Date: Friday June 17th, 2005
Location: Pound in San Francisco, California
Opening Bands:

After a long day at work it was good to see some great bands perform great music.  This time the Pound got it right.  They had separate lines for will-call and cash, but processed the will-call people first and amazingly the line was short for will-call so we got in quickly.  With 5 bands on the line-up and starting at 8:30 pm we knew it was going to be a long night.  Unfortunately Misery Index were no longer on the list, not sure why.  They were replaced by Despised Icon from Canada.  So on with the review of each band.

With Passion took the stage first.  Never heard of this band before and to be honest I didn't like them.  They play mainly metalcore with some melodic/speed metal added in.  A total of 6 people in the band including keyboards.  With Passion hail from Sacramento, California.  Songs had a rhythm that is more nu-metal sounding, this seems to be what a lot of metal bands are doing more of now, not something I like at all!

Despised Icon took the stage next.  Hailing from Canada this band plays metalcore.  With two vocalist and rhythm typical of metalcore, I did not like this band either.  Very close to being hardcore but not quite.  This band replaced Misery Index and that's a shame because I would rather see Misery Index than this band.

Skinless, finally a band I like on stage.  They play death metal and hail from Albany, New York.  These guys have a lot of energy and put on a great show.  Vocals are dead-on death metal.  Now and then they get a rhythm going that is not typical death metal sounding, but a majority of their music is.  It's about time to get the night going with some good music.

Immolation, what more can be said.  A death metal band from Yonkers, New York that has been playing death metal since 1986.  I can't believe I have never seen this band before now.  But since I have been given this chance I made the most of it.  I got up front (OK second row), and this was the best place to see them perform.  Playing songs from early years (they have not put out a lot of albums over the years) and also from their latest release 'Harnessing Ruin', they were able to get young and old into the music.  Of course a pit was going and it was right behind me.  All the members of the band are amazing especially Bill Taylor the guitarist.  His skill and execution was fantastic.  Before the end of the set I went to the back to listen to them from that position, definitely better up close.  Now the night has really begun, but Immolation was the band I wanted to see since I have seen Deicide before.

Deicide, ok first please note that the original line-up has changed drastically.  No longer are the Hoffman brothers on guitars, they left the band at the end of 2004 (Glen will tell you he kicked them out).  So on guitars now is Dave Suzuki from Vital Remains and Jack Owen from Cannibal Corpse.  Major problem with the presentation was that you could not here any lead guitars whatsoever, and when they traded off to each other it just did not work.  After 3 songs we decided to leave.  Sorry Glen and Steve, you need to get the brothers back or work on the band more before touring again.  All of you are good musicians but it's no longer Deicide anymore.  Oh and Glen, just because you are mad with the brothers, doesn't mean that you can tell us 'the fans' that they are probably cleaning toilets with their mother when asked about them, that's just wrong!

So to close this review I am glad I saw Immolation and if I get a chance to see them again I will.  As for the opening acts, I am not into metalcore or hardcore so good luck with that. Skinless you are OK.  Deicide, well let's see what happens in the future with the band.

A BIG thank you goes out to my good friend Patrick, as he paid for my ticket to this show as a early birthday present for me.

Written by:  Steven Ansell