When conversations between friends will turn to death metal and most notable bands in the genre, without a doubt you will hear the names Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel. The genre trailblazers joined forces for the first time to co-headline the Decibel Magazine Tour including Blood Incantation and Necrot. And you can’t get any heavier than this.
While the tour is winding down, one of the stops were in the heart of New York City world’s famous Times Square, The PlayStation Theatre. Yes, there was death metal in Times Square! And the best part of it, the stage is about three stories underground.
Both extreme metal “newcomers” Blood Incantation from Colorado and Necrot from California did not disappoint. Both bands have their own touch in their music that makes them to stand out and their future seems bright.
Morbid Angel who are playing on every date for the length of the tour came next. They opened with three songs from their latest album “Kingdoms Disdained” which was released on December 1st, 2017. Those songs were – “Piles of Little Arms”, “D.E.A.D.” and “Garden of Disdain” after which the band started the slow descent into their older work. Vocalist Steve Tucker has previously been reluctant earlier to perform the bands earlier David Vincent era songs, however on this tour nothing is held back. As it seemed the show reached the summit when they busted out “God of Emptiness” from their most successful album to the date “Covenant”. They also rounded up the set with “Blood on My Hands” from the same album.
This was a excellent opportunity to see live one of the most acclaimed metal music guitarists Trey Azagthoth live and revel at his talent and who is also the only remaining founding member of the band. Altogether Morbid Angel performed an absolutely stunning set.
For Cannibal Corpse this was their last show on this particular tour, from the next date in Philadelphia they were replaced by Yonkers, New York band Immolation.
Cannibal Corpse of course has been highly controversial for their lyrics and artwork, being censored or even banned in some countries. However they have grown a cult following despite, or because of this depending on how you look at it and tonight at the huge PlayStation Theatre it was packed with Cannibal Corpse t-shirt wearing fans. Though officially not declared as a sold out show, there was no sufficient space left to move around and their merch stand was selling their artwork shirts at the speed of light. So much for the success of censorship.
As with Morbid Angel, the band released their latest album in 2017, called “Red Before Black” and their first three songs performed also came from it – “Code of the Slashers”, “Only One Will Die” and “Red Before Black”.
Their performance was everything you expected and more. George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher was at his best, blessing us with his death growl and his signature circular head banging. On their set the band played songs from ten of their fourteen studio albums which included some of their best work – “I Cum Blood”, “Eviscaration Plague” and many more. As it usually is nowadays, the set was rounded up by th always classic “Hammer Smashed Face”.
We can only hope that this was not the last time we see these death metal legends together, and thanks to the people behind this tour who made this a reality. We also wish Pat O’Brien all the best in his recovery and a speedy return to his rightful place in Cannibal Corpse.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Andris Jansons
Cannibal Corpse
Morbid Angel
