The Morbidfest poster should be a salivating proposition to any Metal fan, with the tour comprising pretty much the cream of Death Metal. Old-school Death Metal, yes, but with each band having its own distinct take on the genre. So it was with a palpable sense of anticipation that I descended into the appropriately-named ‘Underworld’.
The first band on, however, wasn’t one I was expecting…..
****************************************
.
Nahemia (https://www.facebook.com/pg/NahemiAband)
Before tonight I was blissfully unaware of Nahemia’s existence…so obviously I didn’t know what they sounded like before they hit the stage. Of course that wasn’t necessarily a problem, it only meant I was approaching the band’s show unfettered by preconceptions.
It turns out the Nahemia are a local band inspired by Scandinavian-style Black Metal. Besides the standard corpse-paint, the stage props included 2 pig heads mounted on spikes at the front of the stage and dripping with blood throughout their show. Nice. Nahemia certainly know how to get your attention.
To be honest, they weren’t bad…in fact I felt the band showed potential. Even the vocalist of Vital Remains, later in the evening, expressed his appreciation for the band’s show. Amongst a handful of original numbers, Nahemia also covered Mayhem’s ‘Freezing Moon’ during which the band’s vocalist proceeded to rip a Bible (or was it a Koran?) to shreds. The recently-released single ‘World Annihilation’ also found its way into their set.
I’m not sure I liked Nahemia’s set well enough to go out and buy their releases but, as hinted earlier, I can’t say I disliked their show either.
Sadist (http://www.sadist.it)
Having high expectations often increases the likelihood of disappointment – so did my overdue eagerness to see these Italians end up badly? Thankfully it didn’t!
Sadist took a couple of songs to get into their stride and from then onwards had the audience in their grips. Predictably the recent “Spellbound” album was showcased but I was happy to hear them play ‘Sometimes They Come Back’, one of their earliest numbers. On the other hand, I was slightly disappointed with the absence of the “Tribe” album from the setlist but as band mentor Tommy Talamanca told me before the gig, choosing setlists is tricky now that the band has 8 albums under their belt.
Bassist Andrea Nasso joined Sadist just before this tour and considering the complex nature of Sadist’s music, I was sceptical he would fit in at such short notice. However not only did he fit in but I was impressed with his skills as a bass player. In fact I was impressed with the abilities of all the band members. Trevor Sadist, the band’s imposing frontman, dressed akin Leatherface from ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ films, gave the horror-themed songs a more visual quality.
That Sadist had great material in their repertoire I had always known but tonight the band also proved to be a very good live band.
.
————————————————————-
Click/Tap the above link to listen to a brief interview with Tommy Talamanca, guitarist/keyboardist/composer with Sadist.
————————————————————-
Atrocity (https://www.atrocity.de/)
It’s hard to pin down the sound of Atrocity – the German band has straddled between Thrash and Death Metal and even flirted with Gothic sonorities. Tonight, however, they should be focusing on the recent “Okkult II” album as well as early material. So it should be Death Metal aggression all the way. As it turns out, I felt they sounded a bit too flat in context of this bill.
But I don’t want to sound too negative because there was lots to enjoy. ‘Necropolis’, from the band’s “Todessenshuht” album of 1992 sounded amazing. ‘Death By Metal’ proved to be a crushing Metal anthem. Atrocity even gave a rare delivery of ‘Blue Blood’, one of the band’s very first releases.
Oddly enough Atrocity played without a bass player (well, at least without a physically present bass player) and this might partly explain why they sounded a bit flat. If I may add one final gripe, the Atrocity symbol atop Alex Krull’s mic stand kept covering his face and in a venue like the Underworld (with a smallish area In front of the stage), this was sometimes annoying.
An enjoyable, if inconsistent, performance.
