HATE

Unfortunately, we arrived to the venue a little late and missed the openers, Narcotic Wasteland. To say I was disappointed was an understatement, as I was really looking forward to seeing and hearing main man, Dallas Toler-Wade (ex-Nile), crush songs from their two full-length albums. Ah well. Next time!

Having been familiar with Poland’s HATE for about twenty years now, I don’t believe I’ve ever had the chance to catch these guys live (it’s possible, but there are too many shows to remember them all). Either way, tonight’s performance from these veteran blackened death metallers was akin to being reintroduced to the band all over again. The excitement of hearing their 2005 album Anaclasis: A Haunting Gospel Of Malice & Hatred for the very first time all those years ago was replicated tonight. Even though none of the songs played tonight were from that specific album, it was still an incredibly visceral and tight performance that had me entranced. The performance itself was no frills; gimmicks and spectacle were not a thing. They hid behind their respective instruments and just crushed ears and heads. I wish they were allotted a bit more time, but such are these tours.

SETLIST
‘Intro’, ‘Rugia’, ‘Sovereign Sanctity’, ‘Erebos’, ‘The Wolf Queen’, ‘Bellum Regiis’, ‘Iphigenia’

INCANTATION

I don’t think there is another death metal band that has as much passion, energy, and sheer determination as the mighty Incantation. On the live front, they have had decades to perfect their live performances, and tonight the perfect example of this. Almost immediately, John and his merry cohorts whipped the crowd into such a frenzy that the crowd surfing and stage diving started, and continued unfettered throughout the entirety of their incredibly brutal performance. John McEntee (guitarist/vocalist) is the model frontman, standing his ground like a soldier of the damned while also moving around just enough to add an air of cacophony to the performance. His silver hair and beard glint in the stage lights like a sword forged in hell.

The previous night in Montreal, the guys treated the packed house to a full set comprising only songs from the album Mortal Throne Of Nazarene (this was done as a make-up show from the last tour. The only time they will play this album in full on this tour). Tonight in Toronto, we got a setlist comprising songs across their 35+ year career. The guys seemed less intent on focusing on their ‘hits’, and instead dug deep into the Incan vaults to pull out some rare goodies. I, for one, appreciated this approach, as there were a few songs that I don’t think I’ve ever heard live.

SETLIST
‘Demonic Incarnate’, ‘Emaciated Holy Figure’, ‘Iconoclasm Of Catholicism’, ‘Essence Ablaze’, ‘Nocturnal Dominium’, ‘The Ibex Moon’, ‘Blissful Bloodshower’, ‘Abolishment Of Immaculate Serenity’

BELPHEGOR

Having just witnessed the evil incarnate known as Belphegor this past spring in Germany, I kinda knew what to expect at this Toronto stop of their Praise The Beast North American Tour. If you’ve had the pleasure of catching these guys live, you’ll be well familiar with the following descriptors for what the experience of their intense live show is like: extreme, blasphemous, visceral, suffocating, ritualistic, precise, and unrelenting. Now, much of their intensity is achieved through total atmosphere, which includes everything from elaborate stage props and seductive lighting to the actual presence of frontman Helmuth and his minions. There isn’t much movement from these dudes, yet they still manage to lull the rabid crowd into a hypnotic, satanically charged state.

You would think that after a good handful of hours of pure death metal insanity, the crowd would be spent, especially after that highly charged set by Incantation. Nope. This Toronto crowd gave it their all and showed the Austrians that we Canadians can go toe-to-fucking-toe with any crowd in Europe. I’m proud of my peeps!

SETLIST
‘The Procession’, ‘Baphomet’, ‘The Devil’s Son’, ‘Sanctus Diaboli Confidimus’, ‘The Devils’, ‘Stigma Diabolicum’, ‘Pactum In Aeternum’, ‘Lucifer Incestus’, ‘Virtus Asinaria – Prayer’, ‘Scarlet Beast – Leviathan’, ‘Totentanz – Dance Macabre’