While the combination of Cattle Decapitation and Signs Of The Swarm provided the perfect finish to an evening of Extreme Metal, the opening pair of 200 Stab Wounds and Vomit Forth brought such ferocious energy that shook the venue to its core. This show was upgraded from The Asylum to the O2 Academy2 because of the overwhelming interest in all four bands.
200 Stab Wounds – Vomit Forth
O2 Academy2, Birmingham – 16 March 2024
Words And Photography: Andy Shaw
You can read the Cattle Decapitation and Signs Of The Swarm report here.
Vomit Forth
Vomit Forth, from Connecticut USA, are a rising force in the underground Extreme Metal scene. They brought their unique blend of Blackened Death Metal to the O2 Academy2, which was already nearly full.
The lights dimmed, and a really low-lit stage covered in red set the stage for the chaos to come. Suddenly, Vomit Forth emerged from the shadows and launched into their set with ferocious energy.
Their music, a relentless barrage of blistering riffs, thunderous drums, and demonic vocals, enveloped the crowd in a cacophony of sound that was as punishing as it was exhilarating.
Tracks like Infernal Abyss, Ritual Of Desecration, and Eternal Torment were delivered with ruthless precision. The band’s musicianship was impeccable, with guitarist Ricky Brayall unleashing a torrent of razor-sharp riffs, bassist Jett Stotts laying down a foundation of crushing low end, and drummer Nick Herrmann driving the music forward with relentless fury.
Frontman Kane Gelaznik prowled the stage like a man possessed, his demonic vocals sending chills down the spine of everyone in attendance.
As their final notes reverberated through the venue, the crowd erupted into deafening applause and cheers, which gave a brilliant start to the evening.
200 Stab Wounds
From Ohio, 200 Stab Wounds took the stage as fans eagerly awaited the onslaught to come. From the very first chord of Phallic Filth, it was clear that this would be good. 200 Stab Wounds unleashed a relentless barrage of blistering riffs from Raymond Macdonald, thunderous drums from Owen Pooley and Steve Buhl’s guttural vocals that shook the venue to its core.
Tracks like Skin Milk, Tow Rope Around the Throat and Drilling Your Head were delivered with a ferocity that bordered on insanity, each song pushing the boundaries of brutality to new and terrifying heights.
But it wasn’t just the sheer heaviness of their music that captivated the audience; it was the sheer intensity of their performance. Frontman Steve Buhl prowled the stage like a man possessed, his eyes ablaze with a manic energy that seemed to consume him. Ezra Cook, on bass, kept the pounding rhythms going. There was a sense of unity among the crowd, a shared bond forged in the crucible of Extreme Metal.
The set ended with Itty Bitty Pieces, She Was Dead and Fatal Reality. The crowd erupted into deafening applause and cheers, their voices echoing off the walls in a thunderous roar of approval.
200 Stab Wounds had delivered a performance that was nothing short of awe-inspiring, a relentless assault on the senses that left everyone in attendance battered but exhilarated.
