Words and Photos: Kyle Mueller
On Sunday, September 15th, the Italian symphonic metal band Fleshgod Apocalypse brought their “The Black Opera” tour to Chicago, co-headlining with Shadow of Intent. The supporting acts included Ingested, The Zenith Passage, and Disembodied Tyrant.
Unfortunately, I missed the entire set of Disembodied Tyrant due to a miscommunication. However, the crowd’s enthusiastic response after each song suggested that they had delivered a powerful performance.
Next up was The Zenith Passage, who performed a concise six-song set featuring tracks from their 2023 album “Datalysium”. Frontman James Dorton, filling in for Derek Rydquist, was a standout. His deep growls, combined with his imposing physique, added a raw intensity to the band’s music.
Ingested, hailing from Manchester, followed with a high-energy set characterized by their signature slam death metal sound. Frontman Jason Evans ignited the crowd with his energetic stage presence, encouraging circle pits and crowd surfing.
Co-headliner Shadow of Intent delivered a relentless performance from start to finish. Ben Duerr’s vocals, both brutal and melodic, showcased his impressive range. The band’s setlist included a variety of songs from their discography, including their latest single “Flying the Black Flag.” Guitarist Chris Wiseman and drummer Bryce Butler excelled on tracks like “The Heretic Prevails.” After an intense circle pit and wall of death, the crowd bid farewell to Shadow of Intent and prepared for the main event.
Fleshgod Apocalypse, the Italian symphonic metal masters, closed out the night with a mesmerizing performance. Their vampiric attire and powerful stage presence captivated the audience from the start. The setlist focused primarily on their latest album “Opera,” but also included tracks from their earlier discography. Veronica Bordacchini, with her extraordinary vocal range, commanded the stage from the beginning, opening the show with “Ode To Art – De’Sepolcri.” Francesco Paoli’s haunting yet brutal vocals added another layer of intensity to the band’s sound.
A standout feature of Fleshgod Apocalypse‘s performance was the incorporation of Francesco Ferrini’s piano and orchestral arrangements. His music created a unique and captivating atmosphere, blending elements of classical and death metal. To add a touch of humor, the band concluded the show with a cover of “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65.
Overall, the “The Black Opera” tour was a night of intense music and unforgettable performances. Fleshgod Apocalypse and Shadow of Intent delivered headlining sets that showcased their mastery of their respective genres. The supporting acts, Ingested, The Zenith Passage, and Disembodied Tyrant, also contributed to a memorable evening for fans of death metal.
https://shop.fleshgodapocalypse.com/
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE Tour Dates:
9/14 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
9/15 – Chicago, IL – Metro
9/16 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
9/18 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall
9/19 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
9/20 – Montreal, QC – L’Olympia
9/21 – Ottawa, ON – Brass Monkey
9/22 – Worcester, MA – New England Metal & Hardcore Festival
9/23 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw
9/25 – Reading, PA – Reverb
9/26 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
9/27 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground
9/28 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
9/29 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
10/01 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live
10/02 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
10/03 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
10/04 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
10/05 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
10/06 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
10/08 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
10/09 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
10/10 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
10/11 – Riverside, CA – Riverside Municipal Auditorium
10/12 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
10/13 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
10/15 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
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