Date: Sunday July 10th, 2005
Location: Pound in San Francisco, California
Other Bands:

Another great night of metal.  It started out OK with the first two bands, but it then really picked-up when Incantation came on.  Although Incantation was not the headliner, this was the band I wanted to see as I have been in contact with Kyle Severn for a few months via email and I was looking forward to meeting him and seeing him play.  I did get a chance to talk to Kyle prior to the show and we had a good talk about Incantation, Funerus and Acheron.  Hate Eternal and Krisiun were also bands I wanted to see but I have seen them before.  This show was not sold-out, so the Pound blended in cash customers with will-call (what I do always) as we entered, no complaints for doing that this time.  Now for the review.

All Shall Perish took the stage first.  I had seen this band before a couple of years ago and was not too impressed with them then.  Melodic metalcore not death metal, so the music and vocals had too much rhythm for me.  However the crowd was into it, but then why not, All Shall Perish hail from Oakland so a lot of local support for this band, that was good.

Into Eternity on stage next.  Oh I hated this band!  Second show in a row where a band from Canada has been in the line-up and I did not like them at all!  During the warm-up, the vocals came across as definitely not death metal, and then they began playing.  Very technical playing but vocals were wrong for this type of show.  They may consider themselves in the death metal genre, but I would not.  They are very progressive and melodic to be death metal.  Maybe because of the music itself they consider themselves death metal, it was pretty good.  OK, maybe now and then their was hints of death metal growls but very weak.  I actually thought of Helloween as an influence, but what do I know.

Incantation, finally on stage and playing right in front of me.  This band has been around for 16 years now (not the original line-up, but close enough).  These guys have been delivering death metal the correct way for many years and continue on with the onslaught with their latest release "Decimate Chistendom".  I was up front for this band as I wanted to witness the talent of Kyle drumming and of course the others.  The crowd was in a frenzy, young and old.  A pit was going although it was more of a survival game with who can be the one in the middle lasting the longest.  Incantation was on stage for a while playing songs from their latest release and songs from the past.  Absolutely amazing and I am glad I got to see them finally.

Krisiun, wow, amazing, better than the last time.  These guys just obliterate and destroy anything in their path.  Super fast death metal.  Although very fast and consisting of only 3 members (2 of which are brothers), they definitely made sure you heard each and every part of their playing and singing.  Hailing from Brasil the band has been around for 15 years now but have not slowed-up (if they have I could not tell).  I was up front for a bit then went to the back to be amazed with the speed and talent of the band.  They definitely got the fans in a frenzy.

Hate Eternal, well Erik Rutan and his band still continue to shove their death metal down your throat.  Absolutely amazing and it is good to see them doing so well with their latest release "I, Monarch".  Although it seemed like the crowd was smaller, those that were still around stayed because of Hate Eternal.  I listened from the back, but the skill and intensity put into their songs made you feel like you were right up front.  A great band to finish the night.

Like I said earlier, the night started out OK, but when Incantation took the stage it just took off.  For those attending, they got a taste of a few differences in the death metal genre.  You had metalcore (All Shall Perish), progressive/melodic death metal (Into Eternity), old school style death metal (Incantation), super fast death metal (Krisiun), and intense death metal (Hate Eternal).  Overall a good night.

The only thing I wish I had done for this show was bring my digital camera, next time I will.

Written by:  Steven Ansell