Vital Remains (https://www.facebook.com/vital.remains.official/)
Vital Remains were the aural equivalent of an atomic bomb ripping the venue apart. The band gave one helluva killer show. For a start there was the first wall of death I’ve ever seen at the ‘Underworld’, besides stagediving and crowdsurfing galore, including by Brian Werner, the band’s singer. In fact Werner was very much responsible for inciting the high levels of crowd violence – he is for me the quintessential Death Metal frontman.
As a single unit Vital Remains were powerful but always immensely tight. I was also impressed by guitarist/shredder Caio Kehyayan. After the gig I saw online clips of him covering Guthrie Govan and Vinnie Moore and, well, you really have to check those out for yourselves, dear readers.
Vital Remains always had a Black Metal edge to them and the stage antics reflected this, particularly in the last song……while the soundtrack from Bram Stoker’s Dracula blared from the speakers, Werner poured fake blood from a goat’s skull over himself.
In a way Vital Remains bridged the gap between Nahemia and I Am Morbid. Speaking of which…..(scroll down)
I Am Morbid
I Am Morbid were formed by David Vincent to perform material from the Morbid Angel albums that he had played on before his most recent split from that band. If Vincent wanted to prove he can still play that material then there’s no doubt to my mind that tonight he succeeded.
The numbers were performed in an almost chronological order of their release. The more aggressive the number, the better the band sounded. Just before the tour kicked off, Kelly McLauchlin (ex-Possessed) was drafted in as a replacement for Ira Black on guitar. Tim Yeung (ex-Morbid Angel) remains the band’s drummer as does Bill Hudson, playing guitar.
Not too long ago, I had seen (also in London) Vincent play several of these numbers with Morbid Angel. Of course I’d prefer him in context of Morbid Angel but, performance-wise, tonight’s show was as great as the MA show I had been to. I Am Morbid delivered what was expected of them and how it was expected.
I Am Morbid
————————————————————-
Click/Tap the above link to listen to a brief interview with David Vincent, bassist/vocalist with I Am Morbid.
]]>
The Flaming Arts Agency has revealed a dream billing for fans of technical extreme Metal. This month MORBIDFEST is kicks off on an EU tour with a blasting line-up consisting of I AM MORBID (USA), ATROCITY (DE), VITAL REMAINS (USA), and SADIST (IT). All four bands have prepared unique sets for this tour to make it even more special.
MORBIDFEST dates:
Apr. 26 – Cottbus (GER) Gladhouse
Apr. 27 – Hamburg (GER) Kultur Palast
Apr. 28 – Aalborg (DEN) Stundenterhuset
Apr. 30 – Manchester (UK) Rebellion
May 01 – Coventry (UK) Empire
May 02 – London (UK) Underworld
May 03 – Apeldoorn (NLD) Gigant
May 04 – Eindhoven (NLD) Effenaar
May 07 – Saint Maurice (SUI) Le Manoir
May 08 – Marseille (FRA) Jas Rod
May 09 – Barcelona (SPA) Salamandra
May 10 – Madrid (SPA) Caracol
May 11 – Murcia (SPA) Gamma
May 12 – Lisboa (POR) LAV
May 15 – Milan (ITA) Legend Club
May 16 – Ingolstadt (GER) Eventhalle Westpark
May 17 – Mannheim (GER) MS Connexion
May 18 – Zwickau (GER) Seilerstrasse *
May 19 – Prague (CZE) Storm *
* (No VITAL REMAINS)
I AM MORBID led by the legendary David Vincent is about to perform material from Morbid Angel’s “Altars of Madness” (1989), “Blessed Are The Sick” (1991), “Covenant” (1993) and “Domination” (1995) albums. This is a great chance for death metal fans to hear the favourite songs live.
The German metallers ATROCITY have prepared a special program comprising the “OKKULT” album released via Napalm Records and all the popular tracks throughout the band’s history.
An exclusive 30th-anniversary set will be performed by the US blasphemers from VITAL REMAINS within the tour. Finally, progressive death metal veterans SADIST are going to present their recent album “Spellbound” along with old songs included in the set.
