Back To The Worm Tour Review

Back To The Worm
Tour Review

BACK TO THE WORM TOUR
Cryptopsy
Cattle Decapitation
DevilInside
Autumn Offering
3/22/05
HOB
Reviewers: Karma E. Omowale and Sharita Lumpkin
Photos: Erika Kristen Watt and Karma E. Omowale

Canada’s Cryptopsy, the godfather’s of extreme metal, wormed their way back in the hearts and skulls of the overwhelmed crowd this night, on this chilly Tuesday night on March 22^nd, 2005 at the HOB. It marks the blessed return of Lord Worm, rejoining the band for their North American 2005 tour. YEAH! Dude, what took you so long? The fans at the venue could hardly contain themselves from beginning to end. Due to the overwhelming popularity of tonight’s openers, Cattle Decapitation, DevilInside, and The Autumn Offering all received more than the usual amount of fans in attendance during their respective sets, something I am sure the bands were not upset by. The openers were just as excited, as the fans were to have Lord Worm back at the helm! It was an electrifying night, indeed.

Lineup: Dennis Miller – Vocals; George Moore - Guitar/vocals; Matt Johnson – Guitar; Sean Robbins – Bass; Nick Gelyon - Drums

Florida’s The Autumn Offering was due to take the stage first. Their latest release, Revelations Of The Unsung off Stillborn Records is a mix of brilliant guitar work and demon like vocals, with a tight rhythm section and tonight’s performance displayed just that. Of course, the band kicked the set off with the notorious opener from the movie Pulp Fiction, “If any of you fucking pricks move, I’ll execute every mother fucking last one of you!” We caught up with vocalist Denis Miller explained why the band uses the quote as a staple in their live sets, "It's a movie we all liked, it's something that grabs you and gets your attention. It gets [the crowd] in the mood really quick!" Now only if that were true this evening. Following the lead of the infamous sound bite, the crowd barely moved during the band’s thirty-minute set. Unfortunately, the audience showed no love for the band.

The band soldiered on to turn in a good set, playing through technical problems (to the tune of the band not being able to perform their single, “Bonds In Which We Break”) and through uncomfortable temperatures, to say the very least. It was colder than a witch's heart!! Miller demonstrated his vocal range, while guitarists Matt Johnson and George Moore played their respective axes with near perfect precision. Their rhythm section was tight which consists of Sean Robbins on bass and Nick Gelyon on drums. No wonder Jamey Jasta took a chance on this young band; they really have a bright future ahead of them. The Autumn Offering have a lot to offer to the fan of hardcore/metal. Hopefully future audiences will give them the benefit of the doubt, more so than this evening! We did not photograph TAO's set this evening however, click here for pix of the band from their set during the Heavyweights of Hardcore Tour in January with Hatebreed and Diecast.

Setlist: Doomed Generation, ~~Bonds In Which We Break~~, Homecoming, New Song, The Great Escape, Deflowered.

Click here for interview with The Autumn Offering

Lineup: Shaun Scott – Vocals; Tony "Tubes" Byron – Guitar; Mikey Van Heel – Bass; Dan Johnson – Drums; Josh Nelson – Guitar

DevilInside (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt) Shaun Scott of DevilInside (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt) Minnesota’s Devilinside would follow The Autumn Offering in which the crowd remained less than enthused. During their short tenure, this band have endured a plethora of lineup changes, some members (which included guitarists Tony Byron and Mike Van Heel) emerged from the wreckage of the now defunct Disembodied. Just in the past few months, they have changed vocalists three times, with the latest addition being Shaun Scott. Forging ahead through all the inner turmoil, DevilInside have seen some success come their way especially with the amount of touring they have done as of late. The newest incarnation is the "tightest and happiest" unit thus far according to drummer Dan Johnson. After their current tour with Cryptopsy, the band will head out on the road again on the Mouth of Madness Tour with Otep, Manntis, and Gizmachi.

Their EP Prelude was well received and the response prompted them to release their first full-length called Volume One. Listening to the albums and their set, you can definitely hear the influences of old Sepultura, Entombed, and Machine Head. Their performance showed high energy from start to finish and even with the recent change in vocalists; they didn’t seem to miss a beat. The crowd quickly changed their tune, they were more than happy to welcome Scott to the fold. The kids showed their love by grabbing on the exuberant singer as he leapt into the crowd. The ever-appreciative kids sang along to every word of the band’s songs. Scott made a mosh call during the first song, “34 Months For Nothing”, the crowd reciprocated with a huge, monster pit by song three, “Hangnail”. It was a solid effort for the DevilInside boys; their road to success looks promising! Make sure to see them next time they come through your town.

Setlist: Intro, 34 Months For Nothing, Hangnail, Swallowing Razorblades, Cavity, Conflicted Conditioned, Bane of Existence, Kiss The Cynic, ~~Breathing Fear~~, Deadwrong.

Click here for interview with DevilInside

Lineup: Michael Laughlin – Drums; Josh Elmore – Guitar; Troy Oftedal – Bass; Travis Ryan - Vocals

Extreme might be the best way to describe tonight’s co-headliner Cattle Decapitation yet the perfect setup men for Cryptopsy. This band continues to be one of the most gross and gory bands in gore-grind, death metal today. Famous for their album cover on their latest release, Humanure gained a lot attention via the censorship. It features a peaceably standing cow with its entrails slaughtered and ripped from its backside amongst other unmentionables going on. Some may call the artwork disturbing and to others, it would be considered creative.

