Review by: Robert O’ Connor
Photo’s by Kieran Frost
After two decades in business, the extreme metal delinquency machine that is Cannibal Corpse is still going strong. They’ve survived government censorships, numerous public outrages over their lyrics and album covers, religious and civil protests and line-up changes to remain true to their roots and deliver album after album of high quality Death Metal….violent imagery and lyrics in tact. Although the band’s records have never exactly soared up in the Irish charts, their fan base in this country has always been impressive and unrelenting in their dedication and tonight, the band has returned to Dublin to ask their fans one question, ‘Are We Ready?’
Entering the Academy as tonight’s opening act, Condemned take the stage, Goldenplec is surprised at the size of crowd already in attendance for such an early stage time. Not long into Condemned’s set, it’s easy to see why so many have turned up. Hailing from Belfast, the four piece play a storming show delivered as tightly as anyone could ask for. Unfortunately the earliness of their performance and the lack of liquids in the crowd’s blood stream leave Condemned with a warm, but not overly embracing reception.
As always with Dublin Metal Event shows, the fans are treated to not one but two support acts, and tonight DME have really out done themselves. Dublin locals Warpath arrive on stage as if they were head-liners. After one song, Lead singer Darren Keogh orders a pit and instantly the crowd obeys, descending the Academy into chaos. Each song is greeted with roars and unanimous chants of the bands name and every moment they’re on stage brings new supporters to their cause. As always with a great support band, cut off time comes too soon but tonight Warpath have already given the punters their moneys worth, now it’s up to the real head-liners to conquer the slain.
With the stage now cleared of Condemned and Warpaths equipment, the massive Cannibal Corpse banner looms even larger in the
background. As the lights go down, Cannibal Corpse arrives to garrison their positions and begin tonight’s assault with Scalding Hell from last years Evisceration Plague. George ‘Corpsegrinder’ Fisher’s imposing figure cuts an intimidating presence as his gruelling, ferocious vocals shake the venue to its foundations. Unleashing The Bloodthirsty, Savage Butchery and the classic, Sentenced To Burn from Gallery of Suicide continues the annihilation as the pit in front of the stages grows steadily, eventually encompassing the entire standing area.
The bands performance is beyond impressive with military precession timing and flawless playing from every one on stage. As the set goes on, George starts to interact with the crowd more and more, keeping his words brief but strong. He tells us that tonight is the time to act out all those frustrations and aggressions from the outside world before the band launch into classic Corpse anthems I Will Kill You, Gutted and I Cum Blood. A strong selection of new material from Evisceration Plague and 2006’s KILL do nothing to break the energy of the crowd and each song is received with an increasingly explosive response. Staring Through The Eyes of The Dead and Devoured By Vermin bring classic material back to the set and reignite the pit before A Skull Full of Maggots from the bands début, Eaten Back To Life fire up the last remaining bystanders in attendance.
Taking a moment to view the mass of overheated black clad souls laying waste to the Academy’s dance floor, George’s gritty voice harshly announces that anyone in-house tonight with long hair that isn’t head banging is ghey, before the band explodes with a blistering performance of their defining classic, Hammer Smashed Face. As crowd surfers get passed over the 300 strong mosh pit, the rest of the venue swells up with war-esque head banging and flying pints. Stripped, Raped and Strangled delivers the final blow to the now decimated audience and signals the end of the bands set. Without wearing out or slowing down, Cannibal Corpse came, conquered and levelled tonight’s audience and delivered a performance far beyond expectations that no-one present tonight will forget for a long time. Were we ready? Hell no!
Cannibal Corpse Set-List:
Scalding Hail
Unleashing The Bloodthirsty
Savage Butchery
Sentenced To Burn
The Wretched Spawn
I Will Kill You
Gutted
Pounded Into Dust
I Cum Blood
Evisceration Plague
The Time to Kill Is Now
Death Walking Terror
Make Them Suffer
Priests Of Sodom
Staring Through The Eyes Of The Dead
Devoured By Vermin
A Skull Full Of Maggots
Hammer Smashed Face
Encore:
Stripped, Raped And Strangled
