Kicking off the night’s proceedings are the ever tenacious Aeon, as the first act tonight they’ve the difficult task of awakening The Forum. With their bulldozer style of rumbling death metal they entertain the audience with renditions of “Aeons Black” along with older pieces from previous albums but something still seems amiss. Not helped by the lack of sound throughout most of their set nevertheless they perform admirably finishing with a destructive “Forever Nailed“. Following shortly afterwards are the second band to be met with Cannibal Corpse fans, Revocation.
If there is one thing that is painfully apparent in the metal scene it is that metal heads themselves are stubborn, headstrong and take a lot of convincing. Revocation have their work cut out for them… Opening with an explosive “The Hive” the band burst onto the stage moving through their discography effortlessly “Teratogenesis” sets the pace nicely but as ever, bar the front of the stage is not met with a roar of approval. Dedicating a vicious “Fracked” to all the bands playing tonight as well as to use Davidson‘s words “the man dressed as a giant penis” the band are slowly winning over the stubborn fans. After showcasing material from their latest effort Deathless both the title track and slow brooding “Madness Opus” see the band truly ignite the stage. Finishing with a triumphant “No Funeral” that at long last is met with that roar of approval throughout The Forum. Revocation have proved they are definitely a force to be reckoned with.
The air is suddenly filled with menace as our quintet lumber towards the stage with enough power behind them to completely flatten the audience they rip into “Staring Through The Eyes Of The Dead“. Immediately butchering the crowd followed by a fantastic “Stripped,Raped and Strangled” but it’s the inclusion of new material that shows that although Cannibal Corpse have often gotten a bad rap for not venturing further, lead single “Sadistic Embodiment” and “Icepick Lobotomy” show just why they don’t need to. With the audience in the palm of George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher’s hand he notifies us that its time to “Fire it UP!” signalling the arrival of a devastating “Kill Or Become”. A song that although may only be a month or two old is immediately a fan favourite. The Florida musicians are the apex of death metal, encompassing all that it embodies and stands for, immovable. Although Cannibal Corpse are known for their neck break speeds its when the band slow down for “Scourge Of Iron” that they are the definition of heavy. Including a great variety in their set list to sate any rabid Cannibal Corpse fan’s appetite with the controversial classics like “I Cum Blood” and “Addicted to Vaginal Skin”. Throughout the band’s set a crystal clear sound from the entire band, Pat O’Brien’s razor sharp leads to Paul Marzukiewicz earth shattering drums and not forgetting death metal’s royalty Alex Webster’s rumble the band work in perfect cohesion to deliver their truly crushing sound.
With a set list that sways between throughout their long career including old and new a slow burning “Evisceration Plague” and “Pounded Into Dust” being highlights not forgetting the cheerily titled “A Skull Full of Maggots“. Returning to the stage to deliver the final killing blow with “Hammer Smashed Face” and a brilliant “Devoured By Vermin” our onslaught ends. With a vastly emptier than should be Forum, perhaps due to the Halloween date. The legions of Cannibal Corpse fans are happy for another year until once again Death Metal’s most reliable, on point and unstoppable band return once more, to do what they do the best.
