The O2 Academy, Birmingham, played host to a night of unadulterated brutality as it welcomed a quartet of Death metal bands who unleashed a auditory apocalypse upon the eager crowd. This night was an unforgettable descent into the abyss of extreme music.
Schizophrenia
Belgian death/thrash metal band, Schizophrenia, were up first and delivered an intense performance carrying on their growing reputation in the extreme metal scene. The performance was full of unrelenting energy and precision. Frontman Ricky Mandozzi absolutely blasted out his immense vocals and a thudding bassline Their setlist featured a blend of their original work including Structure Of Death and Cranial Disintegration plus a rip roaring version of Slayer‘s Necrophiliac as a tribute to their influence in the metal and punk scenes. They kicked off the evening in spectacular fashion.
SCHIZOPHRENIA
Immolation
Next up were Immolation an American death metal band from New York. who showed their true worth with a set of brutal and atmospheric death metal Immolation always deliver crushing live shows and this was no exception. Their set spanned songs from across their 35 years starting with a new song, the title track of their latest album Acts Of God. Ross Dolan – bass, vocals and long flowing mane of hair was truly awesome, his vocals were stunning. The set included The Distorting Light, Kingdom of Conspiracy and Age of No Light all from their later albums and earlier songs Father, You’re Not a Father and Into Everlasting Fire.The packed Academy crowd were loving it. The rest of the band – Steve Shalaty – drums, Alex Bouks – rhythm guitar and Robert Vigna – lead guitar are tight knit outfit and provided some crushing sounds. The crowd were getting nicely warmed up.
SET LIST
An Act of God
The Distorting Light
Kingdom of Conspiracy
The Age of No Light
A Glorious Epoch
When the Jackals Come
Noose of Thorns
Father, You’re Not a Father
Into Everlasting Fire
IMMOLATION
Municipal Waste
Then it was time for Municipal Waste from Richmond, Virginia and from the moment they hit the stage, the crowd erupted into a frenzy of circle pits and headbanging. Frontman Tony Foresta has an incredible ability to command the crowd, interacting with fans between songs and constantly encouraging them to go harder in the pit. The band kicks off with fast-paced classics like Headbanger Face Rip, The Thrashin’ of the Christ and Slime & Punishment driving the audience into a thrash-induced chaos. Many of the songs like Sadistic Magician and Restless and Wicked are crowd favourites, triggering massive singalongs and relentless moshing. Their newer tracks maintain the same energy, fitting seamlessly into the set. The songs are typically short, fast, and aggressive, with very little downtime between tracks, keeping the audience fully engaged throughout. One of the best live bands around at the minute, Municpal Waste are a must see band.
SET LIST
The Executioner
Breathe Grease
Grave Dive
You’re Cut Off
The Thrashin’ of the Christ
Poison the Preacher
Crank the Heat
Headbanger Face Rip
Blood Vessel
High Speed Steel
Wave of Death
Sadistic Magician
Slime and Punishment
Under the Waste Command
Restless and Wicked
Pre-Game
The Art of Partying
Demoralizer
Born to Party
MUNICIPAL WASTE
Cannibal Corpse
Then it was time for extreme metal legends from Cannibal Corpse who delivered a brilliant set made up of songs from across their 35 years years at the top of their game. Kicking off with a new song Blood Blind with vocalist George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher 
walking onto stage looking quite the imposing figure before headbanging then bursting into his amazing vocals. Then into Scourge of Iron, Inhumane Harvest and Chaos Horrific. Alex Webster– bass and Paul Mazurkiewicz – drums provide a booming back beat for the band. Then its was back intime for Disposal of the Body and Pounded Into Dust before another new one Summoned for Sacrifice then the classic Fucked With a Knife.
The crowd, now a sea of sweat and aggression, transformed the venue into giant sauna. Circle pits, walls of death, and crowd-surfing were all part of the evenings chaos It was evident that this gig was a cathartic release for fans who craved the intensity of extreme metal.
Rob Barrett and Erik Rutan on guitar were on imperious form and the bands unrelenting energy were remarkable, leaving the crowd in a state of frenzied euphoria. Corpsegrinders guttural growls seemed to emanate from the very depths of hell, creating an atmosphere of unrelenting chaos in the venue.
The set finished with three classic tracks Staring Through the Eyes of the Dead then Stripped, Raped and finally Hammer Smashed Face
As the night concluded, the audience were left exhilarated, exhausted and soaked in sweat. The night delivered an evening of sonic carnage that won’t soon be forgotten. For those who seek extreme music as an escape from the mundane, this event was a brutal, unapologetic journey to the very limits of sonic aggression.
SET LIST
Blood Blind
Scourge of Iron
Inhumane Harvest
Chaos Horrific
Death Walking Terror
Disposal of the Body
Pounded Into Dust
Summoned for Sacrifice
Fucked With a Knife
The Wretched Spawn
Unleashing the Bloodthirsty
Pit of Zombies
Kill or Become
Staring Through the Eyes of the Dead
Stripped, Raped and Strangled
Hammer Smashed Face
CANNIBAL CORPSE
