Cannibal Corpse w/Power Trip and Gatecreeper
Neumos, Seattle, WA
11.17.17

When Cannibal Corpse announced the Seattle date of their 29-show trek, I was so glad to see that it was at Neumos. The last time they came to town the show was at El Corazon, and was sold out as well. ElCo, though, is way too small for the brutality that was to ensue. Not that Neumos is vastly bigger, but there was more space to move and breathe.

Gatecreeper were opening this death fest and I knew what I was in for—some heavy death metal, mixed with a sludgy groove. The mix sounded great. Vocalist Chase Mason growled into the mic like a man possessed as the band crushed through their set. Surprisingly the crowd surfers were not too intense initially, but that picked up.

There has been a lot of buzz coming from Dallas Texas’ Power Trip. They sound like a mix of early 80’s vintage Bay Area thrash, combined with a bit of hardcore punk attitude. Seeing them rip into songs like “Soul Sacrifice” and “Executioners Tax (Swing of the Axe)” reminded me of early Metallica/Exodus with the twin riffage from guitarists Blake “Rossover” Ibanez and Nicky “Thrasher” Stewart.  Ironically, they look almost like Kirk and James in the early days. Bassist Chris Whetzel and drummer Marcus held down the low end as vocalist Riley Gale spews forth his vocal attack.

Nightmare Logic, Power Trip’s 2017 release, is a refreshing new twist on an old and familiar sound. Their songs and solos were surprisingly new but still paid homage to their influences. Watching them thrash about on stage was infectious.  They certainly had the packed house going insane and the bodies flying over the barricade and jumping back into the pit! This is a band to keep an eye on. They will no doubt be headlining their next time through Seattle.

A changeover then revealed the backdrop of a giant Cannibal Corpse logo. The band was in town supporting the November release of Red Before Black, the band’s 14th studio album. Pure brutality is what they are known for and their live shows bring a punishment to those in attendance that must be witnessed to be believed.

Founding members, drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz and bassist Alex Webster, were a powerhouse rhythm slaughterhouse while guitarists Rob Barrett and Pat O’Brien traded blinding riffage and solos. The highlights, as always, were the monstrous vocals of George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher. It was signing, but it hurt my throat to hear him perform the guttural sounds and screams as they played through a gore-obsessed, murderous setlist. With classics like “Skull Full Of Maggots” or “I Cum Blood,” this band isn’t for the weak or faint of heart.

The new songs “Only One Will Die” and “Code of the Slashers,” actually sounded more sludgy and slower than usual, but then they kicked it into high gear and the venue exploded with crowd surfers. Bodies flew in every direction as the band crushed everything in their path.

I have always loved seeing Cannibal Corpse live, and it’s always a treat to see what songs make it into the setlist while watching the synchronized headbanging across the stage. The night closed out with one of the most incredible love songs ever written, “Hammer Smashed Face.”

Another gore-obsessed evening of red light and brutality was survived. I will never miss a Cannibal Corpse gig, as the sheer ferocity is always beyond entertaining. No doubt they will return during the album cycle for Red Before Black. This is, after all, only the beginning of their global evisceration.

Cannibal Corpse Set List
Code Of The Slashers
Only One Will Die
Scourge Of Iron
Evisceration Plague
Scavenger Consuming Death
The Wretched Spawn
Pounded Into Dust
Kill Or Become
Gutted
Corpus Delicti
Devoured By Vermin
Skull Full Of Maggots
I Cum Blood
Make Them Suffer
Stripped, Raped, and Strangled
Hammer Smashed Face

Power Trip Set List
Soul Sacrifice
Executioners Tax (Swing of the Axe)
Nightmare Logic
Firing Squad
Crucifixation
Conditioned to Death
Manifest Decimation
Crossbreaker

Gatecreeper Set List
Sweltering Madness
Desperation
Craving Flesh
Mastery Of Power
Rotting As One
Sterilized
Patriarchal Grip
Flamethrower

Review and photos by Neil Lim Sang

Cannibal Corpse


GateCreeper

Power Trip