The Decibel Magazine Tour with Carcass 4/11/14
The Decibel Magazine tour rolls on, destroying all in its path with a lineup that is unbelievable on all levels. My day consisted not only of this event but also a special Sam Ash bass clinic with legendary bassist Billy Sheehan. Being able to cover both events at once was just perfect. This concert review is only for The Black Dahlia Murder and Carcass. I was not able to cover Gorguts or Noisem due to my prior engagement. Best Buy Theater was full capacity and things just got better and better.
I walked into the photo pit for TBDM truly excited. The last two times they played NYC I missed them both. One show at the now closed down Roseland Ballroom with Machine head, All that remains and Dethklok, and then the next was with Skeletonwitch at Brooklyn’s Knitting factory concert venue. This was redemption and my goodness was it worth it. Lead singer Trevor Strnad was powerful. The drop of the first word to the start of In hell she waits for me led to immediate mosh pitting. It was fast, prolific and intimidating to see the power be set free from the music that is melodic death metal. Ryan Knight and Brian Eschbach are incomparable. They bring such technicality to their riffs that drives the mosh pits to the top of insanity. Both men were photogenic amidst the rare bursts of light that ran across the stage for the three songs us photographers had. Seeing Trevor’s “heartburn” tattoo on his stomach was awesome and hysterical, having no problem being photogenic and showing it off as he took his shirt off for the set. The show overall was intense with my top nod going to TBDM for their kick ass music and their current Everblack, which broke to #32 on the Billboard top 200 list, U.S Indie at #9, U.S Rock at #13 and U.S Hard Rock at #3. The numbers don’t lie and I ain’t lying when I tell you to support this hard-working band. Everblack is currently on the Metal Blade Records CD catalog. The set-list is as follows:
1. In Hell Is Where She Waits for Me
2. Moonlight Equilibrium
3. On Stirring Seas of Salted Blood
4. Their Beloved Absentee
5. Statutory Ape
6. Everything Went Black
7. Phantom Limb Masturbation
8. What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse
9. I Will Return
England’s own death metal legends Carcass took the stage immediately after. The pioneers of goregrind and melodic death metal took Best Buy Theater by storm. Opening up with Buried dreams, the full on red on red lights spelled disaster for the first two songs. The crowd was on a rampage as surfers came pouring into the photographers pit. It was only after the third song that Jeff Walker made his little announcement to the security team down below. “I know that the photographers have three songs to make us look sexy for publicity, but if its alright with you we want them to stay! is that okay with all of you???” at which case, the entire photographers pit comprised of sixteen photographers erupted with joy that co-existed with the audience applause to continue on. Not only did the lights get better, but the show did as well. Each song played was an extra dose of energy to the already crazy crowd. Us photographers stayed in the pit area for another 6 songs with some of the BEST light I have ever experienced at Best buy theater. The 18 song set-list comprised some of Jeff’s best moments. He brought up how useless the American economy has been since our wars in the Middle East and even took jabs at Opeth singer Mikael saying he has really awful jokes live. Not only that, but he cut halfway through captive bolt pistol and restarted by yelling “FIRE!!!” leaving the whole auditorium going ballistic. Jeff Walker’s personality is awesome live. Guitarists Bill Steer and Michael Amott played duos with Jeff and each other during the set and posed for the cameras that were consistently on them for the time being. Bill Steer played on the left side of the stage and Michael Amott played on the right side (audience facing stage), I separated and stood shooting Michael, who whipped his hair at my camera continuously as if it was in amusement. He kept me on my toes as I had to move my camera away so I don’t hit him or try to hit him. Amott just laughed and smiled at me while I was kept in suspense, not the type of humor I’m used to but oh well. The massive seventeen song list kept patrons in a fever pitch. Spanning from classic albums like Heartwork, their new album Surgical steel, Tools of the trade, Wake up and smell the…carcass and many more.
I only spent this night on half the set with The Black Dahlia Murder and Carcass. That does NOT mean you should cut out Noisem and Gorguts no no no. Check out the photos below and the amazing set-list to this ridiculous tour. If you have a chance to go, you better make it your business to go. That’s how the cookie crumbles everyone. I will see you all again when the next show comes along. Thanks for reading and take care. All of you…
—Derek Soto—
1. Buried Dreams
2. Incarnated Solvent Abuse
3. Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System
4. Carnal Forge
5. Noncompliance to ASTM F 899-12 Standard
6. No Love Lost
7. The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills
8. Edge of Darkness / This Mortal Coil
9. Reek of Putrefaction
10. Unfit for Human Consumption
11. Genital Grinder
12. Pyosisified (Rotten to the Gore)
13. Exhume to Consume
14. Captive Bolt Pistol
15. Corporal Jigsore Quandary / The Sanguine Article
16. Black Star / Keep On Rotting in the Free World
17. Ruptured in Purulence / Heartwork
The Black Dahlia Murder Gallery
Carcass Photo Gallery
Find the full Flickr gallery by clicking HERE!
