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Concert Reviews, Music

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December 8, 2023 at 2:14 am

Meshuggah Helms A Night Of Extreme Metal In Vancouver

Progressive titans Meshuggah, melodic-death metallers In Flames, and deathcore trailblazers Whitechapel ripped through Vancouver last week as part of their North American tour. 

In Flames-Vancouver-Savannah Bagshaw-2023

In Flames-Vancouver-Savannah Bagshaw-2023

More rabid and on the ball than ever, the three European metal pioneers sent the entire arena into a frenzy with mind-boggling riffs and earth-quaking heaviness. 

Whitechapel-Vancouver-Savannah Bagshaw-2023

Whitechapel-Vancouver-Savannah Bagshaw-2023

While their setlists leaned heavily on newer material, fans didn’t seem to mind as both Whitechapel and In Flames, flexed their prowess in musicianship. Besides, the energy they brought and their legacies alone, made for two incredible sets that will not be soon forgotten. 

In Flames-Vancouver-Savannah Bagshaw-2023

In Flames-Vancouver-Savannah Bagshaw-2023

The real treat though, was Meshuggah. Known for their otherworldly instrumentation and breakneck speed, the band had fans head-banging to the point of whiplash and moshing barbarously. 

Meshuggah-Vancouver-Savannah Bagshaw-2023

Not only did Meshuggah offer a taste of their entire discography, but for the first time in 15 years, fans got to hear “Humiliative” from the band’s first EP. Lucky for those catching this run, the band has also re-incorporated “Bleed” into their set, a first since 2019.

Meshuggah-Vancouver-Savannah Bagshaw-2023

In Flames-Vancouver-Savannah Bagshaw-2023

Glorious mayhem is one of the only ways you could describe the scene. From the general admission pit to the stands and concourse, metalheads of all ages were blissed out of their minds.

Meshuggah-Vancouver-Savannah Bagshaw-2023

Fans screaming along to every song and ripping off their shirts to whip around like battle axes, the average person may have found the sight terrifying, but to any metalhead it was beautiful.

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Concert Reviews, Heavy Metal, Music, Entertainment

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May 1, 2023 at 3:15 am

Carcass Crush Vancouver

Extreme metal pioneers, Carcass, brought their unique brand of Death n Roll to Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on Wednesday, bringing together a myriad of metal heads.
With a vast discography, ranging from grindcore to melodic death metal, and everything in between, revolutionaries Bill Steer and Jeff Walker, force-fed fans all of the best parts of Carcass throughout a 16-song set. And man, were we feasting.
From classics like “This Mortal Coil” And “Corporal Jigsore Quandry” to “Kelly’s Meat Emporium” and “316L Grade Surgical Steel” – the set list catered to fans of every Carcass era, despite it being dubbed the Torn Arteries tour. The band breezed through the song’s technicalities with ease and flair.
Though Walker and Steer are far from on their way out, you’d think after four decades of trailblazing they’d of slowed up. However, that’s far from the case. The pair, and their newest lineup additions, performed with such tenacity and prowess that if you closed your eyes you’d think it was their 20-year-old selves on stage.
Not only was the precision of the set a highlight, but the energy radiating from each member was truly remarkable. It didn’t feel like one of those “make-a-buck” tours, that you’ve come to expect from bands 40 years into their careers. The gratitude and love for their craft, and fans, was palpable. Not just from Carcass, but every band.
Each act to hit the stage commanded the room, creating a unifying ambiance that one really can only experience at a metal show. While Carcass was undoubtedly the highlight, one of the coolest things about this show was the diversity in the lineup. Sure, these bands all played some form of metal, but they were also fantastic representations of their niche sub-genre and Carcass’ influence on the genre as a whole.
Supported by party thrash legends, Municipal Waste, the groove-stricken Sacred Reich, and Texas death metal titans, Creeping Death, the attention to detail of this bill cannot go unnoticed. Every band delivered a crushing set, leaving the audience rabid and famished for more.
Whether we were headbanging to the point of whiplash with Creeping Death and Sacred Reich or guzzling beers and crowd surfing with Municipal Waste – this show and all the musicians who were a part of it, was not only perfection but an incredible look at the growth of metal music.

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