Ancient Show Reviews

Acheron/Ulcer/”Black” Witchery

State Theater; St. Pete, FL

Saturday June 12,1999

By: Altara Blakthorne

The first band to play was Witchery, the Witchery from Florida know now as “Black Witchery”, not the overseas Witchery. I had done an interview with them in my newsletter about a year and half to two years ago. They came on stage wearing these cool masks with horns and they played their first song. After that they took off the masks and they were still wearing their cape like things with hoods. They played very well, if you like Black Metal you’d love this band. They really know how to put on a good show and sound was excellent.

Next band was Ulcer, my friend Jim (ex-brutality) had told me he was playing drums with them. But of course I had forgot, so I had no idea what to expect from this band. This band had no special effects or clothing, but they put on an excellent show, what a great band. And of course even a better drummer. Jim really fucking kicks on the drums.

Then came Acheron; the Satanic Ritual of the night. This band puts on a amazing show. While they played they had a nun get raped then she starts to masturbate. Then thus dude drags a naked chick on the stage and starts to beat her. So of course we got it all Satanic Music, S&M and nuns masturbating... what else can you ask for? Then the moment came when Rev Crowley took out the bible and ripped it up and threw it in the crowd. The candles and upside down crosses added to the effects, so it was a great show. Acheron really puts on a great show and great stage performances from their helpers. Everyone who hasn’t should check out these three great bands.

Cephalic Carnage/Cumchrist/Anal Blast/Skinless/Malignancy/Reprobation

The Aftershock; Chicago, IL

Thursday, July 29, 1999

By: Altara Blakthorne

This was a two set show thing, First all ages then 21 and up. The bands played two sets. The schedule of who played when was all messed up, cause a lot of the bands were late. The band Skinless showed up really early like 12:30 pm, they must have not known how long it would take to drive from New York to Chicago. When they got to The Aftershock they started drinking, so by the time the show started they were pretty much drunk. All the bands were really great. The owner of the club was a total ASSHOLE. Everytime someone would go outside in the back he would tell them to go back inside or they would have to leave. He was freaking out cause there were people there that weren’t 21, but he had all the alcohol locked up and no one was drinking. So who knows what his problem was, no one was doing anything wrong. When I came in Skinless was playing. They came all the way from New York. Very brutal band and they put on an excellent show and you couldn’t even tell they were drunk. The vocals were awesome. They are just a really great band, very intense and tight.

Now when Anal Blast played, it was insane. Don Decker is really crazy but a great guy and vocalist. He was already pissed off that night due to people not knowing how to give directions this place. This place was 5 minutes from his Chicago store and it took an hour to get there cause no one can give directions. So I wouldn’t have been surprised if he gave up and didn’t play, but they played anyways. They killed and everyone loved it, I love his vocal style. He would walk around in the crowd, since it was club he was able to do that. Then one point he went to an area no one was at and just laid down while he was singing, it was really awesome. All the other bands did perform the all ages show but Reprobation cause members were missing. After the all ages show they told everyone to go outside, so I guess they could everything ready for the 21 and up show.

So when everyone went back in; we started drinking. Anal Blast left and didn’t do the 21 and over show. The owner basically told them they were kicked out. But they did come back to bring me my stuff since I came with them from Nightfall Records. Cumchrist wasn’t going to play the 2nd set cause all band members were pissed (And other bands were too) and Dan (vocals) was losing his voice. Things calmed down and everyone was getting drunk especially me. At one point I was told I fell in like slow motion and both Dan and Jim (Fleshgrind) looked at each other and laughed. Jim told me “it was quite funny.”

Reprobation were able to play finally. I don’t remember watching them play, but of course I heard them and they are a great band. And Malignancy put on a killer show as well, that band is really great live. The band was really into it which made the crowd get into it more. If it wasn’t at this club I’m sure a mosh pit would have formed.

Cephalic Carnage is absolutely a must see band. If you haven’t heard the band get the CD cause it is kick ass. And if you ever get the chance go see them live cause they put on a great show. I absolutely LOVE this band, they kill and are so tight and are really into their hydro grind style. They have finally have a bass player now, Jawsh, who joined the band in January. Steve is awesome, he kills on guitars and so does Zac. Jawsh, the new bass player is great as well and he also does some vocals. But of course we cant forgot the vocals Lenzig who is great as well. And the drummer John kicks major ass. You gotta love their grinding style. They really get into. Go see them live when you get the chance too.

