Rockfreaks.net

support Rivers Of Nihil + Ingested + Distant
author MN date 13/11/23 venue Amager Bio, Copenhagen, DEN

It feels like a lifetime since I last had the privilege of reviewing shows, given my recent step into life as a father. Thus, it comes as no surprise that my plate has been full, to say the least. Now that things have settled down, however, I can re-enter the reviewing game with a double hitter in two vastly different genres. First up on this cold November night is pure deathcore debauchery in the form of four bands, with the hugely popular Lorna Shore set to play their very first headlining gig in Denmark in the Danish capital.

Who are the new torchbearers of modern metal, you might ask? And some would say none are as relevant and praised as Lorna Shore. Despite being formed in 2009, the band has become a total sensation with a massive following on social media, anchored by their enigmatic and charismatic frontman, Will Ramos. My first thought upon entering a jam-packed Amager Bio venue is that there is a lot of young people in the crowd. The sheer excitement and reverence this young crowd have towards one of the most extreme forms of metal is invigorating, to say the least. Indeed, it seems that in 2023 extreme metal is alive and well. Is it even becoming more mainstream? Tonight’s bill is packed with an eclectic mix of bands, of which the dutch outfit Distant are set to take the stage first. Lights out. Action.

Distant

Hailing from Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Bratislava in Slovakia, Distant blends snarling and gritty deathcore with omnipresent breakdowns and elements of traditional death metal to construct a world of rib-rattling heaviness. Sparing no expense of energy, the quintet come roaring onto the stage with a tantalizing volume, immediately throwing the crowd into sheer frenzy. Vocalist Alan Grnja exudes an infectious energy and charisma, and quickly commands circle pits and walls of death in the crowd. Set highlights include “Oedipism” and “Hellmøuth” from their 2021 début record “Aeons of Oblivion”, while the recently released, thumping “Born of Blood” has the venue experience its own tectonic movements. The sound is heavy, insistent and deliciously calibrated.

Given that the bill tonight includes four bands, Distant gives us a solid albeit short taste to their soundscape, but their performance provides a great first chapter of the night. What makes a good opening act? As we all know, first impressions are important, and Distant have set a seriously positive tone for the rest of the night.

Ingested

Next up is Manchester-based Ingested, entering the stage after a short interval. Ingested have been bashing out death metal tinged with modern elements of deathcore since 2006. With a solid six records to their name, the Britons are a seasoned outfit with tremendous experience. Unfortunately, the sound is a bit of a mess in the beginning of the performance, despite a genuinely enthusiastic effort from vocalist Jason Evans, who charms his way through the initial sound issues. At the onset of “Invidious” from the band’s 2018 offering “The Level Above Human”, we get a full broadcast of this band’s phenomenal technical prowess. Especially drummer Lynn James bashes the living hell out of his set, while guitarist Sean Hynes chugs away in unison.

I initially labelled this as a night in the name of deathcore, but there is actually some distinct differences to be found within the line-up tonight. Ingested seem to embody a more rusty and old-school sound in their approach. I’m sure there are some fans in the audience who appreciate Ingested’s groovier style. “Echoes of Hate” off the group’s latest album, 2022’s “Ashes Lie Still”, culminates the quartet’s set. It was a decent performance, but I reckon Ingested would fare better in a headlining capacity.

Rivers Of Nihil

Rivers of Nihil have ventured over the Atlantic to join their country brothers in Lorna Shore on this tour. Last time this band performed in Denmark, they did so at the much smaller venue Stengade. This time, however, they perform as a supporting artist and not the headliner. Rivers of Nihil have me intrigued from the get-go, as the band opens with the imposing “The Silent Life” from their 2018 outing “Where Owls Know My Name”, a song which encompasses a lot what makes this outfit so special: odd time signatures, furious blastbeats, interludes with vivacious guitar, and even some smouldering saxophone. Rivers of Nihil have plenty of progressive elements, which is perfect showcased by a collected and tight-knit harmony between guitarist Brody Uttley and bassist Adam Biggs.

Drummer Jared Klein impresses me by virtue of his ability to command complex drum rhythms and still deliver commendable clean vocals during songs like the titular “Where Owls Know My Name” and the band’s recent single “The Sub-Orbital Blues”, a duo that concludes a solid set of technical death metal from the Pennsylvania-based outfit. I’ll be looking to check them out at a headlining show of their own should the opportunity arise again soon.

Lorna Shore

At the strike of 9 p.m. the concert room gets properly packed and steaming with anticipation as we await tonight’s headliners. Lorna Shore are tirelessly rolling on the success of their critically acclaimed “Pain Remains” album from 2022, which, along with their hugely successful EP “…And I Return to Nothingness”, has catapulted the new Jersey outfit to stardom. With the onset of the woodwind-laden “Welcome Back, O’ Sleeping Dreamer”, I immediately notice that the sound has been cranked up to the max. Oh boy, this is going to be loud. Unfortunately, the first two songs drown in a cacophony of treble, with a severe lack of depth in the bass department. I start to fear the worst. Luckily the beginning of the organ-infused “…And I Return to Nothingness” makes all my worries dissipate instantly, as the soaring blastbeats, coupled with frontman Will Ramos´ shrieks, snarls and growls from the abyss mesmerize the crowd. Half venture into a furious moshpit with circle pits galore, whilst the other half stand swaying in a form of trance. The common denominator for all of us is pure catharsis, a cleansing that only the best of extreme metal can supply.

Fan favourite “Sun//Eater” is performed to the sheer delight of the audience. Lorna Shore’s ability to envelope the most sensuous melodies into a veil of pure brutality is expertly expressed in this heavy-hitter from their most recent record. Austin Archey plays his drums with the precision of a surgeon and impresses me as one of the best performers of the entire night. To absolutely no one’s surprise, the set culminates in the three-part “Pain Remains” symphony, which is perhaps one of the strongest finishes to a deathcore album, ever. No one can deny Ramos’ incredible pipes and technical prowess as a metal vocalist. In many ways the young lad sets the bar high for future prospective metal singers. Led by his talent, tonight’s performance will go down as one of the most memorable deathcore shows in my many years as a concertgoer. My only gripe with remains that I feel that a night filled with four bands who, in their own ways, have only scratched the surface of what they can achieve on a stage, does not give them enough time to showcase their abilities to the fullest. I’m not insinuating that each performance needs to be a marathon, but I’m sure I am not the only one who hungered for more Lorna Shore tonight.

Setlist:

• 1. Welcome Back, O’ Sleeping Dreamer
• 2. Of the Abyss
• 3. …And I Return to Nothingness
• 4. Sun//Eater
• 5. Cursed to Die
• 6. Immortal
• 7. Into the Earth
• 8. To the Hellfire

— Encore —

• 9. Pain Remains I: Dancing Like Flames
• 10. Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done, I’ll Disappear
• 11. Pain Remains III: In a Sea of Fire