This was another amazing night of Death / Black Metal at The Asylum, Birmingham, which is always the perfect venue for nights like these. The tour, featuring Revocation, Goatwhore, Alluvial and Creeping Death, has gone all over Europe and the UK and is close to its end when it hits the Second City.
Revocation – Goatwhore – Alluvial – Creeping Death
The Asylum, Birmingham – 15 February 2023
Words and Photography: Andy Shaw
Revocation
Headliners Revocation are brilliant exponents of their chosen genre on record and are equally adept on stage. They start with Nihilistic Violence from their new album Netherheaven. This is their eighth album, and the Revocation set leans heavily on tracks from this release. It is an amazing start to the set, and Dave Davidson, lead guitar and lead vocals is a potent frontman and leads from the front in every way.
Next up is another new song Diabolical Majesty then a couple from their previous album, starting with the title track, The Outer Ones and That Which Consumes All Things.
Bass player Brett Bamberger, also their tour manager, is a brilliant and dynamic foil for Davidson. The Asylum crowd are loving the evening’s entertainment, then its back to the new album for the next three songs
Godforsaken, The 9th Chasm and Re‐Crucified.
The pace and velocity of Davidson’s vocals never relent as they start to go through their back catalogue to the joy of the assembled masses. It’s Madness Opus from their fifth album Deathless next, followed by Communion.
It really is another special evening of Extreme Metal. The set finishes with Of Unworldly Origin and back to their second album for Dismantle The Dictator to finish a brilliant evening.
Goatwhore
It was time for Black Metal legends Goatwhore from Louisiana and they did not disappoint, with their set being a mix of old and new, interspersing tracks from their new album, Angels Hung From The Arches of Heaven, with older tracks and fan favourites.
The set starts with Choas Arcane from their seventh album Vengeful Ascension which is a strong, dark, powerful opening to the set. Next is their first new song, The Bestowal Of Abomination, from what some say, is their best album.
It is a joy to watch frontman Ben Falgoust work The Asylum crowd, pointing and gesturing to all corners of the room as well as jumping onto the barriers to get closer to the action.
Baring Teeth For Revolt, from their sixth album Constricting Rage Of The Merciless, is followed by the new track Born Of Satan’s Flesh which has the crowd in raptures. Goatwhore are totally on fire.
Watching the legend Sammy Duet on stage is a sight to behold. His guitar playing is electric and shows why he is the backbone of this awesome band. Another older track, Apocalyptic Havoc, is followed by the title track of their latest album, Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven, a truly powerful and epic song.
Goatwhore are straight into In Deathless Tradition before two more new songs, Nihil and Death From Above. Finishing with FBS, this was a fantastic set. The crowd loved it, and you can see why they have had such a stellar career.
Alluvial
Up next are Atlanta-based Alluvial, who are greeted by an excited crowd eager to see them. Their set is made up exclusively of tracks from their latest album Sarcoma. Frontman Kevin Muller is a striking figure, prowling and growling his way through the set.
They start with Ulysses before moving into Thy Underling. It is a powerful start, and you can immediately see why they have a growing reputation as a brilliant live band. Moving seamlessly through The Putrid Sunrise and the title track Sarcoma, they are a really tight band with a massive sound.
Exponent and Sleepers Become Giants are next, and the Asylum crowd are loving it. Their brilliant set ends with Anodyne, and they leave the stage to a cacophony of noise.
Creeping Death
The first band on tonight were Texas-based Death Metal outfit, Creeping Death, making their first visit to the UK. This was a really powerful performance and comes off the back of a couple of EP releases and their debut album, Wretched Illusions.
Their set is a combination of album and EP tracks. They kick off with Humanity Transcends before moving into Doused In Flames. Vocalist Reese Alavi has a good pedigree of fronting bands and immediately has the crowd eating out of his hands.
They run through Skinned Alive, The Edge of Existence and Bloodlust Contamination before a brand new song Intestinal Wrap. They are a brilliant band to start an evening of Extreme Metal and finish with Spectar of War, by which time the crowd are nicely warmed up.
