A great night, in a great venue bringing together four brutal deathcore bands to ensure the evening was never dull
Vulvodynia
First up Vulvodynia, a South African deathcore band formed from Durban, who weren’t able to tour with Ingested last year due to visa issues South African, so it was brilliant to be able to see them get over here. They kicked off the evening with a solid set lead by Lwandile Prusent on vocals with harsh sometimes soaring vocals. Their short but sweet set featured songs from their latest album Entabeni plus a sprinkling of older tracks. A stunning start to the evening…
Revocation
Next up Revocation an American technical death metal band from Boston, who always give a solid, technically superb set. kicking off with a couple from their latest album Netherheaven – the brilliant Diabolical Majesty then Godforsaken. Frontman and guitarist Dave Davidson leads the charge with his jaw-dropping solos and intricate riffing, while the rest of the band locks in with tight precision, making even their most complex compositions sound effortless. The Institute crowd were loving their performance breaking out into spardodic mosh pits and plenty of crowd surfing. The band’s chemistry is evident on stage, with their transitions between aggressive, high-speed sections and groove-laden breakdowns executed flawlessly. The set included the brilliant Nihilistic Violence and new song Confines of Infinity before finishing with That Which Consumes All Things and the title track of their previous album The Outer Ones. The crowd were getting nicely warmed up…
Shadow Of Intent
Then was time for the first of the dual headliners Shadow of Intent an American deathcore band from Connecticut. They delivered a crushingly heavy and atmospheric set, blending symphonic deathcore with technical precision and unrelenting brutality. From the moment they hit the stage with We Descend… and
The Horror Within , there were blistering blast beats, intricate guitar work, and Ben Duerr’s monstrous vocals, which effortlessly switch between guttural growls and piercing highs. Then was The Migrant, Flying the Black Flag – both recent singles and The Heretic Prevails The band’s energy is infectious, keeping the crowd engaged with non-stop moshing and headbanging. The rest of the band Chris Wiseman – guitars, Andrew Monias – bass and Bryce Butler – drums are a very well honed machine. Next was the awesome Barren and Breathless Macrocosm then a stunning version of The Battle of the Maginot Sphere. Finishing the set with Malediction and The Tartarus Impalement, Shadow of Intent provided a relentless brutal set that left the crowd begging for more and any fan of extreme metal must get to see them.
Cattle Decapitation
Finally was time for the mighty Cattle Decapitation the San Diego based Deathcore maestros, kicking off with The Carbon Stampede followed by
The Prophets of Loss with their music hitting as hard a the themes they purvey – songs that protest the exploitation and consumption of animals and the abuse of the environment. Frontman Travis Ryan was in imperious form effortlessly switching between inhuman gutturals, piercing shrieks, and his signature “goblin-esque” cleans that sound even more haunting in a live setting. His stage presence is commanding, often staring down the crowd with an almost unhinged 
energy.
Then was into We Eat Our Young and Scourge of the Offspring from their latest Terrasite album followed by
Bring Back the Plague. The rest of the band were tight—Josh Elmore’s guitar work is razor-sharp, delivering chaotic yet precise riffing, while the rhythm section – Dave McGraw – drums Belisario Dimuzio – guitar, Olivier Pinard – bass maintained an unrelenting pace, shifting between blistering blast beats and punishing breakdowns with ease. The punishing One Day Closer to the End of the World was next followed by another new track
Solastalgia. The lighting and visuals add to the atmosphere, making it feel less like a typical death metal gig and more like a wake-up call for impending doom.
They finished with A Living, Breathing Piece of Defecating Meat,
Plagueborne and the stunning
Death Atlas. A Cattle Decapitation gig isn’t just a concert—it’s a visceral experience. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious, their live show is a must-see for any extreme metal enthusiast.
