February 26th, 2024
Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary
Photos By: Kim Baarda
Words By: Jason Deaville
Is there a better way to spend a chilly Monday evening than witnessing the searing hellfire of unholy extreme metal? Certainly there isn’t. Literal hell opened itself wide in Detroit, Michigan on this night at the Sanctuary, and out poured five bands of devilish delight. The evening started off with two local bands, Baalzvaat and Syphoned, followed by the triumvirate of Tombs, Nunslaughter, and headliners Profanatica.
BAALZVAAT
Flint, Michigan blackened folk metallers Baalzvaat were a surprising highlight of the night. Now, my surprise was not one in which I didn’t think they would impress, as I had no idea who these guys were prior to tonight. My suprise was one in which a local band could be as engaging and enjoyable as Profanatica, Nunslaughter, and Tombs. In some regards, Baalzvaat were even more enjoyable than the three big boys of the night.
The five-piece tore through a set of unfamiliar songs that were both grim and headbangingly catchy. Having got their start just a few short years ago (2020, to be exact), I was blown away by how tight the the band were. Each and every member were incredibly proficient with their respective instruments, and together they gelled in a way that would make one think they’ve been doing this for twenty years. Vocalist/keyboardist, Nlorgpipe, was an entrancing figure on stage, both visually and aurally. The dude has an astoudingly diverse range of black and death metal vox.
All in all, Baalzvaat succeeded in getting the night started on a high note. They were definitely well received by the good amount of folks already in attendance. I’m definitely going to keep my eyes, and ears, on these guys, and you should, too!
SYPHONED
Detroit progressive death metallers Syphoned were the second band of the night. Another fantastic Michigan band that I had no prior knowledge of. The most surprising aspect of the band was definitely their age, particularly frontman/vocalist/guitarist, Erik Swindlehurst, who looked no older than seventeen. But, don’t let their ages fool you, as these guys were a collection of incredibly competent musicians that performed at a level of mid-era Death. I kid you not, Syphoned channeled Chuck Schuldiner circa ’93 through ’95 (Individual Thought Patterns and Symbolic, respectively), with a touch of expertly-executed death thrash. Again, I was blown away by how tight the guys were. You would never know that the band has only been existence since 2018. I highly recommend seeking thse guys out, both on the recorded front and the live front. Syphoned recently released their debut EP, Eulogy, which you can pick up here.
TOMBS
Brooklyn, New York black/post-metal powerhouse Tombs are a no-nonsense kinda band. Fronted by the ever-serious Mike Hill, the band bulldozed their way through five songs from their extensive catalog of recorded material, which included ‘Black Sun Horizon’ and ‘November Wolves’ from 2017’s The Grand Annihilation, ‘The Hunger’ off of 2020’s Under Sullen Skies, ‘Obsidian’ from the 2016 EP All Empires Fall, and an unknown track titled ‘Ghoul’ (which was the first song of their set).
Tombs has an incredibly hypnotic presence on stage, with an aura and atmosphere that was unlike any other band of the evening. It’s hard to put into words, but from the moment they hit the stage – swathed in an eerie blue hue – it was hard to take your eyes off the spectacle on stage. It’s not that the band employed any kind of theatrics onstage. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Quite simply, it’s the seriousness at which they deliver their sonic destruction that is so captivating. There is no pomp or circumstance. There are no frills or overly-complicated aspects to their music. It is just four guys completely focused on delivering crushing, matter-of-fact brutality.
Definitely my favourite band of the night, and a band that’s been on my bucket-list to catch live. I really hope to see Tombs again very soon, and I am very much looking forward to new music! Check them out if you get the chance.
NUNSLAUGHTER
Cleveland, Ohio practioners of ‘Devil Metal’, Nunslaughter, are one of the few bands that truly don’t give a fuck about offending. Their hate toward Christ and anything remotely holy is the absolute driving force behind the band’s ethos and music. Getting their start all the way back in ’87, these guys have been spewing the sermon of Satan for just over a third of a century. That is some REAL cred, right there.
The foursome of Malum (bass), Don Of The Dead (vocals), Tormentor (guitars), and Wrath (drums) exploded onto the blood red lit stage with a ferocity and punkish energy that was immediately infectious. The name of the game was certainly to deliver a set of grimey, dirty tracks with sacriligeous banter from Don Of The Dead between every song… and deliver they did! Bassist Malum did his best impression of a blasphemic Bruce Lee, with a barage of karate kicks that nearly found a home on the foreheads of those brave enough to be tucked right up against the stage.
Setlist
In The Graveyard, Looking Into The Abyss, Raid The Convent, Fuck the Bastard, I Saw Your God Die, Cryptic Aeon, Ouija, Three Nails (One Liar), The Crowned And Conquering Hag, Broken And Alone, Red Is the Color Of Ripping Death, The Guts Of Christ, Death By The Dead, I Am Death, Mother… Cunt… Whore, She Lives By Night, I Hate Christians, Satanic Slut, Smell The Burning Churches
PROFANATICA
When it comes to American black metal, there is no band more legendary than New York’s Profanatica. These guys were one of the very first black metal bands in the good ole USofA to emerge out of the second wave of black metal. Their Weeping In Heaven EP from ’91 is an unholy testament to black metal proper on this side of the pond, and can go toe to toe with any band of their ilk from Norway.
Tonight, the three-piece of Paul Ledney (drums, vocals), Adam Besserer (guitars), and Pat Davies (bass) proved why they are still a relevant band in black metal after thirty-plus years of existence (with a lengthy hiatus between ’92 through 2001). Cloaked in hooded robes and minimalist-yet-effective corpsepaint, the guys spewed forth a set of doom-laden blackened anthems with a tinge of cavernous death metal (which makes perfect sense, as vocalist/drummer Paul Ledney spent time in the very early incarnation of Incantation).
Profanatica are the masters of mood, and tonight was no exception. They plundered their way through material across their six full-lengths and two EPs with ease. Their stage-presence is such that they exude a vibe akin to an unholy mass, with movements that were slow and deliberate. This works very well in their favour, as the entirety of their performance was quite hypnotic and trance-inducing. Would love to see Profanatica on a bigger billing with other second wave black metal bands. Definitely catch them if they come to your area!
Setlist
Condemned To Unholy Death, Take Up The Cross, Ordained In Bile, The First Fall, Prayer In Eclipse, Sacramental Cum, Mocked Scourged And Spit Upon, Spilling Holy Blood, Unto Us He Is Born, Final Hour Of Christ
