Cannibal Corpse, The Faceless, Neuraxis, Obscura – SMN News live report

April 19, 2009 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection

The almighty OBSCURA made the first impression of the show a memorable one as they took the stage.  The band’s power and technicality just completely stunned the crowd.  Their razor sharp melodies, thrilling time changes, and shredding guitar solos continued to impress throughout, and those who may have not been familiar with OBSCURA now were.  The brilliant guitar counter attacks, precise drum blasts, and solid vocals of songs “Cosmogenesis” and “Anticosmic Overload” gave a full adrenaline rush, while “Universe Momentum” and its brain melting sweeps left many at awe.  While playing their instruments at such a high level as that, OBSCURA still had many ways to get the crowd involved with both guitarists and the bassist switching sides, calling for the crowd to join.  The death metal virtuosity that OBSCURA creates is absolutely amazing, and the live performance the band puts on is equally amazing.  OBSCURA all around is just that amazing, and out of this world.  Seeing them live gave their music a whole other dimension.   

Label: Relapse Records

Website: www.myspace.com/realmofobscura  

 
NEURAXIS opened their set with the futuristic metal assaults of “Dreaming The End”.  Let the headbanging begin, because the unique and progressively advanced way that NEURAXIS attacks extreme metal is for sure an attention grabber.  Getting into “Dreaming The End”, those massive riffs really make use of the whole fretboard, and the guitar tones sounded just as good live as on their most recent CD, The Thin Line Between.  Also spot on were the amazing, unique, and extreme flow of the drums that destroyed anything in its path.  NEURAXIS truly pleased their fans playing a wide range out of their discography, as well as capturing many first time listeners.  These highly talented musicians put so much detail into their music that one listen is definitely not enough to catch every detail within the music.  But that one listen while seeing them live is enough to say how all around badass NEURAXIS is with their stage killing antics.  Vocalist Alex Leblanc continuously got the crowd involved with his fist pumps, windmill headbanging, and commanding vocal range.  NEURAXIS closed their set with the epic fury of “Wicked”.  What really amazed the crowd was NEURAXIS’s use of both futuristic extreme brutality and when slowing down a tad into a jam, those Slayer-like hammer offs also take a deep black metal sort of vibe (it’s both in one!), and further proving how NEURAXIS expands the genres into unimaginable dimensions.  The band closed like there was no tomorrow, as the last chants of “Wicked!!” stunned the crowd one more time.  There was no stopping this beast!! 

Label: Prosthetic Records

Website: www.myspace.com/neuraxis  

 
Right as THE FACELESS took the stage, you knew that they were setting you up for something big.  Standing there speechless by their intense sampled introduction, you’ll be caught off guard with a furious opening riff with a timbre that called the brutality, and massive double bass drum accents making your spine wrench.  THE FACELESS weren’t afraid to show their faces, and they made sure to catch every angle of the venue to pump up the crowd.  Their hyperactive experimentation, insane sweeps, and bone crushing brutality were enough to make one worship their talent, especially since it was live right in front of us.  Literally, right in front of us because these guys were rocking out, and I’m sure the musicians in the crowd were watching the technicality and progression of the music very closely.  Playing a nice amount from their newest release Planetary Duality, THE FACELESS continued to rip faces off with brutal and unique offerings of “Coldly Calculated Design”, and “The Ancient Covenant”.  THE FACELESS are truly capable of expanding the genre of metal to who even knows where, and being able to see their vision and how they get it done live was absolutely incredible.

Label: Sumerian Records

Website: www.myspace.com/thefaceless  

Once the commanding power of CANNIBAL CORPSE took the stage, the legends of death metal kept the crowd involved with their ongoing killing spree.  Their set list consisted of both Cannibal classics and new songs from their 2009 Metal Blade release, Evisceration Plague.  From CANNIBAL CORPSE’s longtime reign in the scene, the band has truly become an icon in metal culture spawning many murderous metal attacks for others to follow.  The thrill of seeing the band live is always a pleasure.  CANNIBAL CORPSE opened their set with their newest single and title track, “Evisceration Plague”, and the massive pit started to form.  The pit would remain large from there on out, and CANNIBAL CORPSE killed the stage with crowd favorites such as “Skull Full Of Maggots”, “I Cum Blood”, and a special song for the ladies, “Fucked With A Knife”, that is.  Whether going off to the races with their speedy riffs and solos, or slaying us slowly with their pounding death metal, all in all the whole package deal remained energetic, extreme, and of course, fun.  CANNIBAL CORPSE closed their set with the classic “Hammer Smashed Face”, truly reminding the crowd what metal is all about.  As time changes, so does metal, but CANNIBAL CORPSE has and always will be amongst the leaders of all time.  Making sure their mark was left, their energetic stage presence and instrument technicality made for a night to remember.  Then it was time to swarm the CANNIBAL CORPSE merch booth.

Label: Metal Blade Records

Website: www.myspace.com/cannibalcorpse

Overall, each band’s level of extreme power and unique talent made this tour one of the best I’ve ever seen.  I hope to definitely catch each respective band in concert again soon.  Each band made the show one hell of an unforgettable night, and the headbanging did not stop at all.  Much respect to all!!

Photography by: Alex Gilbert

Written by: Alex Gilbert

Remaining Tour Dates
April 22 – Ottawa, ON @ Babylon
April 23 – Quebec City, QC @ Le Capitole
April 24 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
April 25 – Richmond, VA @ Alley Katz
April 26 – Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligan’s Music Hall
April 27 – Jacksonville, FL @ Freebird Live

(+55 rating, 11 votes)

• Digg
• Facebook
• del.icio.us
• RSS Feed
• Email This Post