Paper Symphonies

Nothing screams “reduce your stress here!” more than a death metal/hardcore show, with primordial screams bursting from every amplifier and brutal mosh pits of sweaty, rage-filled teenagers. Metal Blade Records continued their musical path of destruction, celebrating their 25th Anniversary; on October 2nd in Rochester at The Waterstreet Music Hall, with some of their most brutal, yet varied metal bands: Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder, and The Red Chord.

The Red Chord walked out onto the stage without theatrics, appearing to be as ordinary as that grungy friend who plays video games and guitar in his basement all day. However, this notion was proved wrong when Guy Kozowky exploded into deep throaty growls, combated with the guitarists’ rapid riffs and squealing artificial harmonics. Midway through their intense set, they played the distinctly chaotic beginning of the song “Nihilist,” off their first album, Fused Together In Revolving Doors, which implemented a sudden rampage of hooded teenagers beating on each other and head banging at neck-breaking speeds. Audiences were once again fueled off of The Red Chord’s excelling ability to combine the elements of death metal, grindcore, metalcore and hardcore.

Next up was the melodic death metal of The Black Dahlia Murder; producing fast metalcore style riffs, and intense blast beats that vibrate through the body. While listening to Brian Eschbach and John Kempainen’s melodic guitar solos the audience showed the intense connection they share with the music by throwing their arms into the air, imitating the intense guitar shredding. Soon after, vocalist Trevor Strnad surprised the audience out of their trance with his characteristic death metal growls and high pitch screams. Playing songs from old albums, as well as their newly released Nocturnal, The Black Dahlia Murder executed a memorable performance.

The headliner and the reason for many of the long-haired attendees, was the godfathers of American death metal, Cannibal Corpse. For nineteen years these wild-haired, head banging musicians have been tearing up the stage with rage-induced guitar riffs, and George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher’s diabolical vocal grunting. The claustrophobic abrasiveness of many of their songs created an intense energy within the audience, causing many fans to break out in an excited rage. During one of Cannibal Corpse’s most notable song, “I Will Kill You,” the audience mimicked Fishers’ guttural screams, yelling “I will kill you!” while fist-pumping to the guitars forceful resonations. Once again, Cannibal Corpse overdoses the audience with indecorous chaos and rage; leaving them exhausted and completely satisfied.