One thing’s for sure, Fit For An Autopsy won’t be someone’s little opening bitch this evening. Despite all the deathcore wannabes we’ve had to wade knee high to get through, the strongest of these bands are now showing their true colour. With FFAA firmly in the superior camp after showcasing what they’re capable of, their progressive maturity in their sound brings something to the table worthy of discussion.
It’s going to take more than a busted up leg in a cast to stop Goatwhore frontman and superbly named Louis Benjamin Falgoust II. After breaking his leg to either Satan, sex of Schnapps according to the band’s Instagram page, the Louisiana foursome come baring gifts from the world of traditional, death and black metal. With vocals sounding rougher than a rusted chainsaw cutting through a blackboard, the borderline cheese holds its own that gets a cheeky wiggle or two from the crowd.
The same can’t be said for tech-tack-toe death shredders Obscura. With the life of the party burdened on frontman Steffen Kummerer, who to his credit is a really likeable personality on stage, it’s sighs all round from an all too predictable set. A level of interest does incline slowly with some cracking moments of Necrophagist meets Opeth wizardry but is short lived. It’s all metal with none of the calories having all the charisma of a maths quiz.
To no one’s surprise, it’s become a party atmosphere without so much as a riff being played, but what do expect from Sepultura who still pack one of the meanest punches around. The unmistakable blood red lit silhouette of vocalist Derrick Green is an imposing sight who celebrates 20 years of being ‘The New Guy’ for the Brazilian legends; a feat that has the whole place raising their fists as they chant the frontman’s name. A year into touring latest album Machine Messiah, it’s an immediate blast into ‘I Am Enemy’ and ‘Phantom Self ‘ that garners a strong reaction as a maelstrom of moshing breaks-out. Despite mixed reactions to the latest album, Sepultura have become for better or worse an untouchable name in the world of metal that’s evident on the floor this evening and are given the respect that they deserve.
Their live presence feels more focused in these densely concentrated venues as they feed off the energy that’s being thrown right back in their face. Tonight is all about pleasing the fans. There’s decent helping of new and classic songs that retain their weight and conviction after so many years of blasting out ear drums. Saving the best to last, it’s a tapestry of violence: ‘Refuse/Resist’, ‘Arise’, ‘Slave New World’, ‘Ratamahatta’, ‘Roots Bloody Roots’. Kids, listen up: that’s how you close a fucking metal show! Their eyes set for Hammerfest later this week, we can’t imagine many will be disappointed with what they still offer after what Bristol just witnessed.
