Sepultura / Death Angel

The night is April 14th, the place is "In The Venue," and the bands are Sepultura and Death Angel. What a great show! I went with my good friends Kari and Darrell. Darrell is one of the few people as into music as I am, and one of an extreme few that can actually tell me about bands I've never heard of. I love going to concerts with them!

Mark, the singer for Death Angel

Death Angel

I am more of a Death Angel fan than I am a Sepultura fan, by a large amount. I was pretty bummed that Death Angel were going to be openers and play a shorter set than when I saw them last year headlining. They are a very underrated Thrash Metal band (in my opinion), and I really wish they were more widely known. So when the lights go down for the show to start I leave K&D and head towards the stage (they were there for Sepultura). I had in my pocket a silver sharpie and the booklet from my favorite Death Angel album, Relentless Retribution. I made my way over to the side of the stage where all their equipment and the stairs are. And there I waited, looking like a creep since I was also right by the women's bathroom... but I was only creeping on the band. As they come off the stage I'm the first one there with my CD liner notes and my silver sharpie ready to go... wait, I'm the only person getting an autograph. Damn, give these guys a good reception Utah! I want them to come back! But the band (excluding the bassist) graciously signed my liner notes, which I have framed with Warrant's setlist on my wall like a nerd. I was on cloud 9! Death Angel - Claws In So Deep

Displayed proudly on my wall

Sepultura, one of Brazil's most successful acts (way to go Death Metal!), were never a band I had previously been really in to. I had heard their greatest hits and new of some of their more popular releases, but nothing had really clicked with me. That all changed with this show. There is something I read in Classic Rock Magazine once that applies to what I (and all of us have) experienced. A writer was reviewing a re-release of The Who's "Tommy" album. He said that when he was young he had hated the album (how, I don't know) but when he had been forced to listen to it again decades later for work he was amazed at how much he loved it. He came to the conclusion that certain bands or songs need to be found at the correct time in a person's life, and I completely agree. So that's what happened with Sepultura and myself. I had listened to some stuff when I was still just starting on my Extreme Metal path and I didn't enjoy it (I also didn't enjoy Slayer or King Diamond when I first heard them, but I've learned better!). But now, at this moment in my life, I see this giant African-Brazilian man (gotta keep it P.C.) screaming at me on stage and it instantly clicks! I love those moments, they are the entire reason I like seeing opening acts. You never know what obscure band is going to catch your attention. Sepultura - Mask

Sepultura

Sepultura

The Black Dahlia Murder

 I've been slacking on the updating of my concert journal, time to get back on track!

The Black Dahlia Murder, one of the few newer Melodic Death Metal bands that have escaped the cookie cutter sound that has emerged in the past decade or so. My friend Darrell and I saw them on March 30th with Skeletonwitch and Nile (there was also some other band that sucked, I forgot their name) at The Complex.

After the terrible opening act, the Blackened Thrash Metal band Skeletonwitch took the stage. I had heard of Skeletonwitch but had never listened to their music. I must say I was completely blown away by their originality and force. I instantly became a fan and can't wait for them to come back, hopefully they'll be headlining when they do return so they can play a longer set Skeletonwitch - Bringers Of Death This music video makes no sense but I love it. Human sized stuffed animals and Zombies fight to the death over the band.

Skeletonwitch

Up next on the bill was the band Nile. I was really surprised that they were not the headliners because they have been around far longer than The Black Dahlia Murder. But for whatever reason they were openers. Their style of Egyptian themed Death Metal has given them a lot of popularity, but is pretty repetitive. I have one of their albums and that is enough for me, only a few songs really stick out to me. Darrell and I noticed that the drummer REALLY enjoys the cymbals on his kit, he goes crazy on them. I'd see them again though if they came with other bands I enjoy, they were fairly entertaining, and got the crowd moving violently. Nile - Black Seeds Of Vengeance

Nile

The Black Dahlia Murder

Finally The Black Dahlia Murder comes out. They honestly look like a bunch of tattooed comic book nerds... and that is really what they are. They would not be out of place at Comic Con, but they just happen to be in a Death Metal band. They are great live performers, this was the 3rd time I've seen them and I'm always excited to see them again. Now the singer of the band waves his free hand around all crazy and in weird motions, its very dramatic and is quite fun to watch. But I once read an interview where he was asked why he waves his hand so wildly. His response was he liked to think that he was casting a spell on the crowd and moved his hand to affect everyone in attendance. Perhaps he is casting spells... Each album debuts higher on the Billboard 200 list than the previous, and their popularity has seemed to grow substantially since I first saw them at Mayhem Fest 2009, and every time I see them I become more of a fan. Sounds like magic to me... or a hardworking band... but we'll let the singer think it's magic. The Black Dahlia Murder - What A Horrible Night For A Curse

The Black Dahlia Murder