Living in uncertain times, it’s always good to have a few reliable constants in this earthly existence, preventing you from completely using grip on reality. Being a Death Metal enthusiast, IMMOLATION represent such a constant for me and though the venue is far from sold out, I’m not the only one searching for solace through atonement on this wednesday night.

When I arrive, MONUMENT OF MISANTHROPY are already a few songs into their set. If you don’t know the band: Their singer wears a base-cap and an Aborted shirt.

Bringing FULL OF HELL as a support band seems like quite an unusual choice for a traditional band like IMMOLATION. And yes: There’s a significant amount of confusion and incomprehension on the faces of most people in the audience as the quartet rages through their merciless attacks between grindcore, sludge and electronic noise. Abrasive and painful, FULL OF HELL take everything that’s ugly about this world and smash it right to the listener’s face. Dylan Walkers absolutely insane vocal performance and stage presence perfectly embody the madness at the heart of the bands sound. A stunning experience, leaving a lasting impression on me - and a good part of the surprised audience, judging from the interest in the Americans’ shirts at the merch table.

Asked for the most consistent band in the worldwide Death Metal circus, naming IMMOLATION is definitely not a bad choice. In their 32 years of existence, Ross Dolan and his lot have released quite a few classics but not one bad record. I don’t know if they have played any bad shows during this time - but I certainly haven’t witnessed one. Backed by this inimitable, commanding groove only this band can create, walls and walls of riffs melt into one cathartic storm of sound that floors everyone in the room. Where legions of mediocre bands try to impress with technical skills as an end in itself, IMMOLATION make you forget about their stellar musicianship by the sheer power and savage beauty of their music. And when Dolan thanks everyone at the end of the show, you’re reminded why the man is generally considered one of the most down-to-earth guys in Metal. Yes, it’s indeed good to have this kind of constant in your life. All hail IMMOLATION!

00 Void