]]>
ATROCITY will release a very special 7″ vinyl single including a brand new version of the ATROCITY classic “Blue Blood” as well as the “OKKULT II” smasher “Spell Of Blood” – just in time for start of their EU/UK tour!
As an homage to the original release of “Blue Blood” 30 years ago, the 7″ single will also be available on black, green and blue vinyl.
The blue vinyl version is exclusively available at Nuclear Blast’s online shop, though. You can pre-order the 7″ single here » https://lnk.to/spellofblood
ATROCITY’s “Spell Of Blood/Blue Blood” 7″ vinyl single will be released on April 26, 2019 via Massacre Records.
The Morbidfest EU/UK tour 2019 with I Am Morbid, Atrocity, Vital Remains, Sadist and guests kicks off on the same day.
All available dates are available below. 
ATROCITY – Spell Of Blood / Blue Blood (7″ Vinyl Single) out on April 26, 2019 via Massacre Records
1. Spell Of Blood
2. Blue Blood (2019 Version) Colored Vinyl | Digital – get it here » https://lnk.to/spellofblood 
ATROCITY Live
26.04.2019 DE Cottbus – GladHouse*
27.04.2019 DE Hamburg – Kulturpalast*
28.04.2019 DK Aalborg – Studenterhuset*
30.04.2019 UK Manchester – Rebellion*
01.05.2019 UK Coventry – The Empire*
02.05.2019 UK London – The Underworld Camden*
03.05.2019 NL Apeldoorn – Gigant*
04.05.2019 NL Eindhoven – Effenaar*
05.05.2019 FR Paris – Petit Bain*
07.05.2019 CH Saint-Maurice – Manoir Pub*
08.05.2019 FR Marseille – Jas’Rod*
09.05.2019 ES Barcelona – Sala Salamandra*
10.05.2019 ES Madrid – Sala Caracol*
11.05.2019 ES Murcia – Sala Gamma*
12.05.2019 PT Lisboa – LAV*
15.05.2019 IT Milano – Legend Club*
16.05.2019 DE Ingolstadt – Eventhalle Westpark*
17.05.2019 DE Mannheim – MS Connexion Complex*
18.05.2019 DE Zwickau – Club Seilerstrasse* ++
19.05.2019 CZ Praha – Storm Club* ++
* Morbidfest EU/UK Tour 2019 (I Am Morbid, Atrocity, Vital Remains, Sadist + Guests)
++ without Vital Remains
https://www.facebook.com/AtrocityOfficial
https://twitter.com/atrocitypage
https://www.youtube.com/user/AtrocityOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/atrocity_official
Photo by Stefan Heilemann / Heilemania.
]]>ATROCITY already revealed the news that the two death metal icons and old friends LG Petrov of Entombed A.D. and Marc Grewe (ex-Morgoth) have contributed guest vocals to the album. ATROCITY’s new album “OKKULT II” will also be available as a limited edition vinyl LP as well as a limited edition mediabook with a different artwork as well as a bonus CD that includes all songs as an instrumental version. You can already pre-order it here » https://massacre.lnk.to/okkult_II
The complete track lists are available below. A very special record release show is set to take place at the Sunstorm Open Air in Nordheim, Germany, on the 6th of July 2018! More news to come soon!
