“Ee-eee-ee-eee-eeeeee-ee-eee-ee-ee-eeeeee”, yeah, you read that right. Today we’re talking Six Feet Under along with Kataklysm, Wormhole, and Snakepit. Unless you’ve been listening to only pre-Black Album Metallica for the last 20 years, then you should know the first two bands. I can forgive you for not knowing the other two, but that’s partially what we’re here for, introducing you to bands you might not have heard of. The show blew the roof off The Arrowhead in Calgary, Alberta on August 4th, just one stop on the current North American tour run for Six Feet Under’s promotion of their latest album, Next to Die. Many of you probably haven’t heard of this venue yet. Most of the people I speak to about shows in Calgary ask about where The Arrowhead is; it was previously called The Back Alley. Now under new management, they’re pulling in some killer acts like this one.
Snakepit opened the night with their killer blend of metal and hardcore. This was my second time experiencing this band, and just like the previous time, I was knocked on my ass by their brutal blending of genres. If you’re a hardcore fan, you’re going to find beats and riffs to two-step and stomp around to. However, if you’re more into death metal and just want to stand at the back and nod your head or run a circle pit, you’ll find their sound accommodating to your needs as well. Nothing flashy here. Just well-built riffs over caveman stomp beats combined with brutal vocal stylings.
Next up was Wormhole: technical brutal death metal at its best. I was stunned by their 2023 release, Almost Human, and was even more convinced I had to see this tour when I heard they were on the bill. While they opened with some microphone issues that ran through one and a half songs, their sound guys were on it and fixed the issue to allow the rest of the set to run flawlessly. Fast-paced. Frenetic. Chaotic. Filthy. I’ll leave my adjective list at that. This isn’t the kind of metal the crowds in Calgary tend to get riled up for, however, at least not from what I’ve experienced with other tech-death shows. Sure, there’s a lot of headbanging, but mosh pits tend to be smaller and short-lived, as was the case here. This wasn’t any sign that the band was underperforming or not hitting the mark for the crowd. I feel like this is the kind of music that just tends to draw attention in a different way. It can suck for a band that draws on the energy of the crowd, but in no way was the set anything but the most brutal of brutal death metal.
Canada’s own, Kataklysm, brought their dark, brooding, evil metal to the stage next. Backed by a single black-horned sheep with glowing red eyes, the same found on their tour shirt which, yes, of course I added to my ever-growing collection, I just knew this was going to be one nefarious-sounding set. While Kataklysm have been around in the Canadian metal scene for over 30 years, this was my first time experiencing them live, and they did not disappoint. Their set included tracks from 8 of their 15 studio albums, including “Goliath,” “Die as a King,” and “Bringer of Vengeance” from 2023’s Goliath. It was difficult to stay focused on the task at hand, taking photos, while also trying to not just headbang along with every single track. The lighting and the backdrop created an eerie and vicious feeling for the entire set. You can see the full set of shots I took in their gallery; I chose to lean heavily into grit and red with other colors muted as a way to relay the malevolent atmosphere I felt throughout the entire set. With two to three years between most of their studio albums, I can only hope after this tour they’re back in the studio and then promoting the album across Canada so I don’t have to wait long to experience them again.
Closing out the night, which was a bit of a surprise, as all marketing stated that Kataklysm would be headlining Canadian dates, was Six Feet Under. I went into this show not really knowing what to expect, based on research both before the show and the release of this year’s Left to Die. I found a plethora of experiences from others ranging from strange to exuberant and everything in between. I don’t think I’ve ever found a band with such a range of live show experiences and fandom. This isn’t one of those situations where you either love them or hate them; it’s more that you either love them, hate them, or just take them for what they are, a death metal band that just knew who they were, didn’t follow any fads, and put out the music they wanted to. While there is just a year’s difference between their formation and that of Kataklysm, I feel like their formation in the Florida death metal scene helped boost their profile. The opening line of this review is something I’m sure any fan of the band will relate to.
Not meant as a dig in any way, the now-infamous sound was spread throughout the entire set. The pit was more alive for this band than for any other set of the night; however, the venue was also slightly less full, with a number of people heading out after Kataklysm. Those that stayed were treated to both deep cuts and new songs, as well as three covers. You needed to stick it out until the very end, however, for a special treat: two Cannibal Corpse covers, “Stripped, Raped and Strangled” and “Hammer Smashed Face.”
Overall, this was a night to remember. I know I’ve said it before, if not here then in person to someone at some point, but unless I was attending that show where someone took a shit in the mosh pit, there is very little (including microphone issues, my attention needing to be on my tech while taking photos, or a sound made by a singer that some people find to be a little ridiculous) that can have me saying anything negative about live shows. The bands always come in to put on a show and put their all into everything. When you consider all of this was had for less than the cost of dinner for two at most fast-food restaurants, that’s inexpensive entertainment. Sure, the beers are $10 each, but if you’re not a drinker, then you got to see four bands put on a banger night.