Cumchrist did end up playing this band kicks major ass, even though Dan was losing his voice, I think he did an awesome show. The first set he wore his

gauntlets. While he sings or screams (whichever way you put it) he really gets into the music and you can tell by his face expressions. The song titles just fuckin Rule nothing better, he also sometimes looks like he’s really pissed off when he’s signing. I was really blown away by them when they played and really into this band. This is another tight band, that you got to see. They don’t use any types of props or stage performance. Just pure fucking Death Metal getting out all the anger, hatred and passion they feel for the love of their music. But you can tell this band just really gets into the music.

After they played the drummer Garrett comes up to me and says “Well we made him play!” But of course after that Dan totally lost his voice. All bands killed and kept the metal alive. But they will NOT play at this club again. The owner will be disappointed cause we wont make that much money at any other shows that go on there since it’s usually blues. And after what happened I doubt any Chicago or IL band will book a show there. So it’s the owner’s loss for being an ASSHOLE at the BEST show at his club EVER. If you ever get the check out these bands live especially Cephalic Carnage, Anal Blast and Cumchrist!!!

Dimmu Borgir/Samael/Monstrosity/Epoch of Unlight

State Theater; St. Pete, FL

Tuesday, September 28, 1999

by: Altara Blakthorne

When I arrived to the show Monstrosity had already played, which pissed me off cause that was my main reason of going to the show. So then I went to the bar to get a drink where I saw my friend Gene (Angelcorpse) so I hung out with him most the night.

Then Dimmu Borgir was playing so I went to watch them. They had their faces painted in corpse paint and the leather clothing and all the gear on, which I love and I think all Black Metal bands should do for the stage. Dimmu Borgir is a great band and really good live too. The sound was really good and the show was just really awesome.

After they played me and my friend Schrisma were talking to my friend Gene. We didnt go in to see Samael cause that was just a joke. Samael show just sucked (we heard it from by the bar), we though we were at a fire show cause at one point we went in to just see what was going on and all we saw was fire and lights and stuff so that was just ridiculous.

So besides Samael the show was pretty good, or well what I saw of it, which was basically just Dimmu Borgir. It was cool anytime that I can get drunk so, hey who cares. And after the show everyone hung out for awhile.

Burning Inside/Angelcorpse/Diabolic/Immolation

Brass Mug; Tampa, FL

Sunday; October 3, 1999

by: Altara Blakthorne

The show started about 9:30, the first band that played was Burning Inside (I remember them cause I interviewed them a few years back.) Burning Inside is a Black Metal band, and they are pretty good. They were very tight and put on an awesome show... even though there wasnt much of a pit at this time. Everyone was getting drunk; including me so the first band there was much of a crowd yet.

The when Angelcorpse played which is; in my opinion one of the best Florida bands around (they are original from Kansas City). They are evil on the recordings, but when they played live they are even more evil and they really put on a great show. I love this band. Angelcorpse, had a crowd going and the pit was great as well.

Diabolic, this is another Florida band that I can see hitting it and becoming very well known soon. They a great band and the live shows are intense as well. They had their spike boots on and all. They, also had a good pit going during their set. People seemed to be all into them, that is why I can see this band going somewhere in the future. So if you havent yet, check this band out.

Immolation really had the best pits and the crowd went wild. This band is from New York and people down here in Florida just love them. I will say that their set was brutal (as a death metaller would say). The band even thanked the other bands that played that night.

This was a very good show and the pits were insane. There were even some guys that were fighting, and one guy was bleeding from a piercing he took out, it was kool. The bands were great and everyone there was really into them.

Impurity/The Wicked/Lunar Reign

K & K; Ocala, FL

Friday; October 15, 1999

by: Altara Blakthorne

This was kind of a fucked up night due to we were expecting a hurricane to hit that night or the next morning; which never happened. But that is why not a lot of people came out for the show.

First band to play was Impurity, who put on a great brutal death show. Even though it was a small town and not too many are into the scene in this town anymore. But they played the best they could, there was a small pit going on to add to the brutal show.

Next band to played was The Wicked, and in my opinion this band totally sucks so bad. Nothing seemed original. I just couldnt get into the band and they bored me. I definitely couldnt wait till the band was done playing. I felt like taking a knife and just pooping my eyes out with it and putting them in my mouth and play with my eye balls for awhile. So you are definitely not missing anything.

Well I guess after The Wicked played almost everyone their got caught smoking weed and were arrested. So that just adds to the night. But some people did stay around to see Lunar Reign play; which is a great band. They had the corpse paint and one member had spikes on they had torches and fire spitting which is a great black metal thing to do. Even though there werent many people there they still played and did a evil set. This band deserves to be noticed so everyone needs to check them out.... So anyone interested in the band please do. They are recording their full length now.