Headliner Kataklysm, Along with a Fierce Opening Line-up, Melts Faces at Reggies in Chicago
Kataklysm
By Alyce Hayes
Another metal show in the middle of the week? A girl could get used to this.
This past Wednesday, the motto seemed to be “The heavier, the better,” with Kataklysm leading the way. The French Canadian death metal band formed in 1991 and was originally known for their fast, chaotic style. Over two decades later, their sound has maintained ferocity and fans alike, and the show at Reggies was living, rocking proof. The opening bands had their work cut out for them, proving that they were worthy of kicking things off for the metal titans, and they hit the stage with guns blazing, earning their spots in the lineup and more than a few metal points from the audience.
Epitasis
The first band up was Epitasis, a Chicago-based death metal band with members Alejandro Rocha, lead guitar, Alejandro Chapa, bass, Andrew Torres, drums, and Trevor Jech, vocals. They have a promising sound, and Trevor has great stage presence. If the guys spend a little more time playing to a metronome and keep writing songs like “Programmed Devolution,” they’ll grow into their full [impressive] potential in no time.
Morgue Supplier
Next up was Morgue Supplier, another Chicago local. Their music was tight, raw, and psychotic, much like the personas of the singer and bassist, who looked as if they might snap at any moment. Their set reminded me of Mudvayne’s live shows; each member (Paul Gillis, vocals, Eric Bauer, drums, Chris Mull, guitar, and Steve Reichelt, bass) always seemed about two minutes from a nervous breakdown brought on by the level of intensity they maintain. I love seeing bands go the extra mile when they perform. For me, it shows they won’t settle for a conventional definition of entertainment, instead redefining the word based on passion, sweat, and giving themselves over to their music completely.
Aborted
And then Sven De Caluwe, vocals, Danny Tunker, guitar, Mendel Bij De Leij, guitar, JB Van der Wal, bass, and Ken Bedene, drums, better known as Aborted, a death metal band hailing from Belgian, got to the stage…and the mosh pit broke out immediately (as always, a huge thanks to the security at Reggies for not being killjoys and breaking it up). De Caluwe got right in the faces of his fans and they loved every minute of it (as did he), reciting lyrics right along with him and relishing the palpable exchange of energy. On the other hand, drummer Bedene, while freakishly precise, was also incredibly calm. I’m so used to drummers looking like animals that his composure was almost distracting. But there’s no denying his effortless skill, and the lack of shenanigans from behind the skins didn’t keep the fans from having a blast. The crowd was nonstop momentum, mirroring the drive of the band’s sound.
Aborted
While I could hear influences of Cannibal Corpse and Suffocation, Aborted has a sound all their own. The devastating guitar solos, mind-bending versatility, and technical prowess that these guys showed were far beyond my expectations. So by the time their set was finished, I knew I’d be listening to their entire catalogue the first chance I got.
Next it was time for Kataklysm, and before they could take more than a step onto the stage, the crowd (which had grown steadily between each band’s set) was already going crazy, yelling out members’ names and shouting song requests.
Kataklysm
But then Maurizio took the mic, and the band quickly shut us all up with their first song. I felt like I had been dropped into a live-action Dethklok concert (one of the highest compliments this Dethklok groupie can give!): the simultaneous hair-whipping, the perfect blast beats, the audience following the band’s lead as though under a spell. As a precaution, I stayed a little off to the side in case of a “Metalocalypse”-style freak accident (you true fans know exactly what I mean!) that would end up causing the deaths of thousands ~ but thankfully, no such disaster occurred.
Kataklysm
The band sounded flawless and obviously relished the reaction from their fans. It was great being able to understand Maurizio’s screams, and the melodies of Jean-Francois’ guitar brought their music fully to life. Stephane’s bass-playing was a highlight as well, melding easily with guitar while keeping the much-needed presence of a low-end. Stephane and J-F periodically swapped sides of the stage, interacting with the crowd whenever they took a break from hair-whipping, while Maurizio made conversation and created seamless transitions into each song title like a freakin’ pro…because that’s exactly what he is. The song “Like Animals” was clearly a fan favorite with its killer groove coupled with Oli’s staggering precision on the drums. Songs including “Kill the Elite,” “Iron Will,” and “Elevate” all had a high-energy anthem vibe, ensuring that the chanting, moshing and headbanging never waned for even a second during their set. To top it all off, the band made a point of promising to hang out with fans after the show.
Anyone who walked away from that show without whiplash either has neck muscles of steel or didn’t hear a damn thing that night. Each band that played that night brought the fire of metal with everything they had, and Kataklysm, even after 20 years of creating music, brandished their own fire that raged at least as fiercely as any of their younger counterparts’.
Kataklysm
