What better way to celebrate Halloween than to attend a show for the most popular death metal band in the world, namely Cannibal Corpse? The Forum in Kentish down is set on by death metal maniacs keen to see in the weekend with the New York purveyors of unabashed depravity, complete with new album 'A Skeletal Domain' in their repertoire.
Fellow countrymen Revocation are a band that is anything but idle. Formed in 2006, the four-piece have released five albums of technical death metal and have secured a signing to the headliner's record label Metal Blade Records with non-stop praise both at home in the States and abroad in Europe. Opening with 'The Hive', Revocation begin to serve the London punters technical death metal fleshed out with thrash metal infusions with an abundance of variety and ideas per song. Focusing on the later part of their career, new songs 'Deathless' and Madness Opus' strike good favour with the audience although towards the end of their set, the audience's appetite appears to have thinned out. Nonetheless, this modern take on death metal is a fair compliment to the seasoned headliners.
The legendary Cannibal Corpse unapologetically begin their rampage with the classic 'Staring Through the Eyes of the Dead'from 'The Bleeding', instantly igniting a vicious mosh pit. This is immediately followed by two more prime cuts from the same album, the vulgar 'Fucked with a Knife', and the slower yet bone-crunching'Stripped, Raped and Strangled' complete with diehard fans growling along to the lyrics. The energy of Cannibal Corpse truly excels in the live environment and vocalist Corpsegrinder cuts an intimidating stage presence perfectly suited to the murderous metal on hand.
With 20 years of aural assaults to their name, there is a surplus amount of material from which these Americans can craft their set. Naturally, 'A Skeletal Domain' must be promoted and the release is positively represented with 'Icepick Lobotomy', 'Kill or Be Killed' and 'Sadistic Embodiment'. These songs continue to showcase Cannibal Corpse's later era fascination of slower tempo numbers with increased technicality that are proof of the band's sustained evolution. The remainder of the set seeks to embody as much of their discography as time permits, inclusive of all albums, except the beloved 'Butchered at Birth' strangely. Usual staples 'Pounded into Dust', 'I Cum Blood' and 'The Wretched Spawn' appease with ease while the modern'Demented Aggression', 'Make them Suffer' and 'Evisceration Plague' serve as stern reminders that Cannibal Corpse are not a nostalgia act.
The stage is awash with flying hair as the membersheadbang non-stop through the set with Corpsegrinder teasing the audience with his impressively thick neck that they will fail to keep up with his speedy windmilling. The technical muscles of bassist Alex Webster and guitarists Rob Barrett and Pat O'Brien are never spoken of enough. Meanwhile, the mosh pit never stops and tide upon tide of crowdsurfers ensures the security is kept occupied.
Cannibal Corpse's most popular track 'Hammer Smashed Face' arrives and the number of crowdsurfers increases dramaticallywhile the mosh pit grows even more furious as this influential take on bludgeoning old school death metal is aired out. After this, the headliners vacate the stage only to be lured back by a resolute audience whose insistence is rewarded with the scathing fan favourite'Devoured by Vermin'. Following a round of thanks for the audience, Corpsegrinder then begins to distribute Halloween sweets to the crowd with people eagerly snatching them out of the air.
Once again, Cannibal Corpse and their enduring death metal has left their mark on London and what day is better than Halloween? This was a fantastic way to kick off the weekend and undoubtedly, it will not be long until these American death metallers return to disembowel the capital.
FUTURE GIGS
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