By Tony Rachtman
Death metal veterans CARCASS return to Toronto, with a pummeling roster of support.
Deep in the heart of downtown Toronto, in an age where breakdowns and pig squeals seemingly rule the day, Inertia Entertainment brought to the Toronto metal scene a much-needed return to its roots. The night of September 20th, at the soon-to-be relocated Phoenix, featured both veteran artists and those who will carry the torch in the future. North American Putrefaction, led by British legends CARCASS, was a spark plug for a local scene eager to get back to the sound that laid its foundation. We headed down to the not-long-for-this-world Phoenix to get a piece of something many of us were waiting for.
First up, hailing from Victoria BC, was HEDONIST. This is a band to watch for going forward.
Tight beyond their years as a band, they were ripping through a set reminiscent of BOLT THROWER, with elements of early ENTOMBED and CRYPTOPSY thrown in. The raw sound of early death metal with the top-notch musicianship of more modern death metal and no f**king lame-ass one note breakdowns they’ve been shoving down our throats for the past two decades. Finally. We’re off to a great start. Go listen to their latest EP Scapulimancy right now if you haven’t heard it. Engines of War and Barbarian are two of my personal faves.
Next up was NECROT, in town by way of Oakland CA. After making their debut in 2011, they are not exactly “new” to the scene, but have amassed a large cult following amidst a career that has involved lots of writing and touring. NECROT is a band that embodies the best and highest points of death metal, and 2024’s full-length Lifeless Birth is no exception. A setlist that began heavy on the latter, followed by fan-favorites like “Your Hell” and “Sinister Will” from 2020’s Mortal closed out the set. Fans of true death metal should take comfort knowing true adherents like Necrot are out there tearing up the touring circuit and bludgeoning us with new material.
Next up were the always memorable Satanic/sonic narcos in BRUJERIA. A larger-than-life stage persona reminiscent of GWAR (with a career spanning just as many decades), their groove-laden, industrial tinged aural violence brought the bag and the tequila to a Saturday night already soaked in beer. Machete wielding moments of blood curdling cartel-inspired musical barbarism paved the way for other moments of tongue-in-cheek fun finished off with their setlist mainstay, a rendition of 1993’s “Macarena” amidst invitations of fan tributes via certain substances. There is only one BRUJERIA, and their unique sound was a welcome shakeup to a night of death metal purity.
Finally the moment we had all been waiting for had arrived. CARCASS, with veterans Jeff Walker and grindcore pioneer Bill Steer finally took the stage. We had seen CARCASS just a few months earlier opening for CANNIBAL CORPSE and MESHUGGAH, and through no fault of their own as a band, the venue just couldn’t figure out their PA system at the time. This night put every memory of that night out of our heads. This was, by far, the most immaculate CARCASS performance we have ever seen. The setlist leaned heavily into their 90s catalogue, to the delight of most (including me). “This Mortal Coil,” the rarely played “Embodiment,” “No Love Lost,” and “Death Certificate” from 1994’s Heartwork stood out for me. I was particularly thrilled to hear “Tomorrow Belongs to No One,” “Black Star,” and most importantly, “Keep on Rotting in the Free World” off the sometimes controversial Swansong record from 1996. The catchiness and rhythm of those classics always stuck right out and sounded immaculate live. 1991’s Necroticism was touched on with “Incarnated Solvent Abuse” and fan-favourite “Corporal Jigsore Quandary.” The evening closed out with 1994 title track Heartwork and grindcore classic “Ruptured in Purulence.” While many are foolishly quick to dismiss aging bands, what many often forget is that when you have been performing like CARCASS has for decades, (even between hiatus and breakup) your professionalism tends to shine through. This is a legendary band at the top of their game. I felt at times like I was listening to the records themselves. If anything, Phoenix Concert Theatre will be missed for its unique ability to capture the sound of bands like CARCASS and give them a crystal clear death metal tone for the fans. This was the best death metal show I’ve seen in many years. I eagerly await another CARCASS show like never before.
Nessa, a Perú-born, Ontario-based concert photographer, has a knack for capturing the raw energy of metal shows from the pit. Teaming up with her partner Tony Rachtman, a seasoned journalist who pens no-nonsense reviews and killer interviews, they’ve been rocking the metal scene since 2017. Check Nessa’s shots on Instagram (@nessa.fotograf) and stay tuned for more show coverage.