—
1. Masters Of Darkness
2. Shadowtaker
3. Bloodshed And Triumph
4. Spell Of Blood
5. Menschenschlachthaus
6. Gates To Oblivion (Feat. Marc Grewe)
7. Infernal Sabbath
8. All Men Must Die
9. Phantom Ghost 10. Devil’s Covenant (Feat. LG Petrov)
11. The Golden Dawn Pre-order » https://massacre.lnk.to/okkult_II 
ATROCITY – OKKULT II (Mediabook w/ Bonus CD)
1. Masters Of Darkness
2. Shadowtaker
3. Bloodshed And Triumph
4. Spell Of Blood
5. Menschenschlachthaus
6. Gates To Oblivion (Feat. Marc Grewe)
7. Infernal Sabbath
8. All Men Must Die
9. Phantom Ghost
10. Devil’s Covenant (Feat. LG Petrov)
11. The Golden Dawn
Bonus CD
1. Masters Of Darkness (Instrumental Version)
2. Shadowtaker (Instrumental Version)
3. Bloodshed And Triumph (Instrumental Version)
4. Spell Of Blood (Instrumental Version)
5. Menschenschlachthaus (Instrumental Version)
6. Gates To Oblivion (Instrumental Version)
7. Infernal Sabbath (Instrumental Version)
8. All Men Must Die (Instrumental Version)
9. Phantom Ghost (Instrumental Version)
10. Devil’s Covenant (Instrumental Version) 11.
The Golden Dawn (Instrumental Version)
Pre-order » https://massacre.lnk.to/okkult_II
ATROCITY Live
06.07.2018 DE Nordheim – Sunstorm Open Air (Special “OKKULT II” Release Show)
https://www.facebook.com/AtrocityOfficial
https://twitter.com/atrocitypage
https://www.youtube.com/user/AtrocityOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/atrocity_official
https://open.spotify.com/artist/050NpEYZ5xFUS1BOAZjVmX
Photo by Stefan Heilemann / Heilemania.
German Metal Giants, Atrocity, take center stage once again their 2017 release of “Masters of Darkness“. Available in a limited 4-track digipak EP release as well as a limited 2-track 7” Vinyl Single that includes Masters of Darkness and Menschenschlachthaus. This EP/Single will be available to the masses on December 8th of this year sporting some serious throwback art to a darker time and life in the world. Its simple yet EPIC!
“A little goes a long ways in an EP especially when you dont include each release on the vinly! Geniuses. “/raVen/
Recently I had the opportunity to listen to and absorb the EP in its full metal grandor. Death Metal at its finest for THEE German Metal constitution in Atrocity. As you would expect the album is hard and heavy and extremely polished from head to toe musically, lyrically and artistically. The marketing geniuses that are Atrocity alongside the metal behemoth in Massacre Records® are keeping true to their roots in this EP and have again begun to take advantage of what most seasoned metal bands from the European Continent have learned. A little goes a long ways in an EP especially when you dont include each release on the vinly! Geniuses.
The 24th Studio release from Atrocity is a perfect setup for “Okkult II“ and should be treated as such. /raVen/
As a brief placeholder before the second portion of the “Okkult” Trilogy is released we get “Masters of Darkness“. Fans of harder Atrocity like the aforementioned “Okkult” album and the much anticipated “Okkult II” should be happy to know that “Masters of Darkness” falls right in line with “Hallucinations“, “Todessehnsucht“, “Blut“, and “Atlantis“. The 24th Studio release from Atrocity is a perfect setup for “Okkult II” and should be treated as such.
Atrocity continues to be one of thee, if not thee most successful metal bands in Germany’s music history. Always pushing the envelope and never hesitating to experiment with metal and music we are fortunate enough to hopefully get a short glimpse into what we may be in store for with “Okkult II“.
With a keen ear and knowledge needed to pull anything and everything out of what is dark and death in this world Atrocity tapped Canadian sound designer, Katie Halliday, to assist and assist she did! Known for here works in “Saw V”, “Saw VI”, Saw 3D (VII)”, and others miss Halliday was able to assist the metal genius in what is Alexander Krull in assembling an amazing Death Metal EP. Masters of Darkness, the title track, starts out hard and heavy from the beginning and continues ripping and shredding through to Menschenschlachthaus, my favorite track on the EP. Showcasing their continued amazing range and abilities to deliver on everything heavy throughout “The two digipak tracks in Devil’s Covenant and Gates to Oblivion make this a must have for any and all diehard Atrocity fans! /raVen/
ITS A 10!
