Death Metal Descends on Lee’s Palace with Six Feet Under, Kataklysm, and Wormhole
By Devious Dayna
Lee’s Palace was packed with death metal fans on July 9 as Wormhole, Kataklysm, and Six Feet Under brought a night of crushing riffs and pure brutality to Toronto. The stacked lineup delivered three very different takes on extreme metal, giving fans everything from technical chaos to old-school death metal carnage.
WORMHOLE
Opening the night was Baltimore, Maryland’s Wormhole, a band I was experiencing live for the first time. Going in unfamiliar with their music, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but they immediately made an impression. Their blend of technical death metal and slam influences brought a massive amount of intensity to the stage, with crushing riffs, chaotic transitions, and impressive musicianship throughout their set.
There were moments during their performance where I just had to stop and think, “damn, this is brutal.” The sheer heaviness and technical precision they brought to the stage was incredible to witness live. “Nurtured in the Poisoned Womb” was the track that really stood out for me, showcasing just how intense and unpredictable Wormhole’s sound can be.
Even without knowing their material beforehand, they completely won me over. Wormhole were absolutely fantastic live, and after seeing them perform, they’ve definitely earned a spot on my playlist. I’ll be diving deeper into their music.
Wormhole Setlist:
Data Fortress Orbital Stationary
The Gas System
System Erase
D-S3
Nurtured in the Poisoned Womb
Ingswarm
KATAKLYSM
Before Kataklysm took the stage, our own team member Alicia Miranda joined the band for a trip to Slayer Burger to try out the Kataklysm poutine. With the band hailing from Quebec, the birthplace of poutine, the big question was whether Ontario could compete. Keep an eye out for Alicia’s upcoming review and interview to find out how it stacked up.
Then it was time for Kataklysm to take over Lee’s Palace. Hailing from Quebec, these Canadian death metal veterans brought exactly what fans came out for. The set was packed with crushing riffs, brutal vocals, and plenty of pits breaking out throughout the night.
Maurizio Iacono commanded the stage throughout the set with the powerful vocals and presence that have made him one of the most recognizable figures in Canadian death metal. Kataklysm delivered a set that pulled from different eras of the band, giving longtime fans plenty to enjoy while still showcasing where they are today.
From tracks like “In Shadows & Dust” and “As I Slither” to newer material, the setlist showcased the band’s ability to stay heavy while continuing to evolve. The crowd was fully locked in from start to finish, with pits opening up and fans giving everything they had.
Kataklysm proved once again why they have remained such an important name in Canadian death metal.
Kataklysm Setlist:
Push the Venom
Thy Serpents Tongue
Goliath
Die as a King
Prevail
Soul Destroyer
The Resurrected
In Shadows & Dust
As I Slither
Bringer of Vengeance
Crippled & Broken
At the Edge of the World
Narcissist
The Black Sheep
Six Feet Under
Closing out the night was none other than the godfather of death metal, Chris Barnes, with Six Feet Under. After a long absence from Canadian stages, seeing the band return was a special moment for longtime fans. From the moment they stepped on stage, it was clear that Barnes is still here doing what he does best. After decades in the scene, he continues to bring that unmistakable death metal presence that has made him one of the most recognizable voices in the genre.
Chris Barnes has received plenty of criticism online over the years regarding his vocals, with the infamous “EEEEEE” moments becoming a running joke among some fans. But after this many years of performing, voices naturally change. Chris is not going to sound exactly like he did in the 90s, but that does not take away from what he brings to the stage. His low growls are still absolutely crushing, and his higher screams, while rougher than they once were, showed the amount of control and power it takes to reach those extreme ranges. Being able to hit those kinds of notes after so many years in the game takes a lot of talent.
Another huge moment of the night was seeing Marco Pitruzzella (Lord Marco) back behind the kit. After the announcement earlier this year that the band had parted ways with him, seeing him on stage was definitely unexpected. I had the chance to speak with Marco after the show and asked if he had an official statement regarding the announcement. His response? He jokingly told me to tell people it was a typo. Either way, it was great seeing him back behind the drums, and it definitely seems like Lord Marco is here to stay.
Guitarist Ray Suhy was also incredible throughout the set. His solos added another level to the performance, and he showed just how talented he is on stage. The venue was extremely hot, and Ray took the time to hand out cold bottles of water to fans at the front. It was a small gesture, but one that showed his appreciation for the people who came out to support the band.
One of the biggest highlights of the night for me was hearing “Feasting on the Blood of the Insane” live. This has always been one of my favourite Six Feet Under tracks, and seeing it performed in person was incredible. Standing at the front of the stage between taking photos, I was completely losing my mind. My neck is definitely paying the price today, but it was worth every second.
The band also treated fans to a trip back to the early days of death metal with their “covers” of Cannibal Corpse classics “Stripped, Raped and Strangled” and “Hammer Smashed Face.” But is it really a cover when Chris Barnes was the original voice behind these songs? For fans of the original Cannibal Corpse lineup and those first few albums, hearing Chris perform these songs live was something truly special. It brought back that old school 90s death metal feeling, and the crowd absolutely lost their minds. It definitely gave fans exactly what they wanted.
After the show, someone asked me why he played those songs, and honestly, my answer was simple: why not? These tracks are a huge part of death metal history, and hearing Chris Barnes perform them live was a moment fans of that era will not forget. The only thing missing was Jim Carrey joining him on stage.
For their own material, Six Feet Under delivered many of the fan favourites people came out hoping to hear. From crushing originals to unexpected trips back through death metal history, the set gave longtime fans plenty of moments to appreciate.
Six Feet Under Setlist:
- War Is Coming
- Silent Violence
- Revenge of the Zombie
- Lycanthropy
- Torn to the Bone
- Feasting on the Blood of the Insane
- Victim of the Paranoid
- Seed of Filth
- Death or Glory (Holocaust cover)
- Know-Nothing Ingrate
- Mister Blood and Guts
- Ghosts of the Undead
- Human Target
- Beneath a Black Sky
- Stripped, Raped and Strangled (Cannibal Corpse cover)
Hammer Smashed Face (Cannibal Corpse cover)
Overall, this was an incredible night of death metal that gave me a little bit of everything. I got to discover a new band, see some incredible performances, and be taken back to an earlier era of death metal through songs that have stood the test of time. These are the nights that remind me why I love live music, the community that surrounds it, and the experience of seeing it all unfold in person.
Photos & Article by Devious Dayna