Travis Ryan of Cattle Decapitation (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt) Speaking of gross looks that vocalist Travis Ryan is the host of a new sport, spit play. Whilst on stage, Ryan would spit high in the air and attempt to catch the falling stream with his face, mouth, head…whatever, as long as it on his body somewhere… Hope you weren’t about to eat or nothin’! But this is what reviews are all about, “just the facts, ma’am, just the facts!”…okay with some opinions thrown in for good measure.

The members look like any other metal band, camo pants, black t-shirts, and jeans; however, their music puts them far and away from most in their genre. They are staunch vegetarians and they value humor that is evident in their lyrics but unfortunately, the words were lost in translation during their loud set. We were looking forward to seeing the band, again due to the attention from their album covers and their stance on the human race in general. We weren’t moved by their performance, really, nor do we understand why they’re so popular. Nevertheless, some of their tunes were entertaining and amusing.

The crowd was clearly ready for Cattle Decapitation as they moshed and yelled out to lead singer, Travis, to sing certain tunes and the band obliged with some very heavy riffs and expert drum work by Michael Laughlin. All in all the forty-minute set was an interesting one to say the least and it also proved that maybe gore metal is not our thing.

Setlist: I Eat your Skin; Long Pig Chef And The Hairless Goat; Pedeadstrians; To Serve Man.

Josh Elmore of Cattle Decapitation (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt) Troy Oftedal of Cattle Decapitation (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt) Travis Ryan of Cattle Decapitation (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt) Michael Laughlin of Cattle Decapitation (Photo: Erika Kristen Watt)

Lineup: Lord Worm – Vocals; Alex Auburn – Rhythm, Lead Guitars, Vocals; Eric Langlois – Bass; Dan Mongrain – Guitars; Flo Mounier – Drums, Vocals

The world of death metal has something to be downright thankful for, Canada's Cryptopsy and premiere frontman Lord Worm (a.k.a. Dan Greening) unearthed themselves; they hath resurfaced after eight years in exile and are back on the road. Well not really, Lord Worm had taken a leave from the rock and roll life to become an English teacher (as a second language to adults). Back to the show, during the changeover, the crowd shouted, "Cryptopsy, Cryptopsy…" Once the band took the stage, the manic audience erupted.

Pure musicianship was showcased this evening! We could not believe how massive drummer, Flo Mournier's drum kit was. He has twelve cymbals alone, sixteen pieces overall. Well Sir Mournier led their set off with some mighty fancy drum work, it sounded link a mighty storm. Followed by rapacious/manic growls of Lord Worm, it was the best racket we'd ever heard. The songs are very well arranged through layers and layers of psychosis; the small melodic non-sequitirs were simply amazing. Dual riffage and luscious shredding from Alex Auburn and touring guitarist Dan Mongrain were blisteringly savage, cuts deep like a clawing Velociraptor at your throat. Although excellent in his own right, Mongrain seemingly had a time keeping up with Auburn. Eric Langlois' performance was devastatingly rhythmic, like panic stricken heartbeats or adrenaline filled blood coursing through your veins.

Cryptopsy puts the "B" in brutal but even the obsessive kings of death and gore have a soft spot, Lord Worm dedicated "Dead and Dripping" to our recently fallen guitar hero, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. The crowd went ballistic!

The band is scheduled to release a follow up to their last studio effort None So Vile, the new album is due out in the fall which is entitled, Once Was Not. Make sure to purchase it; this CD will undoubtedly be a fine masterpiece to add to your ever-growing collection. Hopefully Cryptopsy will play in some above ground establishment/worming hole near you soon, go check this most excellent, legendary collective out, you owe it to your mortal soul if nothing else!

Setlist: Intro; Crown Of Horns; Slit Your Guts; Grave Of The Fathers; Dead And Dripping; Benedictine Convulsions; Phobophile; Lichmistress; Orgiastic Disembowelment; Drum Solo; Open Face Surgery, Defenestration; Cold Hate, Warm Blood; We Bleed; Back To The Worm.

Back to the Worm 2005 U.S. Tour Dates: CRYPTOPSY

With support: Cattle Decapitation, The Autumn Offering, and * DevilInside

02/23 Downtown - Farmingdale, NY

02/24 Jaxx - West Springfield, VA

02/25 Jesters Pub - Fayetteville, NC

02/26 Exit Inn - Nashville, TN

02/27 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA

02/28 Thee Imperial - Jacksonville, FL

03/01 Masquerade - Tampa, FL

03/02 Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

03/04 Mary Jane’s - Houston, TX*

03/05 Bricktown Live - Oklahoma City, OK

03/06 Gypsy Tea Room - Dallas, TX*

03/07 Sanctuary - San Antonio, TX*

03/08 Launch Pad - Albuquerque, NM*

03/09 The Rock - Tucson, AZ*

03/10 Mason Jar - Phoenix, AZ*

03/11 Galaxy Theatre - Santa Ana, CA

03/12 Soma - San Diego, CA

03/13 Key Club - West Hollywood, CA

03/14 The Pound at Pier 96 - San Francisco, CA

03/15 Meow Meow - Portland, OR

03/16 Studio Seven - Seattle, WA*

03/18 Rock Island - Denver, CO*

03/19 Starlight - FT Collins, CO*

03/21 House of Blues - Cleveland, OH*

03/22 House of Blues - Chicago, IL*

03/23 Station 4 - St Paul, MN*

03/24 Pop’s - Sauget, IL

03/25 Alvin’s - Detroit, MI

03/26 The Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA

03/27 BB King’s - New York, NY

03/29 Rex Theater - Pittsburgh, PA

03/30 Penny Arcade - Rochester, NY

03/31 Wilson Ruritan - Hagerstown, MD

04/01 The Loft - Poughkeepsie, NY

04/02 Saratoga Winners - Cohoes, NY

04/03 The Kave - Bucksport, ME