Hardcore, Horror, and Death Groove Collide at The Palace

A Night of Flesh, Fury, and Full-On Riffs

While the Calgary Stampede was in full swing, a time usually reserved for cowboy hats, Bud Light, and yeehaws, the real chaos was erupting at The Palace. I never expected one of the year’s heaviest shows to land smack in the middle of Stampede week, but here I was, one level up from the pit on the left side of the stage, ready to get annihilated by two of the most promising bands in modern Death Metal.

No Denying the Talent in Denial

Before the headliners tore the place apart, Denial Of Life opened with a throat punch of crossover thrash and hardcore that instantly won the crowd over. I hadn’t heard of them before this show, and judging by the scattered nods around me, neither had most people. But that didn’t last long.

Blasting out of Tacoma, Washington, their sound hits a sweet spot where genre tags don’t matter. You just get hit with riff after riff, breakneck drums, and pure pit energy. Vocalist Brenna Gowin had the floor churning in minutes, and their bassist looked like his neck was auditioning for a horror film. Zero vertebrae left. The two guitarists brought razor-sharp precision and relentless energy, while the drummer drove the whole thing like a war machine.

If you’re unfamiliar, hit the clip below and feel the impact for yourself.

200 Stab Wounds: Precision Carnage

This was my second time this year witnessing the raw power of 200 Stab Wounds, and it only solidified what I already knew. They’re one of the tightest, meanest death metal bands stomping across North America right now. I came to this show for them, but I walked away a fan of every band on the bill.

There’s a reason people say you have to see 200 Stab Wounds live. The recorded material is solid as hell, but in person it’s a full-body experience. The guitars are more menacing, the vocals are deeper, and the whole thing feels like it’s happening inside your ribcage.

They ripped through the crowd like a buzzsaw, hammering out fan favorites, newer singles, and cuts from their festering 2020 EP. The pacing never let up. No breathers. Just 45 minutes of violent, calculated audio assault.

Cleveland is lucky to have them. If they played here weekly, I’d never miss a show. They don’t just sound incredible, they look like they’re there to destroy. Controlled chaos with killer instincts.

Gatecreeper Converts the Doubters

I went into this show only lightly familiar with Gatecreeper. I’d tossed a few of their tracks into playlists over the past year but hadn’t done a deep dive. And unlike most shows, I purposely didn’t prep a setlist in advance. I wanted to walk in clean and let the live set decide whether I should care. Spoiler: I now care a lot.

Their performance hit hard. Heavy, tight, and oozing with atmosphere. While their bassist might come across like he hates everyone, he spent the set flipping us off or mock-shooting the crowd with finger guns, it was all part of the snarl. And it worked.

They’re labeled as death metal, sure, but I’d argue for something more fitting: death groove. There’s a pulse to their sound, a swing beneath the blast beats that feels more human and filthy. Maybe it’s the Arizona heat melting their brains into sludge, but it makes for a gnarly sonic signature. You can headbang to it and get dragged through the dirt at the same time.

By the time I got home, I was elbow-deep in their discography and haven’t gone a day without spinning at least a few tracks since.

Flesh Torn, Souls Converted

If you were at this show, you know it wasn’t just heavy. It was a goddamn journey. Each band brought something distinct, from Denial Of Life’s thrash-fueled hardcore to 200 Stab Wounds’ blood-splattered brutality to Gatecreeper’s filthy low-end swagger.

It was the kind of lineup that made you forget where you were and maybe even forget Stampede was happening a few blocks away. For one night, the real chaos wasn’t on the rodeo grounds. It was in the pit, under stage lights, soaked in sweat and distortion.