Cannibal Corpse w/ Power Trip, and Gatecreeper @ the Royale

Cannibal Corpse brought their sick and twisted showcase of brutality to the royale with fellow metal brothers Gatecreeper and Power Trip. Three bands I wouldn't expect to see at the Royale but still powerful nonetheless.

Gatecreeper
Genre: Death Metal FFO: Autopsy, Blood Incantation, Fuming Mouth

The demons of the desert, Gatecreeper started the show off strong. Ever since seeing the flawless performance put on by the band at the middle east with Nails and Toxic Holocaust about a year ago I knew I wouldn't want to miss them. This performance was just as flawless but this time a more projecting sound. The first thing you would see is their logo projected above the stage and then the band walked out. Seeing the movements of vocalist Chase Mason paired up with the crushing heavy just screams death metal. the fans were wild with energy. In a world where most metal bands are repetitive and do the same thing over and over, Gatecreeper is the one that does more and stands out and force their destructive sound in your face. Gatecreeper once again proved they are a tough act to follow. Death metal.

Power Trip
Genre: Crossover Thrash metal FFO: Slayer, Municipal Waste, Warbringer

Power Trip was next. I will start by saying I'm not the biggest fan of this band and I've already seen them a dozen times. While I'm more used to seeing them play with hardcore bands (side note I still don't understand why they are praised as a hardcore band), I was happy to see them play with metal bands for a change. Just like Gatecreeper, Power Trip's logo projected above the stage and the band began. Soundwise the band put on a rather impressive performance. The crowd, once again, filled with energy and screaming the lyrics. The pit was questionable to say the least, half push moshing and half "karate moshing" but equal in circle pits and two steps. Power Trip, now growing popular among both sides of the metal/hardcore spectrum, show that they are not afraid to be who they are and throw their moshing brand of thrash metal to their energetic fans, preparing them for the gorefest to come from the next band...

Cannibal Corpse
Genre: Brutal Death Metal FFO: Deicide, Suffocation, Cryptopsy

If you don't know about Cannibal Corpse, you live under a rock. This band strives as one of the most explicit and offensive forms of audio in existence. Every album just makes you think "yep this is a Cannibal Corpse album" All night I would constantly hear from people: "They kill it everytime" No doubt in my mind they were telling the truth. Once again the band's logo was projected above the band as they walked out and melted everyones face off instantly with their murderous gorefest of death metal. The crowd slammed each other with just as much murderous intent as the bands music. Cannibal Corpse played for a little over an hour and it honestly didn't even seem like it. One thing will never get old: Corpsegrinder's violent headbanging, I just can't get enough of it. The bands setlist was a good blend of newer and classic Corpse songs that definite was a good trip back into high school for me, I remember them playing Evisceration Plague and turning to my friend and we both said to each other " I remember when that album came out". Of course the time eventually came when you heard Corpsegrinder's signature " This song is about shooting blood out of your cock" and proceeded to play their classic: I Cum Blood. Some could argue the whole Chris Barnes vs Corpsegrinder debate but for me its officially no contest. Years ago I saw Six Feet Under cover both Hammer Smashed Face and Stripped, Raped, And Strangled and all I thought was it was cool but Corpsegrinder could do better. Corpse ended with these two songs and proved my theory correct. Not only did Corpsegrinder do better but the crowd reaction was way more impressive, not only with the pit but people were actually crowd surfing and piling up at the barrier screaming the lyrics. Needless to say, Cannibal Corpse keep their legendary reputation strong and undoubtedly "killed it"

Death Metal.

Mourned - Rift Ripper

Death Metal.

https://mournedma.bandcamp.com/

Trap Them Final Show w/ Call of the Void, and Slow Death @ Sonia

Wild. Trap Them brought Boston into oblivion one last time with support from their friends Call of the Void and local support Slow Death. A mixed crowd of hardcore kids, punx, metal kids, and crusties all gathered for the last night of chaos Trap Them will ever bring. Trap Them played the first Boston show I've ever gone to so I knew I needed to be there to say goodbye.

Slow Death
Genre: Sludge/ Crust FFO: Crowbar, Dystopia, Black Tusk

Mixed feelings for this band. Slow Death were almost half and half with their music. some songs were straight sludge metal but then others were randomly hardcore. Personally Slow Death is another band that didn't really appeal to me, but I will say they have potential. One thing I really couldn't get passed is after the second song, the guitarist ran off stage I think to fix a string or something but in the time it took they could've played probably two more songs. Anyway for the most part the sludge metal stuff was very Crowbar-esque but with some random short blackened riffs thrown in. personally I think they need to use those more to their advantage and maybe go full sludge instead of having that hardcore fill. I actually did take a listen and honestly think the songs sound better on record, maybe it just wasn't their night.

https://slowdeathnoise.bandcamp.com/releases

Call of the Void
Genre: Grindcore/Crust/Hardcore FFO: Rotten Sound, Nails, The Drip

Call of the Void was next. Having heard a few songs beforehand, I was looking forward to see what they had in store live. At first glance all I could think from their appearances was "They all look like dorks except the drummer" As soon as they began I felt bad for even thinking it. This band is powerful. The sound was blaring and actually made it feel like you're spiraling violently into dark emptiness. I could not take my eyes off the drummer most of all. He was a blurr probably 70% of the time. Just when you think the speed will change, it changes more drastically than you expected. and the lead guitarists sound was faint but I listened closely and could hear these eerie occult riffs I could never imagine. the crowd was just warming up with this band but still gave a good reaction. The second to last song featured guest vocals from their merch guy but it was far more intense than you would expect. This band has a future, I highly recommend them if you like fast music.

https://callofthevoid.bandcamp.com/

Trap Them
Genre: Grindcore/Crust/Chaotic Hardcore FFO: Cursed, Black Breath, Entombed

Wild. The Boston allstars final performance. Vocalist Ryan McKenney walked out in cut off short shorts (I believe some call them Daisy Dukes) and a shirt that read DIRTY DEEDS in pink. As ridiculous as he looked, it was easy to look past it as soon as the music began. Ryan made that angry scowl full of hatred that we all know and love and I completely forgot his flamboyant appearance. The crowd was the definition of chaos whether they were up front climbing for the mic or violently crushing each other in the pit. Ryan said "I bet you were waiting for a last show speech... well I already took my teeth out so its too difficult". However later he stated "I see a lot of familiar faces so I guess that means you're not tired of us yet" I guess if you know Ryan's rep you should expect this. He did say its cool that everyones been listening to them for 15 years but thats all we really got for a  "final speech". Each song had a more chaotic reaction than the last. All I could think about was, What are they ending with. I should've expected it would be The Facts. Everyone was ready for The Facts. Not a single soul forgot the lyrics and the pile up for the mic was just a tidal wave of bodies so chaotic security was on stage to keep Ryan from getting consumed by the sea of moshers. Easily one for the books. Trap Them 2002-2017.