Words: Smudge
Photos: Maciej Hevi Janas
A pre-Christmas plunge into the realm of death metal proved to be just what the doctor ordered, as Decapitation marked the 20th anniversary of their monstrous album ‘Nihility’ with a full-blown performance of the entire masterpiece. Materia from Poland wasted no time, diving headfirst into their signature brand of pulverizing technical death metal. The third song’s thematic mysteries eluded me, but Materia swiftly rebounded with a dose of sublime melodic death in ‘Bay 17,’ complete with clean vocals.
Hailing all the way from Nashville, Tennessee, Inferi eschewed any hint of country twang, instead delivering an onslaught of ferocious blackened death metal. How vocalist Stevie managed to speak after belting out those intense tunes remains a mystery. Their performance was nothing short of a triumph, leaving the audience clamoring for more.
Obscura kicked off their set with a bass solo—yes, you read that right! Undeterred, they unleashed a captivating blend of melodic, prog-inspired death metal, seamlessly transitioning between moments of intensity and respite. The diverse mix of styles and tempos ensured an experience to satisfy every palate.
The anticipation for the headline act was palpable, with roadies completing their final checks and signaling the sound engineer with either a thumbs-up or the flash of a torch. Machine Head did not disappoint, unleashing unbridled brutality from the get-go. Guitarist Vogg, a virtuoso who fires off riffs with precision and solos like a seasoned sharpshooter, proved to be a no-brainer addition. Singer Rasta effortlessly commanded the crowd’s allegiance, and the entire ‘Nihility’ album was showcased in the first electrifying 30 minutes. A cover of Napalm Death’s ‘Suffer The Children’ seamlessly blended into more recent releases such as ‘Day 69,’ ‘Post (?) Organic,’ ‘Cancer Culture,’ and ‘Just A Cigarette.’ Regrettably, due to train schedules, I had to bow out early, but insider info assures me that the sonic mayhem continued, treating the capacity crowd to four additional blistering tunes.
In summary, a stellar package tour of top-tier extreme metal left a sold-out crowd roaring in approval. Here’s to the promise of another unforgettable experience in 2024!
Decapitated are:
Waclaw ‘Vogg’ Kieltyka – guitars
Rafa? “Rasta” Piotrowski – vocals
James Stewart – drums
Pawe? Pasek – bass (live)
DECAPITATED
‘NIHILITY’ UK & IRELAND TOUR 2023
w/ Obscura, Inferi, The Materia
29.11.23 UK Bristol @ The Fleece
30.11.23 UK Milton Keynes @ MK11
01.12.23 UK Bournemouth @ The Old Fire Station
02.12.23 UK Torquay @ The Foundry
03.12.23 UK Merthyr Tydfil @ Redhouse Cymru
04.12.23 UK Liverpool @ O2 Academy2
06.12.23 Ireland Limerick @ Dolan’s Warehouse
07.12.23 Ireland Dublin @ Opium
08.12.23 UK Belfast @ Limelight 2
09.12.23 UK Glasgow @ Slay
10.12.23 UK Newcastle @ The Grove
11.12.23 UK Leeds @ The Key Club
12.12.23 UK Norwich @ The Waterfront
13.12.23 UK Southend-on-Sea @ Chinnerys
14.12.23 UK London @ 229
15.12.23 UK Manchester @ Club Academy
16.12.23 UK Birmingham @ Asylum
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