What a night of absolute brutality! The Death Dominion tour brought together three heavyweight names from the Extreme Metal world, each offering something slightly different but equally devastating. With The Shipmen Enquiry opening proceedings, there was certainly no shortage of heaviness throughout the evening.
First things first, the venue was absolutely rammed, reportedly very, very close to selling out. That definitely put to bed any recent questions I’d heard about whether this show would do well, particularly with numerous venues hosting this tour in close proximity to one another (especially Birmingham, Manchester and Sheffield in quick succession) and the huge Damnation Festival taking place over in Manchester during the two days following this particular leg of the tour. There was always the possibility that the concentration of competing shows might affect attendance, but the turnout proved otherwise. Clearly, there is more than enough appetite for extreme metal, and the packed-out venue was testament to that.
Unfortunately, I arrived just after The Shipmen Enquiry had started their opening set, meaning I missed the first part of their performance. However, I caught the majority of their set, and what I saw was enough to leave a very positive impression. There was a real sense of energy and commitment to their performance, and they certainly didn’t look out of place sharing a bill with some considerably more established names in Extreme Metal. It’s always a difficult position for an opening band, particularly when you’re playing to an audience that has come out primarily to see three internationally recognised acts. Getting people to pay attention and make an impression within a limited set time is no easy task, but The Shipmen Enquiry certainly managed it. The material I caught was impressive, and they put in a performance that made me wish I’d arrived a little earlier. They certainly gave the audience a worthwhile start to the evening and demonstrated that they deserve to be on bills alongside bands of this calibre. A really encouraging introduction to the band, and definitely one I’ll be keeping an eye out for in the future.
Carnifex were next up on this rotating bill of triple headliners, and they wasted absolutely no time in raising the intensity. The American Deathcore outfit delivered a seriously ferocious performance, combining the brutality of their earlier material with the darker, more atmospheric elements that have increasingly become part of their sound. Frontman Scott Ian Lewis was in commanding form throughout, delivering his distinctive guttural vocals with an impressive level of aggression and consistency. His ability to switch between those deep, punishing growls and higher-pitched screams gives Carnifex much of their recognisable character, and he brought plenty of conviction to every moment. On guitar, Cory Arford and Neal Tiemann provided the crushing foundations that make Carnifex such a formidable live proposition. The guitar work was tight, heavy and packed with those blackened melodic passages that give the band an identity beyond straightforward Deathcore. The contrast between the darker atmospheric sections and the full-on breakdowns worked particularly well, with both guitarists delivering the goods. Fred Calderon kept things suitably punishing on bass, providing a thick low-end foundation that complemented the guitars perfectly. Behind the kit, Shawn Cameron was an absolute powerhouse. His drumming was relentless, combining fast double-kick patterns, blast beats and precisely executed changes in tempo. There was plenty of technical ability on display, but more importantly, everything felt tight and purposeful.
Tracks such as the opener ‘Die Without Hope’, ‘Hatred and Slaughter’, ‘Lie To My Face’ and ‘Hell Chose Me’ provided some particularly memorable moments. The set offered a good mixture of material, demonstrating the band’s evolution while retaining the sheer nastiness that made them such an important name in the Deathcore scene. ‘Slit Wrist Savior’ was a particularly welcome reminder of the band’s earlier material, while ‘Graveside Confessions’ showcased their darker and more atmospheric side. The heavier passages landed exactly as they should, and the band’s performance never lost momentum. Carnifex delivered exactly what was expected: an uncompromising, brutally heavy set played with confidence and precision. They were a fantastic addition to an already impressive bill.
Next up were Canadian Deathcore pioneers Despised Icon, who brought a slightly different flavour of brutality to proceedings. If Carnifex had provided the darker, blackened side of deathcore, Despised Icon were here to remind everyone just how devastatingly heavy the genre can be when you combine technical Death Metal, Hardcore aggression and absolutely savage breakdowns. One of the band’s biggest strengths is undoubtedly the dual-vocal approach of Steve Marois and Alex Erian. Their contrasting vocal styles work incredibly well together, with Steve’s deeper, more traditional Death Metal growls sitting alongside Alex’s higher-pitched screams and frantic delivery. The back-and-forth between the two provides an additional dimension to the music, and live it makes for a particularly entertaining spectacle. Both vocalists were on excellent form, delivering their parts with an almost relentless intensity. There was no shortage of aggression, but the performances also demonstrated impressive control, particularly given the physical demands of their vocal styles.
