Opening the doors at the ungodly hour of 5:30pm, rabid fans descended upon Café Campus, Montreal, to witness Europe’s classically tinged Metal warriors wreck havoc upon their ears! It hasn’t been ages since Greece’s SEPTIC FLESH performed here and already, fans were salivating for a return. Add to that Italy’s FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, and you have a recipe that’s difficult to ignore.
Performing for an already full house, Pennsylvania’s BLACK CROWN INITIATE, warmly graced the hungry crowd with soulfulness and able musicianship! With a hot blend of melodic Death and progressive flourishes, the band played a mesmerizing set seamlessly transferring from slow to faster paced melodies with ease. Guitarist, Andy Thomas, masterfully provided clean vocals alongside James Dorton’s extreme throat to juxtapose the light and darkness within the music. At times, the slow, dirge like determination and musical passages could turn any OPETH fan their way. Ultimately BLACK CROWN INITIATE’s ended their set on a high note; satisfying fans cheered with raised horns and screams aplenty!
Montreal’s NECRONOMICON didn’t waste any time convincing the audience of their intent – namely to spread a menacing aura! Dense, foreboding and intoxicating, their wall of sound recalled Immortal and Behemoth’s heavy-laden bombast, though with far less “hooks” to sink one’s teeth into. Nevertheless, the band quickly amassed applause with their synchronized headbanging, forceful tunes and ominous presence. “The Time is Now”, “From Beyond” and “The End of Times” (among others) all captured a strong presence as Rob “The Witch”, introduced the band’s latest member, bassist, Mars. Although, the performance didn’t instill a pit, the crowd did appreciate the punishing onslaught nonetheless.
Italy’s, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE played next to a wanton audience baying at their emergence on stage, dressed in torn and tattered tuxedoes while backing soprano, Veronica “ValchiRea” Bordachinni struck a classy look with her ballroom-styled mask and floor length gown. Epic and commanding, the group stormed through “Pathfinder” and “The Forsaking” like a chainsaw through warm butter, powerfully playing with conviction and purpose! Huge cheers and rabid audience participation made the set all that more intense as a vicious pit opened and bodies were left battered and bruised! Though, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE use an orchestra in the studio, the live situation brought a backing program providing an apt accompaniment to the songs however, Francesco Ferrini’s piano could have benefitted from a higher volume. A tough act to follow, the Italians know how to work a crowd and properly transpose their studio wizardry to a live and “in the flesh” execution!
For years, this reviewer has followed the various incarnations of Greece’s, SEPTIC FLESH ever since their 1994 debut, “Mystic Places of Dawn” and while it hasn’t been too long since the last time the band performed on these shores, hopes were high that they’d play older numbers, at least from THIS writer’s point of view. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Similar to their last performance, the set included songs from 2003’s “Sumerian Demons” onwards. With zealous energy, ‘Communion” “Unbeliever”, “Anubis”, “Persepolis” and “Five-Pointed Star” all went down like a tidal wave of uncanny force, utterly gratifying to all in attendance. With much posturing though, singer/bassist, Seth almost seemed to not play his instrument (at times not even hitting the strings as he “played”) but favored a more apt role in bringing the attendees together with shouts of “Hey, hey, hey” and “C’mon you motherfuckers” which in turn slightly diminished the credibility of the musicianship. Far from the critical eyes and ears, fans went crazy! Imploring a dramatic Wall of Death, the crowd never stood still while the band played their war-like anthems of days past, even including new songs, “Order of Dracul”, “Prototype” and « Burn ». Though SEPTIC FLESH seemed to precipitate a strong reaction, the set boasted much pomp and circumstance which left this reviewer cold and underwhelmed. Unfortunate, since their career has rode the tide of glory for so long…
Chris
