Location: Logan Square Auditorium (Moved from The Pearl Room due to closing)
Bands:
Obituary (Headliner)
Goatwhore (Direct support)
Krisiun
The Berzerker
Warbringer
Time: 6:00 PM – 10:30 PM
When I first saw Obituary was coming to town, I immediately thought to myself that I must go see this legendary death metal band...
When I saw the line-up they were bringing with them, I circled this show as my pre-determined “tour of the year”. Walking out of this show, I can say that this tour lived up to the bill and thensome, blowing away the smaller, yet plentiful crowd. For four and a half hours, five bands took the stage and played fiercely through their sets never letting up on intensity and brutality. Several hundred metalheads thrashed their way through circle pits, banged their heads until they couldn’t bang any harder, screamed at the top of their lungs to let everyone know why Chicago has some of the best fans in the world, and in unison lifted our beers and horns into the air in honor of metal and in respect of the bands playing before us.
Warbringer:
I managed to get to the venue approximately 5 minutes prior to the ticketed time of the show starting. As I walked into the hall the show was taking place in, Warbringer was just taking the stage. Being the first band, they were allotted minimal time, but managed to tear through seven songs (according to my memory). The crowd was still coming in, and in small increments I must add, but they managed to get the early birds involved, even getting a few circle pit going. Warbringer brought a lot of crowd interaction, during and in between songs, and they brought the intensity that is a staple of their live shows. After their set, they hung out at their merch booth, spoke to fans, and drank beers with us. John (the lead singer) said that their shows opening for bands were coming to end. These guys are touring machines, look for them headlining at some point in 2010. Their setlist was as follows (off the top of my head, in order):
Total War
Severed Reality
Living in a Whirlwind
At The Crack Of Doom
Jackal
Pray For Death
Combat Shock
The Berzerker
Sadly, The Berzerker was the oddball on this tour, as the other bands are more traditionally rooted in straight up thrash/death metal. While The Berzerker possesses some of these attributes from those respected sub-genres of Metal, their drumming is something that may throw some people off at times. I was happy to see they weren’t using a drum machine live, and I thought their performance was excellent. Their crowd response was limited even though this four piece band was giving it everything they had. I must admit the vocals were too quiet and were drowned out by the drums. Needless to say, it was a pleasure to see them play live in my home town. These guys also ran their merch booth and seemed really cool to talk to. Their set was (based off the paper setlist):
Disregard
Wisdom
Cannibal Rights
Principals
Death Reveals
Deception
Compromise
No One Wins
All About You
Forever Reality
After The Berzerker ended, I found a window of opportunity and planted myself front row, dead center, where I would remain until the end of the show.
Krisiun
I regretfully have to say I do not have their setlist, though I wish I did. Out of all the bands tonight, they showed the crowd the most respect for being able to share the stage with all the bands and play for us. Their lead singer constantly after each song would come and pound the fists of everyone in the front row. After every few songs he would acknowledge the crowd. Good set although I do not remember each song, but these guys put on a great performance and I wouldn’t think twice about seeing these guys again. For some reason Brazilians know how to put on a good metal show.
Goatwhore
I know I have seen Goatwhore before, but I cannot for the life of me recall the tour it was on. Regardless, these guys got some crushing music, especially their newer work. Their live show was very energetic. Their lead singer can get a crowd going. For 40-45 minutes he had everyone pumping their fists and screaming. One thing I enjoy alot about their music is the drums and they were just pounding live. I could not get enough of it. There was a segment when their guitarist had a problem and ran off stage to get a new guitar, but the band played on, and it was a cool opportunity to see them play one of their songs, minus guitar for nearly half the song. Such an intense performance that got the crowd good and ready for the main event. Goatwhore’s setlist (directly from their paper setlist):
Bloodletting Upon the Cloven Hoof
Provoking the Ritual of Death
Blood Guilt Eucharist
The All-Destroying
Apocalyptic Havoc
Shadow of a Rising Knife
Carving Out the Eyes of God
Perversions of the Ancient Goat
Baptized in a Storm of Swords
In Legions, I am Wars of Wrath
Alchemy of the Black Sun Cult
Obituary
The main event. The reason we all came. From the moment they hit the stage until their hour and a half long set was finished, Obituary controlled the crowd and tore up the stage. Clean sound, well-mixed. Ralph was literally in front of me the entire time shredding through his solos and playing his rhythms. The crowd was very active for their set. The drum solo as usual was a little over extended, but it got better when Ralph came out and did a solo of his own with it. The highlight had to be Slowly We Rot because that’s when the crowd got the most into it. Overall, a stunning performance from a legendary band. I got a guitar pick from Travor and shook most of the hands of the band minus the drummer after the set. Setlist goes as follows (off of memory):
List of Dead
Blood to Give
Internal Bleeding
On the Floor
Dying
Face Your God
Threatening Skies
Forces Realign
Dethroned Emperor
The End Complete
Final Thoughts
Contrast the Dead
Chopped in Half/Turned Inside Out
Drum/Guitar Solo
Slow Death
Evil Ways
Slowly We Rot
SIDE NOTE: Guy from Suffocation is a roadie on this tour.
AFTERMATH: The next morning I could not move my neck without pain and it felt like my body was used as a punching bag. Successful concert was successful.
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