Dying Fetus / Desecration

Support is called in from Wales, namely Welsh death metal bastards Desecration, always reliable for providing an entertaining show. Opening with 'Dig Up, Dig In' from 2000's 'Inhuman' full-length, the trio provide an array of bludgeoning death metal without falling into the over-used brutal death metal tapestry that plagues much of the UK underground. Drummer Mike Hourihan employs an organic approach to his drumming and constructing plenty more than varying kinds of blasts. Guitarist and frontman Ollie Jones’ guitar sound is a sinister one with plenty of distortion. The audience reaction is a solid one, with those that are previously unfamiliar with the three-piece warming up to them very rapidly.

The setlist is very typical of a Desecration set with the extremely concise 'Obscene Publication' from the originally banned 'Gore and Perversion' debut, as Jones is quick to point out, the frenetic 'As the Heart Stops Beating', and the newer 'Sadosexual Suicide'. New song 'Cemetery Sickness' is aired out, typical in Desecration's compositional style and securing mass approval from the crowd. There is an informal atmosphere to the show as the members joke around on stage, mocking each other and talking over themselves. It just makes them appear more loveable and the beer-stained audience certainly enjoy eavesdropping on the conversations.

Before closing selection 'Aim, Fire, Kill' is performed, Jones claims that any audience member who comes on stage will receive a free CD. After some hesitation and a sole headbanger on stage who inspires confidence in more punters to join the band, 'Aim Fire Kill' gets fists pumping with its effectively simple chorusand echoes Jones’ earlier comment on stage that Desecration should indeed be more popular given their endurance throughout the decades. And the band kept their promise with the free CDs!

Clambering on to the miniscule stage,technical death metallers Dying Fetus have plenty of work ahead of them if they are to eclipse Desecration's performance. The show begins with the crunchy classic 'Grotesque Impalement', noticeably simpler than their later output but no less feral as it instantly summons forth a mosh pit. The hybridisation of technical and slam death metal is not what makes Dying Fetus stand out; it is the addition of a strong hardcore influence that arms the music with a gritty rawness in the guitar work, significantly more punchy than conventional death metal. However, the importance of the rhythmic slams cannot be understated in the live environment, as they provide ample opportunities for the death metallers to bang their heads.

The setlist is scraped from throughout the Americans' discography, including selections from last year's beloved 'Reign Supreme', such as 'From Womb to Waste', 'The Blood of Power' and 'Second Skin'. Dying Fetus have a bevy of fan favourite tracks and 'Praise the Lord (Opium for the Masses)', 'Killing on Adrenaline', 'Homicidal Retribution' and 'Kill Your Mother, Rape Your Dog' all receive astonishing reactions that remorselessly tear the little venue in half. The technical prowess of the three-piece cannot go understated; guitarist John Gallagher plays brain-bendingly quickly, while bassist Sean Beasley wrestles with his bass as his fingers dance all over the fretboard and drummer Trey Williams alters between the complex and down-right brutal in a flurry of arms. The shared vocal duties between Gallagher and Beasley are more pronounced live and divide the audience's attention fairly, while awarding both the opportunity to headbang.

Stage invaders and crowd surfers are no rare occurrence tonight, although a couple of the more stubborn invaders do get booted into the audience by Beasley. The entire audience is enthralled in such violent music which comes to a head with 'One Shot, One Kill' from the 'Stop at Nothing' album. The spectators devour this number chock-block with slams and buzzing riffs, the best way to end the show. Although Dying Fetus are off stage, they are still happy to mingle with the audience afterwards and show that they are indeed very nice chaps. London can never have too much Fetus and hopefully they will return for a full tour very soon. Definitely a great idea.