Evisceratour Obliterates Dickens Leaving No Survivors

I’m always amazed at the unassuming entrance to this killer venue. Every show I attend I feel like I’m being pulled back to the days when live heavy music was truly an underground world, and only a select few that were really involved in the scene, plus those close friends lucky enough to be in the know, would have access to these shows. That’s not to say I want to gatekeep metal, on the contrary I wish more people could find this outlet. I’m just loving that going to a show here makes me feel like I’m 20 again, a stretch now that I’m 51.

Last night Dickens hosted a who’s who of the Slam, Deathcore and Hardcore genres. While there might be a couple of the bands on this list you haven’t heard of yet, that is about to change, but not just from reading this.

The night started out with what an act that truly showed what on-stage possession can sound like, Crucifiction. This band is straight up demonic Deathcore. Vocalist Salem Vex spewed a vocal range from demonic sounding highs to lows that would have even the most seasoned Deathcore vocalist in awe. Add backing vocals from the mysterious backwards facing bass player and you have a sound that is utterly soul crushing. The band as a whole was extremely tight. While Salem was the most energetic one of the set, tearing apart what I can only assume was a Bible and tossing black lipstick kissed sections out into the audience, the other band members had enough stage presence of their own to keep you guessing where you should be watching. The whole room reacted to every move, every shift in sound. This is one of those opening acts that you just know you’re going to be seeing more of.

Next up was Oklahoma City’s very own two-steppin’ Hardcore brutalizers, Cell. This band took the stage and simply fucking owned it. Calling out all the lazy-ass metal fans in the crowd and getting the pit pushed a little harder and a little faster. While Hardcore is not usually my thing, maybe it was the energy of the crowd or the intensity of the band, I can’t say for sure, but I couldn’t help but get into the energy of it.

A band I have been waiting to see live for over a year now, since first discovering their 2023 release, The Burden Ov Faith, Ov Sulfur. Although branded as Deathcore, I hear some blackened influences in much of their music, with a touch of symphonic elements and even a little technical influence. Brutal guttural and demonic squeals from vocalist Ricky Hoover mixed with the beast-like beating of the skins from Leviathvn and low-end that shook the rafters made for a hell of a sound. Not to say this was where the heavy started for the night, but they definitely got the pit riled up a little more. Their mix of musical styles, clean and harsh vocals and melodic, blackened instrumentation made for more than just head-banging perfection, it was a visual and listening experience I can’t wait to go through again when they open for Orbit Culture next year.

Distant is a new band for me, well new as in late 2024 with the release of Tsukuyomi: The Origin. This album blew my mind and I wasn’t expecting it do the same live. It was dark and brutal, told a story and landed at 27 in my top 50 albums of 2024. While that may seem rather low, when you consider I listened to over 1300 albums last year, it’s a pretty amazing feat to be even in the top 50. Their live show is just as brutal as their recorded music. While the pit had been active for the earlier sets, it was Distant that really got the crowd stirred up. Their set included tracks spanning back to their debut album from 2019, Tyrannotophia.

The main attraction for the night, and the main reason I had to be in attendance for this show, Ingested. Their 2024 release, The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams, landed at number 7 on my top 50 list for 2024. There was no way I was missing that. To say they lived up to my expectations would be an understatement. This is what heavy music is all about. Deep, chest crushing riffs. Basslines that could crack bones. Drumming that you can feel shake the earth under your feet. Vocals and lyrics that make your ears bleed, in the best possible way of course. When bands this loud play in smaller venues like Dickens, it’s an experience you’re not going to forget anytime soon.

Seeing any one of these bands on their own would be a night to remember. Seeing all 5 of these bands together in one night was an experience I’ll never forget. After attending more than 40 shows this year, Evisceratour would have to be number 1 on my list of must-see tours for 2025. If you missed out on this one and are a fan of live metal music, your loss. I can’t think of a set of 5 bands on tour together that will top this tour.