Kicking the night off we see a Mortals, comprised of three ladies conjure up some of the most devastating metal. Similar to both of our acts tonight,  Mortals are by no means an old band but they have already begun their ascent, releasing their brand new album Cursed To See The Future. The band meld black metal and death influences together to marry a biting sound. Though it is a shame that The Underworld looks decidedly sparse for their brand of metal those who are there are definitely getting a kick out of it.

Hell Has Arrived Over Europe is very much a DIY tour, with both Skeletonwitch and Goatwhore taking charge of things,front man Ben Falghoust saunters onto the stage to ensure that mics are working, there are no roadies here. After a quick look around, his thumb goes up and the lights dim. Opening with  The Underworld is an absolute free for all, prowling set up fantastically Goatwhore’s brand of metal malevolently slides down the venue walls. Erupting with Sammy Duet’s buzz saw guitar sound, were launched into “Poisonous Existence In Reawakening” a statement of the bands intent tonight followed by the satan loving “FBS”. Not many a time will you hear an entire venue scream the words of “Fucked By Satan!!” back at you. The band as a unit work fanstically, when front man Falghoust isn’t air guitaring he prowls the stage ticking of the black metal checklist. Decked out in leather and spikes the frontman’s piercing vocals bleed from tracks like the more melancholic “Schandenfreude”. It’s when the band delve slightly further back to “Judgement Of the Bleeding Crown” though that the decidedly younger Underworld explodes.

Igniting a mosh pit that would rival even the most seasoned of bands, inciting one pretty pathetic stage dive due to the underworlds fairly strict policy now. When the band decide to truly slow the atmosphere the snails pace that is “Cold Earth Consumed In Dying Flesh” the entire crowd bang their head in unison. Though the band may straddle between various genres, Goatwhore live are faultless. Conjuring the same sense of brotherhood and mayhem that comes with Hardcore, the atmospheric nuances of black metal and the sheer all out assault that comes with some of the best death metal out there. The band are absolutely on fire tonight, the one shame about the performance however is simply the attendance! There should be oh so many more people here tonight, the crowd that the band has attracted however are loyal followers. With new songs “Baring  Teeth For Revolt” being razor sharp and delivered with deadly intent. However all good things must come to an end, the band’s finest hour of the evening goes to stand out “Apocalyptic Havoc” which ignites a circle pit that Lamb Of God would even be proud of. The rust ridden tones of Duet’s guitar and James Harvey‘s bass rumble throughout the venue, a short sharp shock delivered form the band leaves everyone’s necks aching for more.

Setting the bar incredibly high Skeletonwitch have very much got their work cut out for them. After a quick set up the band launch into “I Am Of Death (Hell Has Arrived) ” a fantastic injection into the crowd that burst into life and truly welcome the band with open arms, not pausing for a breath Dustin Boltjes hurtles into “From A Cloudless Sky“, executed perfectly the band know exactly what to give the crowd along with what to respect back. However the biggest query for everyone tonight seems to be How is Andy Horn settling in? The answer is fantastically, though not named as the official vocalist of Skeletonwitch after Chance Garnette’s departure, the singer spits out “Choke Upon Betrayal” effortlessly.

Thought the man might be small in stature, his presence tonight is absolutely immovable. Props to him, being the outsider of the band, Horn stares deep into the face adversity as the band continue their assault with Breathing The Fire classic “Stand Fight And Die”. The slightly over crowded stage of The Underworld, doesn’t buckle underneath the metaphorical weight of the band. The sound tonight as absolutely on point as well with Skeletonwitch’s signature lead licks shimmering through solo’s from “Burned From Bone” and old school classic “Upon Wings Of Black” absolutely shine through. It is the band as a whole however that work fantastically, having to deal with the drastic line up change, with short notice the band function as tight as you would ever expect them to. Cherry picking material from their ever growing back catalogue, the set list delivered tonight would happily satisfy any ‘Witch fan.

Asked if the crowd want to be cleaved in half we’re then moved into “Cleaver Of Souls” by our increasingly charismatic front man, personal favourite “This Horrifying Force” sets the Underworld once again ablaze. Before moving into face ripper “Of Ash And Torment” as part one of their encore before hitting the soft spot with Iron Maiden worshipping second blow “Within My Blood”. Whatever the future might hold for the band, tonight they have proven that they are not going without a fight. Aiming to try and look beyond the past, we can see a new era of Skeletonwitch forming. With their brand new album being written as we speak it shall be interesting to see what direction the band go in. Will Horn be kept on? Will he want to join the band? Either way judging by tonight’s performance the band show no signs of stopping for anything and despite their setbacks are on phenomenal form.