It’s Halloween and there are all manner of ghouls and foul beings floating around the streets of Bristol. There’s a fairly unpleasant atmosphere lurking in the depths of the famous Fleece venue, as three rising US death metal outfits are in the city ahead of shows at Damnation Festival in Manchester and a European tour that will see them traverse the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Italy, Sweden and Germany over the next month.
It's a full house tonight and although the doors are early, it’s relatively full when Richmond’s Enforced (8) hit the stage. Last time they were in Bristol they played a strange 30-minute headline set that had many of the punters in Rough Trade scratching their heads. Tonight, they bludgeon through the equivalent set in terms of time but take in tracks from 2023’s War Remains as well as the title track from new EP A Leap Into The Dark.
It’s unreconstituted stuff, their blend of thrash and crossover maybe not quite to the tastes of some of the more refined death metal fans but there is no doubting the band’s ferocity or energy. Vocalist Knox Colby is gripped by an inability to stand still, prowling and pacing when not barking out his ferocious delivery. The band are tight, with new guitarist Josh ‘The Mosh’ Welteroth comfortably tackling the lead work with efficiency. It’s a visceral start to the evening and worth getting in early to catch the Virginians.
Youngsters in comparison to the opening act in terms of years together, there’s something bubbling under with 200 Stab Wounds (8). The Cleveland quartet don’t mess around either, launching into their 40-minutes of bruising death metal with a non-nonsense approach only slowed by a few minutes due to change of drum kit. The additional of another kick drum is worth the wait though, for watching Owen Pooley work his way through the set with a smile on his face as he blasts out insane patterns at pace is worth the admission fee on its own.
Youngsters in comparison to the opening act in terms of years together, there’s something bubbling under with 200 Stab Wounds (8). The Cleveland quartet don’t mess around either, launching into their 40-minutes of bruising death metal with a non-nonsense approach only slowed by a few minutes due to change of drum kit. The additional of another kick drum is worth the wait though, for watching Owen Pooley work his way through the set with a smile on his face as he blasts out insane patterns at pace is worth the admission fee on its own.
To his left, guitarist Raymond Macdonald’s intimidating psycho killer from down the street stare chills, the man barely cracks a smile all set but is happy cranking out the brutality with ease. New tracks flow from 2024’s Manual Manic Procedures, mixed with older songs that raise cheers from the now full venue. The set tails off a little mid-set, but picks up on the home straight, with Steve Buhl’s ability to roar down the mic whilst playing guitar always impressive. Full force death metal is on the menu, and as the circle pits whirl, 200 Stab Wounds ensure the audience is fully sated before the main course is served.
A decade plus into their journey, and things are really picking up for Arizonans Gatecreeper (10). Their Dark Superstition album is probably my death metal album of 2024, and this show is an example of how to deliver at the highest level. A big song set list provides an hour of unrelenting death metal with a contemporary twist. The venue is in high excitement as the band storm into Oblivion, man mountain guitarist Eric Wagner leaning menacingly over the front rows as he demands the circle pits get larger and faster. Behind him, Matt Arrebollo provides the relentless battery from the drum stool. It’s another masterclass in death metal drumming, as he locks in with the ferocious low-end of bassist Alex Brown and guitarist Israel Garza.
A decade plus into their journey, and things are really picking up for Arizonans Gatecreeper (10). Their Dark Superstition album is probably my death metal album of 2024, and this show is an example of how to deliver at the highest level. A big song set list provides an hour of unrelenting death metal with a contemporary twist. The venue is in high excitement as the band storm into Oblivion, man mountain guitarist Eric Wagner leaning menacingly over the front rows as he demands the circle pits get larger and faster. Behind him, Matt Arrebollo provides the relentless battery from the drum stool. It’s another masterclass in death metal drumming, as he locks in with the ferocious low-end of bassist Alex Brown and guitarist Israel Garza.
All eyes are on frontman / singer Chase H Mason, whose is positioned between the two iconic but annoying front pillars and whose vocal rasp is the deadliest of the evening. Caught In The Treads spurs the pit to work harder, whilst Mason demands a ‘push-pit’ for Desperation. “No kicking, no punching” he reminds the crowd. “Just use your hands” as hell is unleashed. By the time we get to the final few songs, Gatecreeper are in killing machine mode, as they roll into The Black Curtain, Starved/Sick Of Being Sober and closing track Flamethrower.
There’s a groove that underpins the band’s sound, which has been crystal clear all evening (fist pump to the sound engineer indeed!). It returns for one final burst, as Boiled Over from 2019’s Deserted steamrollers anyone left standing. All that’s left is high fives for the front few rows, a quick merch browse and then out into the welcome cool of the evening. Horrors avoided, this was an exceptional performance from a band who, alongside both tour partners, are destined for bigger things.
There’s a groove that underpins the band’s sound, which has been crystal clear all evening (fist pump to the sound engineer indeed!). It returns for one final burst, as Boiled Over from 2019’s Deserted steamrollers anyone left standing. All that’s left is high fives for the front few rows, a quick merch browse and then out into the welcome cool of the evening. Horrors avoided, this was an exceptional performance from a band who, alongside both tour partners, are destined for bigger things.
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