SEPTICFLESH - October 19, 2012

Here is Greece's black symphonic metal masters Septicflesh, performing their first headlining show in the Twin Cities. My review of the show (with pictures) can be found here. Mainly consisting of material from their last two albums, The Great Mass and Communion, this hour-long set hit all the highlights. Also included are four bonus tracks - Septicflesh live in St. Paul in 2011 while supporting Children Of Bodom with Devin Townsend. This isn't the complete show - the first two songs, "The Vampire From Nazareth" and "Communion" are missing. At this show, Septicflesh was forced to start almost immediately after the doors opened; so, with the line to get in stretched around the block most of the crowd missed a good portion of their set.

The download link is here. As always, please share, but share the link to this post rather than the direct Mediafire link. Enjoy!

Septicflesh

Arise, St. Paul

October 19, 2012

St. Paul, MN, Station 4

mp3@192 kbps, 115.27 MB zip file (artwork included)

1. The Vampire From Nazareth (5:09)

2. Communion (3:57)

3. A Great Mass Of Death (5:13)

4. Virtues Of The Beast (5:23)

5. Unbeliever (5:05)

6. Pyramid God (5:59)

7. Lovecraft’s Death (4:40)

8. Oceans Of Grey (5:29)

9. We, The Gods (4:13)

10. Persepolis (6:40)

11. Anubis (4:39)

12. Five-Pointed Star (6:53)

Total time: 63:20

Bonus tracks: July 5, 2011, St. Paul, MN, Station 4

13. A Great Mass Of Death (5:13)

14. Pyramid God (5:33)

15. Anubis (4:40)

16. Five-Pointed Star (6:20)

Total time: 21:46

Concert Review - SEPTICFLESH

Several things were mistakenly not published here, among them some concert reviews back from October and November. Over the next couple of weeks some of these older items will thrown in alongside the usual updates and reviews of upcoming bands and shows to the area. Here's the first...

Septicflesh

Friday, October 19, 2012

Station 4, St. Paul, MN

Man, is it hard to get down to clubs for early show times! Unfortunately by the time that I arrived at Station 4 I had missed Inquisition, Ex Deo, and Melechesh. I only caught a little bit of Brazilian thrashers Krisiun, so I’ll limit my comments to the reason everyone was here – Greece’s Septicflesh. Having only seen Septicflesh twice as early support to Cradle Of Filth with Satyricon and Children Of Bodom with Devin Townsend, it was long past due for this incredible symphonic black metal band to be headlining.

Click on any of the pictures to see more photos of Septicflesh (25).

The show was an expanded version of the same six-song set they played in July 2011 while opening for Children Of Bodom. Taking the stage while the choral introduction of “The Vampire From Nazareth” played, Septicflesh hit the ground running with bassist and vocalist Spiros Antoniou leading the crowd into chants during the opening track from their latest album, The Great Mass. “Communion” blitzed along to its hyperspeed drumming, followed by “A Great Mass Of Death”. The band then went back to 2003’s Sumerian Daemons album for two of its best songs, “Virtues Of The Beast” and “Unbeliever”. “Pyramid God” had the crowd clapping and stomping with the bass drum-led introduction before more impossibly fast drumming by Fotis Benardo on “Lovecraft’s Death”. Things slowed down for “Oceans Of Grey” before the last group of songs from Communion: “We, The Gods”, “Persepolis”, and the awesome “Anubis”. The set closed on a high note, with “Five-Pointed Star” whipping the crowd into a final frenzy before the band members left the stage in slow, dramatic, one-by-one fashion to the slow drum beat and recorded horns as the song ended.

Septicflesh plays along with the recorded orchestral and choral tracks to achieve the full effects on each song. While it allows them to replicate their music as intended to be heard, it does limit the live feel of their shows. That said, drummer Fotis Benardo must be given a ton of credit for holding everything together with his precise, complex playing. The entire band evinces evil vibes with their menacing, dramatic stage presence. Septicflesh is one of the most innovative bands in extreme metal so the slim turnout was disappointing. My only real complaint was that the set was on the short side at one hour. Aside from that, this was a monster of a show by one of the best black metal bands touring these days.

In Concert This Week - October 18, 2012

There’s a ton of great shows across a wide swath of metal, punk, and rock styles this week so do yourself a favor and get out to one of these shows!

It’s a night of rap metal at Station 4 in St. Paul tonight, Thursday, October 18 with (hed)pe, Sore, and Dopesic. Also tonight, alternative punk band Dinosaur Jr. and Shearwater play The Cabooze in Minneapolis.

Tomorrow, Friday, October 19 is an insane night with three wicked shows taking place. First, Greek symphonic black metal infidels Septicflesh return after over a year for a headlining show at Station 4 in St. Paul with Brazil’s insane thrashers Krisiun, Israeli/Dutch black/folk metal band Melechesh, Canada’s Ex Deo, and black metal band Inquisition from Seattle. Second, upstart doom metal bands Witch Mountain and Castle will level the Turf Club in St. Paul with Bisento, Leon Boots, and DJ John Henry. Lastly, Converge, Torche, Kvelertak, and Mourner will tear up the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis - this show is sold out!

