Few tours this year have embodied the raw, pummeling essence of extreme music like the night Obituary brought their decaying brand of death metal to The Concert Hall. With hardcore heavyweights Terror, the nihilistic assault of Nails, the desert-warped Helldorados of SpiritWorld, and rising UK thrash act Pest Control on deck, the night promised nothing short of total annihilation — and it delivered.
Pest Control kicked off the night with a no-frills, high-octane barrage that fused UK hardcore attitude with crossover thrash precision. Their energy was undeniable, and while the room was still filling up, those present were already circling in the pit — an impressive feat for an opener.
Next came SpiritWorld, who brought their unique blend of cowboy aesthetics and heavy riff sounds. Their stage presence was as commanding, as their western bedazzled fits, they had the crowd going wild.
Their sound felt like a post-apocalyptic Western drenched in blood and distortion — a refreshing twist that stood out in a packed lineup.
Nails stormed the stage like a bomb going off. Their set was nothing short kf vicious — exactly what fans expect. Tracks like “God’s Cold Hands” and “Wide Open Wound” left the crowd reeling.
Few bands can match Nails’ level of intensity, and they proved again why they remain one of the most ferocious live acts in extreme music.
Terror followed with a set that bridged the night’s mayhem with pure hardcore fury. Frontman Scott Vogel had the crowd eating out of his hand, demanding energy and receiving it tenfold.
Circle pits erupted on command, while blasting through a bunch of fan favourite tracks, had every hardcore kid screaming along with conviction.
The band’s performance and positive aggression were a highlight of the night. Fans were going berserk. Like something I’ve never seen before. It wasn’t even crowds surfing. People were climbing all over each other’s shoulders and heads.
Finally, Obituary took the stage like ancient, undead titans. The Florida death metal legends delivered a crushing headlining set that spanned their decades-long career.
From the swampy chug of “Slowly We Rot” to newer cuts like “The Wrong Time,” the band was as fucking sick as ever.
John Tardy’s unmistakable vocal delivery sounded as guttural and raw as it did in the ‘90s, and the crowd responded with waves of headbanging and primal roars.
With one of the most brutal and well-curated extreme lineups of the year, this tour proved that whether you’re in the pit for hardcore, death metal, or something in between, the underground is still very much alive — and thriving.
