European Blackened Death and American Death Metal Converge at Paper Tiger
Chaos reigned at Paper Tiger as Belphegor brought forth their Praise The Beast North American Tour. Along with death metal titans Incantation, Polish blackened death metal band HATE, and Narcotic Wasteland, which features veteran frontman Dallas Toler Wade of Nile. Local band Chaotic End opened the show.
Chaotic End
The band is somewhat unique in San Antonio, where there are not many blackened death metal bands, and it is always badass to see them shred. They set up on the floor, which I imagine was because the stage already had two full drum kits on standby for the other bands. But they ripped. Fast blast beats, huge riffs, and crushing vocals set the tone. A perfect fit for the incoming madness.
Narcotic Wasteland
Forming in 2011 does not mean the band lacks experience, especially when frontman Dallas Toler Wade is at the helm. His crushing riffs and vocals differ from his days in Nile but are by no means any less heavy. In fact, paired with the unrelenting barrage of Joseph Howard on drums and Kenji Tsunami on NS Stick bass (as a bass player, holy shit) the assault was completely immersive.
With the entire crowd throwing horns in the air, the trio ripped through tracks such as Faces of Meth, Delirium Tremens, and even classics like Keeping Up With The Jones. It was a sight to behold.
Narcotic Wasteland
HATE
The Polish blackened death metal band did not hold back when it came to both aesthetics and riffs. Donning their signature corpse paint, guitars that looked like disintegrating stone, and enormous banners behind them, there was a slight elegance to the way they approached their set.
Ambient music played before they took the stage, as if priming the crowd for what was to come. Vocalist ATF Sinner commanded the stage, something he has done for more than three decades, alongside newer members Domin on lead guitar, Tiermes on bass, and Nar Sil on drums. Crushing black metal riffs filled the venue as tracks like Erebos and Bellum Regiis echoed off the walls.
HATE
Incantation
“We’re Incantation and we came here to kick your fucking ass with death fucking metal, motherfuckers!”
John McEntee
New York City death metal titans Incantation returned to the heavy metal capital and delivered a blistering set that featured mostly songs from their 1994 album Mortal Throne of Nazarene. Classic death metal remains the bread and butter of the heavy metal scene, and chaos erupted as mosh pits opened up, heads banged relentlessly, and horns filled the air.
John McEntee was relentless and kept the banter to a minimum, simply calling out song titles before diving right back into the next track. Incantation previously played in San Antonio three years ago during their run with Suffocation, but the love they have for the city remains unwavering.
Incantation
Belphegor
The night ended with overwhelming fog and lights as the Austrian overlords headlined the show. The stage was adorned with skulls wearing ceremonial pope hats mounted on stakes, while mic stands were decorated with swords. Belphegor delivered a brutal assault that sent the crowd into circle pits.
From Stigma Diabolicum to Baphomet and Scarlet Beast Leviathan, the band trekked through multiple eras of their catalog, closing out the night in appropriately blasphemous fashion.
Belphegor
Check out the gallery of the night!
