Expecting a very unique live show, fans gathered in Petit Campus for the only Canadian show NADER SADEK were to give before heading off to wreak havoc across Europe! I must say thanks to Extensive Enterprise who granted me access to this show. Filing in sporadically, fans were treated to more than what the headliners were to offer. Supporting acts gave their all and played to the astonished crowd.
Openers, DEFORMATORY, mesmerized right out of the gate with their whimsical brand of tech-Death, engaging the audience with dexterity and virtuosity in abundance! Hearing jazz infiltrate the repertoire gave the band a unique slant to the brutality, especially « Serrated Hate » and « This Deafening Silence« , a song that has to be seen performed rather than heard on record to believe. Drummer, Neil Grandy attacked a small kit but thunderous hits echoed to the back of the hall while bassist, Justin Brazeau’s bass runs left many in attendance with mouths wide open!
A tough act to follow, UNBREAKABLE HATRED, certainly commanded the stage as well, pulling out all the stops being merely a three piece. However, audibly, Simon B. Lapointe’s gargling bass seemed a bit high in the overall mix, making the sound full, yet somehow mismatched with Philippe Drouin’s guitar rhythm and leads. Songs included a nice mix of simpler riffs and straight forward heaviness with groove inciting the evening’s first crowd pit. « Destroying Humanity » showcased an impressive bass run but at times the spaces left in the sound, particularly during Drouin’s solos, could have benefitted from a second rhythm guitarist. Nevertheless, the band was garnered a favorable reaction with fans applauding the trio’s noble set.
Montreal’s UNHUMAN certainly picked up where DEFORMATORY left off, charging out of the gate with furious progressive and technical proficiency recalling BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME’s frenetic yo-yo genre bending antics! Pulverizing and completely immersed in what they were playing, vocalist/guitarist, Youri Raymond playfully «moshed» on stage with fellow bassist, Matt Berubé, much to the delight of onlookers. In between stage banter consisted of light-hearted interaction with the audience before returning to «inhuman» screams and musical wizardry – a joy to watch and hear!
NADER SADEK has remained a mystery in most respects, with members traversing oceans to participate in one man’s artistic vision. Tonight, NADER SADEK emerged to an awestruck crowd, as dead, wilted branches hung low from the rafters and a lone cauldron was set apart in the middle of the stage. Dark, brooding and utterly, otherworldly, vocalist, Travis Ryan (Cattle Decapitation) captivated all, masked in what appeared to be a «squid-like» latex mask creeping through a hooded, torn robe. Utterly imposing, Ryan stalked the stage, grasping at whatever was dripping in the bowl and menacingly offering «it» to onlookers. Adding to the aura of the spectacle, Rune Eriksen’s (ex-Mayhem, Twilight of the Gods, Aura Noir) guitars raged while Flo Mounier played from within the crowd!! Having placed the drums strategically in the audience gave the fans a unique vantage point with which to see exactly what he was playing and literally stand right beside the performance!
If fans were expecting a harrowing set this night, expectations were certainly exceed. No amount of imagination could prepare one for the «ceremony» that ensued. The only drawback was that it was oh, so tragically short… either that or time may have stopped…
