GIG REVIEW: Destroyer 666 @ The Underworld (29th October 2019)

With a tour package as insane as this one, there was no chance of missing this show without a serious burden of regret, thankfully I was there, here are my thoughts.

First up Inconcessus Lux Lucis took to the stage. This British mob perfectly opened a gig like this with a blend of Black Metal and roaring classic Heavy Metal with a huge bass tone very reminiscent of Lemmy cutting through the assault of blastbeats and monstrous guitar riffs. A staunch and energetic opening act that certainly got the room shaking.

Next up are Australian Blackened Thrash maniacs Nocturnal Graves, a band I have been especially excited to catch live and they certainly did not disappoint. Laying waste to the venue with their huge and devastating onslaught of Extreme Metal bravado, their set was to the point and wasted no time with a ferocious display of hasty and destructive, high-speed music that ripped into the crowd with a visceral attack of pure brilliance and really brought the energy up for the bands ahead.

Penultimately Dead Congregation took to the stage for a very warm welcome. Delving into cavernous and frenzied Death Metal, a pungent groove filled the room and got people moving. Stomping guitars, unrelenting drums and spewing vocals were kept up for nearly an hour of mesmerisingly grimy Death Metal ecstasy which had me and most of the room captivated in an impressive manner, soaking in a sound that was brooding and disdainful but also cutting and macabre. Surviving the groove and dissonant flare this band launched onto everyone was certainly not something the weak would achieve, this is exactly how a Death Metal band can really sound vile live.

Finally Destroyer 666 storm onto the stage, filled with energy and getting right into a blistering set. Firstly their set choice was absolutely perfect, delivering a vastly enjoyable mixture of material from most of their albums (and recent EP). The true spirit of all that was Heavy Metal truly was present and conjured up by the furiously played set with a tight performance from a band with one of the most commanding stage presences I have seen. These guys know how to play their songs blisteringly well while constantly keeping crowd interaction and aggressive antics in the foresight of their actions, making for a special experience that felt like more than just a Tuesday night gig, this was a calling for Metalheads to really embrace chaos and only Destroyer 666 could provide such a soundtrack. Anthemic, fast, insane and filled with energy that the crowd reflected, I felt like I was at one of those shows from “back in the day” you always hear about, with barely a cell phone in sight, just pure Heavy Metal magick. This set was total perfection and one I will never forget.