Accompanied by Gorguts & Phobophilic, Death to All stopped by Dallas to celebrate 35 years of Spiritual Healing and 30 years of Symbolic. I don't think there is anyone in the metal world that, regardless on how they feel about the genre, can deny the impact Death has made for generations to come. It must be something in that Florida water that allows for heavy riffs, powerful lyrics, and the ability to deliver an onslaught of some of the heaviest metal to ever grace the world.
Starting the night off was Phobophilic, a band I had the pleasure of catching about a year ago when they were the opener for Witch Vomit back at Cheapsteaks in Deep Ellum. As the band proceeded to play, the crowd erupted into an electric roar of applause and you could feel the venue shake as almost every fan in attendance was head banging like their life depended on it. The band may have traveled far from North Dakota to perform, but I believe they were made honorary Texans after this performance.
Gorguts was ready to take the stage next and I was immediately blown away. Not only was the band playing what appeared to be a six string bass, but it appeared that vocalist/guitarist Luc Lemay and bassist Kevin Hufnagel weren't even using picks to play. How neither of their fingers were raining blood (shoutout Slayer) on fans with the intensity they were playing with is still baffling to me even now. Each and every moment of the band's set left the crowd not just wanting, but craving more.
Where to even begin when talking about the majestic, the terrifying, and the influential impact Death has had on the world. Heavy music would not be the same without this band, and Death to All serves as a vessel to keep that spirit alive while adding a breathe of freshness to the scene. You may be asking yourself, "Wait... is Death the same as Death to All? I'm confused". Don't worry, I got you. Just read this quick blurb from the band's website:
"Death to All operates as a tribute band to the original Death, which dissolved in 2001 following the passing of the group’s founder and frontman Chuck Schuldiner. The backbone of Death to All is singer/guitarist Max Phelps (Exist, Cynic), drummer Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, Testament), bass beast Steve DiGiorgio (Testament, Sadus) and Bobby Koelble (Death). Death to All is a unique opportunity for a new generation of metal-heads to experience the genius of Death and Chuck Schuldiner first-hand."
You want to talk about a deafening amount of cheering? I recently was at the Vans Warped Tour in Orlando and I feel the noise from Warped failed in comparing to even a fraction of the cheering heard as Death to All took the stage. There was not a single body stationary as the most intense and heavy metal music echoed across the venue speakers. Even as I type this now, I can still feel those riffs, bass lines, and drum fills vibrate my body to the point of passing out. Might sound like a weird thing, but this truly showcases the talent of the musicians on stage.
The entire night was full of people having the time of their life as old and new metal-heads were given the chance to forget about their worries for a bit and just live life to the fullest. If you unfortunately missed this show, you missed out on something special.
