MAY 31st, 2023
KLASH OF THE TITANS

Review by Metallic Barbie

Photo Gallery by Peter Ruttan

http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/klash-of-the-titans/

Are there six greater words in the English language than Spirit World, Death Angel, Sepultura or Kreator?  I think not.  And my neck and eardrums would never disagree.

Well into the Clash of the Titans tour, Spirit World kicked off the Wednesday night in Vancouver hitting hard as the newest band on the bill.  Hailing from Las Vegas, the genre-defying death-western group stunned the metal crowd wearing cowboy garb but fused horror, traditional heavy vocals and crushing riffs to ultimately drag the room into their twisted wild imagination.

It was a toss-up as to whether Slayer, Kreator or Death Angel had the most ts in the room, but Mark Osegueda (vocals), Rob Cavestany (lead guitar, backing vocals), Ted Aguilar (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Damien Sisson (bass) and Will Carroll (drums) were mindful to rock them all.  Despite a quick 6-song setlist, Death Angel screamed and slithered into every cell with classic thrash aggression.  Today’s acts cannot deny the blood sacrifice required at the alter of this iconic 80s band that rocked it out like they were still balls deep in the decade.

With the crowd properly riled and primed for insanity, Sepultura immediately stepped on its throat to demonstrate their domination.  Playing from 1991’s Arise to 2020’s Quadra, Derrick Green (vocals), Andreas Kisser (lead guitar, backing vocals), Paulo Jr (bass, backing vocals), and Eloy Casagrande (drums) hit all the death notes in their 12-song set.  With bodies flying and heads banging, Sepultura delivered exactly what they promise: relentless, heavy, mixed-metal debauchery, making them a tough act to follow.

Kreator was up to the task, however, and hit it hard out of the gate.  Accompanied by a demonic fifth member in the background, Miland Petrozza (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Sami Yli-Sirniö (lead guitar, backing vocals), Frédéric Leclercq (bass, backing vocals), and Jürgen Reil (drums) ejaculated 80s German thrash all over the eager fans.  Where most bands would start dying off, Kreator kicked it up to eleven, slamming beats and crushing riffs for “Enemy of God”, “Satan Is Real” and “Flag of Hate” all while growling and commanding walls of death.  An over 40-year career shows no signs of slowing and Petrozza and the fellas barely whet Vancouver’s sharpened tongues for whatever else they may have in store.

The Clash of the Titans tour ends June 10 so do not hesitate to flick your metal bean toward one of the remaining dates: it’s cruel to deny yourself the pleasure.