The guitar department, featuring Eric Jarrin and Ben Landreville, was equally impressive. The combination of intricate technical riffing, rapid-fire tremolo passages and crushing rhythmic sections is central to Despised Icon’s sound. Both guitarists delivered the goods, navigating the band’s often complicated arrangements without sacrificing any of the heaviness. Sebastien Piché provided the low-end weight on bass, while Alex Pelletier was an absolute machine behind the drum kit. His playing was particularly impressive, with the speed and precision required to keep up with the band’s constantly shifting rhythms. The blast beats, double-kick patterns and sudden changes in tempo were executed with tremendous accuracy. There is a real physicality to Despised Icon’s music, and that translated exceptionally well into the live environment. The band’s ability to move between technical passages and utterly savage breakdowns kept the performance engaging throughout.
Highlights included ‘A Fractured Hand’, ‘Furtive Monologue’, ‘In the Arms of Perdition’ and ‘MVP’. These tracks demonstrated exactly why the band have maintained such a devoted following over the years. ‘Furtive Monologue’ was particularly welcome, showcasing the band’s ability to combine technical musicianship with sheer brutality, while ‘In the Arms of Perdition’ remains one of those tracks that perfectly encapsulates everything Despised Icon do so well. Their performance was tight, aggressive and thoroughly entertaining. They have a very distinctive sound, and seeing the different vocal styles and musical elements come together on stage really highlights just how accomplished they are as a band.
Finally, it was time for the legends themselves. Suffocation closed out the evening, and what followed was a masterclass in brutal Death Metal from a band that has helped shape the genre over several decades. There are very few bands that can lay claim to having had such a significant influence on Extreme Metal. Suffocation’s combination of technical complexity, crushing heaviness and absolutely relentless aggression has inspired countless bands, and seeing them deliver it live is a reminder of precisely why their reputation is so deserved. Founding guitarist Terrance Hobbs was, as ever, a central figure in the band’s sound. His guitar work is an absolute masterclass in technical Death Metal, combining intricate riffs, unusual rhythmic patterns and those unmistakable dissonant passages that have become synonymous with Suffocation. His playing is incredibly precise, but there is also a real sense of controlled chaos to it. Alongside him, Charles Errigo provided the additional guitar work, helping to create the dense, punishing sound that makes the band’s material so devastating. The interplay between the two guitarists was excellent, with the complex arrangements sounding powerful without losing their technical detail.
Derek Boyer was an absolute force on bass. His playing provides that thick, rumbling low end that is so important to Suffocation’s sound, and his stage presence adds another layer of menace to the performance. Ricky Myers handled vocal duties, delivering the band’s trademark guttural assault with plenty of authority. Taking on material associated with the band’s long history is no small undertaking, but his delivery brought the necessary aggression and intensity. His vocals cut through the instrumental chaos, providing the perfect counterpoint to the technicality happening behind him. The drumming was another major highlight. Suffocation’s material demands an extraordinary level of speed, coordination and stamina, and the relentless blast beats, double-kick patterns and sudden rhythmic changes are what make so many of their songs such challenging propositions. The percussion provided the engine room for the entire performance, keeping everything moving at an absolutely punishing pace.
The set included some truly essential Suffocation material, with ‘Thrones of Blood’, ‘Pierced From Within’, ‘Effigy of the Forgotten’ and ‘Liege of Inveracity’ providing particularly memorable highlights. The inclusion of tracks from across their extensive catalogue was a reminder of just how influential their back catalogue has been. ‘Liege of Inveracity’ remains an absolute monster of a track, while ‘Effigy of the Forgotten’ is a perfect example of the technical brutality that helped establish Suffocation as pioneers of the genre. These are songs that have stood the test of time, and hearing them delivered with such conviction was a real treat. What makes Suffocation particularly impressive is that, despite the complexity of the material, nothing feels unnecessarily showy. Every riff, drum fill and rhythmic change serves a purpose, and the result is an incredibly tight and punishing live performance. They were a thoroughly deserving closing act, bringing the evening to an appropriately devastating conclusion.
Looking back, what made the evening particularly enjoyable was the variety on offer. Each band brought something different to the table, from The Shipmen Enquiry making a promising impression, through Carnifex’s dark and punishing deathcore and Despised Icon’s technically intricate, breakdown-heavy assault, to Suffocation’s legendary brand of brutal Death Metal. The strength of the lineup was matched by the audience response, with the near-capacity crowd creating a fantastic atmosphere throughout. The turnout also sent a clear message that having other venues hosting shows nearby, alongside Damnation taking place in Manchester over the following two days, wasn’t enough to deter people from coming out. If anything, it demonstrated just how strong the appetite for this kind of music remains.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable night featuring four bands who each had something worthwhile to offer. Plenty of crushing riffs, relentless drumming, savage vocals and more than enough brutality to keep everyone happy. A great advert for live Extreme Metal and a reminder of why there’s nothing quite like experiencing this sort of music in a packed venue. My neck definitely knows it’s been to a gig!
