  4. It’s Killin’ Time, Baby!
  5. C8H18 (Gasoline)
  6. Grim Sleeper
  7. In Denial
  8. Bottom of a Bottle
  9. The Deathsurround
  10. Axe Wound
  11. Sleeping With The Enemy
  12. Yorktown

ENCORE

13. They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! (Napoleon XIV cover)

14. Magnolia Blvd.

Butcher Babies put on an excellent tour for their comeback. This tour commemorating their 10 years of being a band was stacked to the brim with a fantastic lineup consisting of Infected Rain, Stitched Up Heart, and local support from The Unsung. This was a fantastic show and will easily be one of my favorites of the year!

Butcher Babies | Infected Rain | Stitched Up Heart | The Unsung

Photos + Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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Cannibal Corpse w/ Thy Art Is Murder | Fall North American Tour | Photos + Review

December 5, 2019 Leave a comment

Cannibal Corpse Slaughters Ventura

Venue: The Majestic Ventura Theater on 10/25/19

When it comes to death metal bands, Cannibal Corpse is one of the ultimate greats. I got into them a little later than most, when I came across “Hammer Smashed Face” on Rock Band back in 2013. They’ve been on my bucket list of bands I’ve wanted to see since then, and with them performing what would be a sold out show so close to home, this was the perfect opportunity to finally see them. And with another one of my favorite bands, Thy Art Is Murder, performing as well as direct support, this was bound to be a truly stellar show!

First up was Thy Art Is Murder from Sydney, Australia. This was my third time seeing these guys, and this was the longest set I’ve seen them play. They played a lot of songs from the new record “Human Target”, while mixing in songs from each of their other Nuclear Blast releases “Hate”, “Holy War” and “Dear Desolation”, totaling out to an 11-song set. Thy Art Is Murder is described as deathcore, but take in influences from death metal, blackened death metal, and even metalcore. It’s because of this blended sound that the band can fit with a plethora of metal lineups. I previously saw them in March of 2018 co-headlining with Dying Fetus on a North American Tour, then saw them in April of 2019 when they acted as direct support for Architects (UK) on their North American Tour. Once again, Thy Art Is Murder acted as direct support on this tour for none other than Cannibal Corpse, so Thy Art was able to bring out some of the heavier tracks on this run. I personally was extremely stoked to hear them play “New Gods” and “Make America Hate Again” from the new record. When you see the band live, there are a few notable things to look out for. Holding down the fort in the back is Jesse Beahler on drums, who truly creates an interesting dynamic with intense and difficult drum parts played to perfection. On stage left is rhythm guitarist Sean Leander and bassist Kevin Butler, who each groove along in each song with high energy and a plethora of facial expressions. Lead guitarist Andy Marsh stands on stage right and can be usually seen looking intensely into the crowd as he shreds to his’ hearts content. Front and center is vocalist CJ McMahon, who is spotted in the first 2 songs sporting a hooded cloak and looking tall and ominous into the crowd, while screaming and growling with a wide range of tones and pitches. The band is also known for their bright and strobing lighting, not using any of the frontal house lighting and bringing forth an haunting presence, which goes right along with their serious politically driven lyrical content that focuses on anti-religion, anti-extremism, animal rights, greed, war, and much more. I was thrilled to see Thy Art Is Murder once again and I believe they truly put on their best set to date!

SETLIST

  1. Death Squad Anthem
  2. Make America Hate Again
  3. Fur and Claw
  4. Slaves Beyond Death
  5. Holy War
  6. No Absolution
  7. Human Target
  8. The Son of Misery
  9. New Gods
  10. Reign of Darkness
  11. Puppet Master

Next up was the all mighty Cannibal Corpse from Buffalo, New York. After many years of listening to them and playing their songs on Rock Band, it finally became time to see them. The band is good ole fashioned death metal that borders the line of brutal death metal. Their lyrical content draws from horror fiction novels and horror films, with highly graphic and controversial imagery on their album covers to go along with the musical content. As a big horror fan myself, I was almost immediately drawn to that aspect of Cannibal Corpse when I found out about them. The band has been going strong since 1988, despite a couple lineup changes near the beginning of their career. What I was pleasantly surprised when watching them was how humble they were. They didn’t do a walk on intro like a lot of other bands, they didn’t bring additional lighting, they just played good fucking music and got the crowd hyped. Vocalist George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher blew me away with his ability to own the stage by doing a single stance. The band isn’t known for being insanely energetic, but the power each member gives off just from their stage presence and musical technicality is mind blowing. With fourteen albums in their discography, I was pleasantly surprised how well the band was able to cover, playing songs from twelve of those fourteen albums. The crowd went nuts, with one of the most violent mosh pits I’ve seen. This was a perfect setlist, as the band played a whopping 18-songs, with George adding in some comedic moments while the rest of the members would tune their instruments. I was thrilled to hear songs like “I Cum Blood”, “Hammer Smashed Face”, “Red Before Black”, and “Kill or Become”, which were all highlights from the set for me. Bassist and founding member Alex Webster was also very fun to watch for me, as his bass stance was very powerful and was very fun to capture. The band had Erik Rutan, guitarist of Hate Eternal, filling in on this tour. His stage presence and ability to own those dueling guitar solos blew me away. Drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz truly impressed me with his extremely technical drum parts that were played to perfection, along with his stage presence behind the kit. The dude is insanely fun to watch. Closing out the band’s lineup is guitarist Rob Barrett, who truly slayed it with his’ rhythmic patterns and technicality on the rhythm guitar. But the stand out was definitely George Fisher, who’s headbanging and vocal abilities drove the set to a whole other level. Cannibal Corpse’s performance was one for the books and I will definitely be seeing them again in the near future!

SETLIST

  1. Code of the Slashers
  2. Only One Will Die
  3. Red Before Black
  4. Scourge of Iron
  5. Staring Through the Eyes of the Dead
  6. The Wretched Spawn
  7. Devoured by Vermin
  8. Unleashing the Bloodthirsty
  9. Gutted
  10. Kill or Become
  11. A Skull Full of Maggots
  12. Evisceration Plague
  13. Firestorm Vengeance
  14. Death Walking Terror
  15. I Cum Blood
  16. Make Them Suffer
  17. Stripped, Raped, and Strangled
  18. Hammer Smashed Face

Cannibal Corpse’s Fall North American Tour was an amazing night with two bands who absolutely crushed it, performing incredible music that blew me away. Both Thy Art Is Murder and Cannibal Corpse are at the top of their game and I cannot wait to see both bands in the new year when they come out to California again!

Cannibal Corpse | Thy Art Is Murder

Photos + Review courtesy of Jamie Kaufman | Instagram

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