Saturday, October 20 brings the return of Smashing Pumpkins for a sold out show at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul with special guest Anberlin. Not far from there, Station 4 in St. Paul has a local show that same night with Deretia, Daigoro, Eldergaad, and Compassion Dies.

Public Image Limited breaks a long hiatus to play Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Monday, October 22.

Relapse’s thrash band Revocation plays Station 4 in St. Paul on Tuesday, October 23 with support from A Life Once Lost, Ken Mode, Deretia, and Hate Beast.

Industrial/techno band Deviant UK brings their show to the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Wednesday, October 24 with support from Carved Souls, For All The Emptiness, and Thought Thieves. Punk and hardcore fans will want to get out to see Chicago’s Flatfoot 56 with locals In Defence and Hold The Throne at Station 4 in St. Paul on Wednesday, October 24.

To close the week, Christian rock band Classic Petra (the mid-80s version with singer Greg X. Volz) play at the Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park on Thursday, October 25 with Second Timothy. Guitarist Bob Hartman also tours with the current John Schlitt (ex-Head East) version of the band as Petra, so don’t be confused at what to expect at this show.

Concert Announcements - July 14, 2012

This past Thursday night’s Hoobastank show at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis was cancelled. According to the Varsity Theater website, refunds will be given at the point of purchase. No reason was given for the cancellation.

Twin Cities band Throw The Fight has been confirmed as support for Steel Panther at their sold old show on Friday, July 27 at The Brick in Minneapolis.

The SoundTown festival scheduled to take place Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28 at Somerset Amphitheater in Somerset, Wisconsin has been cancelled. A post yesterday on the event’s website reads, “unfortunately the ticket threshold was not met and promoters had to make a difficult decision to cancel the event.” Refunds are being issued automatically. There really weren’t any bands of interest to metal fans except perhaps Jane’s Addiction and Weezer, but nevertheless it’s unfortunate to see a big event go under. The bottom line is that there has been such a massive proliferation of all-day and multi-day festivals in the area and greater Minnesota, and there was no way that all of them could be supported.

Former Hollywood Undead singer Deuce will appear at Station 4 in St. Paul on Thursday, August 9 for an all ages show. Tickets are on sale now.

Kansas City death metal band Ares Kingdom has been added as the headliner to the first night of the 2012 NYDM Annual show on Friday, August 10 at Station 4 in St. Paul. Chicago’s crazy death crew Macabre headlines the second night on Saturday, August 11.

Slipknot’s performance at Knotfest on Saturday, August 18 at Somerset Amphitheater in Somerset, Wisconsin will be broadcast live over the internet at Event View Live. Register now for $14.95 and you will gain access to “Slipknot Saturdays, The Road To Knotfest”, a weekly broadcast of exclusive interviews and live performance clips from their current U.S. tour. The price rises to $19.95 on August 12. Of course why livestream the show when you can witness it live along with all of the other great bands? The great feature is that purchasers can view all postings for up to 30 days after Knotfest.

Canadian melodic death metal band Unleash The Archers make their way to Minnesota for the first time on Wednesday, August 22 at Station 4 in St. Paul. Support will come from local power metal kings Dawn Of Valor and Eternalize, the new female-fronted band featuring keyboardist Jonah Weingarten (Pyramaze, Echoterra, Avian) making their debut non-acoustic performance.

Jonah Weingarten performing with Echoterra in 2010.

Listen to "What I Want" from the upcoming Eternalize debut album.

Pop-punk rockers There For Tomorrow perform an early, all ages show on Monday, September 24 at Station 4 in St. Paul with support from Deaf Havana, Set It Off, Divided By Friday, and This Is Breathing.

Rock band Local H performs Wednesday, October 3 at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. This is an 18+ show, and tickets are on sale now.

Former Minutemen bassist Mike Watt plays the Turf Club in St. Paul as Mike Watt + The Missingmen with Japanese instrumental band LITE on Sunday, October 7. This is a 21+ show, and tickets are on sale now.

Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson are teaming up for a double-headliner tour with support from J Devil that hits the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato on Tuesday, October 9. Ticket information is not available at this time.

Greece’s epic black metal band Septicflesh last played in town in July 2012 as support to Children Of Bodom, and now they return to headline Station 4 in St. Paul on Friday, October 19 with special guests Krisiun (Brazil), Melechesh (Netherlands by way of Isreal), Ex Deo (Canada), featuring Kataklysm singer Maurizio Iacono, and Inquisition.

Reformed alternative heavy rock band The Afghan Whigs will be playing the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Sunday, October 28. This is an 18+ show, and tickets are on sale now. I saw The Afghan Whigs in 1992 or 1993 at The Yacht Club in Iowa City in support of their Congregation album, and they put on a great show.

It’s a thrash fest on Monday, November 12 when Skeletonwitch, Havok, and Mutilation Rites invade the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. This is an 18+ show, and tickets go on sale tomorrow, Saturday, July 14.

Death metal legends Deicide will storm Station 4 in St. Paul on Wednesday, November 14 with support from We Are Legion, Tennessee Murder Club, and Burning Bethlehem.