Devastation on the Nation w/ I AM Morbid at Belasco

When someone tells me there’s a death metal show tonight, I usually ask them what kind of death metal. If they tell me Morbid Angel is playing, I’ll definitely think about going. If they tell me Morbid Angel was just replaced by I Am Morbid, David Vincent’s version of the band, I’ve already bought my ticket before they’ve completed their sentence.

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What differentiates the sort of Death metal that makes a show worth going to for me is often times the vocal. Newly attuned listeners of the genre may consider it splitting sonic hairs to parse between different styles of guttural vocals but if I can understand the lyrics a death metal band is screeching out, then I consider the band superior in some respects. Nothing against the demonic belching of numerous Deathcore and Death Metal bands like Suffocation, that shared the stage with I Am Morbid at this show, but because I was able to understand David Vincent’s gregorian chants from hell, I was able to feel the gravity of his music. It simply sounded and felt more evil, powerful, and scary because the words had meaning.

Devastation on the Nation is a premiere metal tour, giving the scene some of its most hallowed lineups every year. Strangely enough as I previously mentioned, Morbid Angel was originally announced as the headliner only to be taken off the tour and replaced by I Am Morbid. It was a bold stroke of metal shade, but one that I was all in for as I AM Morbid were on my bucket list of bands to catch.

The timing of this show also made it a reunion of sorts, falling a few days before Thanksgiving, I saw a few old friends in town for the holiday and felt that same kinship was extended to all of LA metal, who took especially tender care of each other in the pit this night to both brutalize and befriend each other.

The first band I got to see what Uada, hooded wolven howlers playing blackened death metal to an especially lunatic moon on this evening. To say they shred is an understatement, they sort of severe the air using serrated riffs.

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Following them were legends of Death metal, perhaps the best band in the genre to come out of New York, and the harbringers of progressive death, Suffocation. They were another bucket list band I needed to see, one true heads would probably tease me for not having seen so deep into my metaldom. The band are considered a pillar of proto-deathcore and it’s easy to see why, with the seeds of deathcore vocals and guitar all throughout their music. The band made the Belasco rumble with demonic energy during their set, creating a brutal bounce effect that gave the pit a swagger in their step the way only a New York band could.

From their first song in which David Vincent simply stretched his vocal chords with chanting to foreshadow the tones to come, I Am Morbid created a sonic experience for the audience in which we were all transported to a black mass in which Vincent was the leading preacher. People often argue which bands are the big 4 of Death metal and for the longest time I was on the fence about where Morbid Angel’s relevancy caused them to fall on that list. Now though, it’s crystal clear to me they are a completely essential band, highlighting the best sound capable within the genre.

Good death metal doesn’t need to sound like the demon from hell is producing the vocal. It’s best when the evil wizard that summoned the demon is the one doing the singing. Such was the case as I Am Morbid ran through the classics of Morbid Angel’s catalogue with songs such as “To the Victor go the Spoils”, “Paradigms Warped”, and “Curse the Flesh”.

Of all the tracks they played, my favorite ever created by the band, was the Beavis and Butthead featured masterpiece “God of Emptiness”, often times I can be found bellowing out “Bow to me faithfully….” while singing to the track alone in my car like a true madman. Seeing David Vincent perform the song live scratched a certain musical itch we all know where we finally get to duet with the original singer after repeating his lyrics s0lo for so long.

I AM Morbid and Devastation on the Nation provided me with one of my favorite metal concert memories of the year. It’s times like these that make this tour the powerhouse it is, synonymous with both crushing music and good times.

Words by: Rob Shepyer

Photos by: Albert Licano