WRITTEN & PHOTOS BY: KARA BRADIMORE
On October 28th, 2018, adults of all ages packed in Toronto's Opera House for a night of brutal metal. Making fans SCREAM this time, Genocide Pact, Gatecreeper, Incantation and headliner, Dying Fetus.
I was excited so to cover this show and seeing how quickly the venue filled up too made me anxious to get started. Surprisingly there were no barricades set up in place and I didn't want to become mashed potatoes, but these are the sort of concerts I live for. I told the night to "Bring it", got my gear all set up and prepared myself for bruises and a possible hearing impairment. Please, who wears earplugs to metal shows? Pfft, "Bring it."Â
Genocide Pact, a Death Metal band from Washington D.C, were first to take the stage and absolutely prepped the rowdy crowd for the party ahead. Full of brutal guitar riffs and powerfully aggressive voacals, Genocide Pact had the audience right up front from their first song to the very last and getting wild. Their set was an excellent way to start the night out. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify.
Gatecreeper, a Death Metal band from Arizona had a bunch of fans in the crowd, including a super-fan who I happened to be standing beside at one point. This guy was ecstatic to see the band and probably threw his neck out from headbanging so hard. Truthfully I was a little jealous that I had all my equipment and couldn't join in because these guys put on a deadly performance. Any possible injuries that would have resulted from getting rough in the circle pit would have been well worth it. With insane Death Growls and punching breakdowns, Gatecreeper put on an awesome set. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify.
Incantation, a Death/Black Metal band from New Jersey, may not have been the nights headliners, but they were the band that I was looking forward to seeing the most. Bringing the brutality from the first note on, these guys didn't disappoint in the slightest. Calling on the crowd and urging merciless pits to form throughout the main floor of the venue, Incantation delivered a wicked whiplash-worthy performance. So good in fact, that the crowd called out for an encore that was unfortunately denied due to time restrictions. Incantation wickedly seduced me to the dark-side and put on a set I won't be forgetting anytime soon. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify.
Dying Fetus, a Death Metal band from Maryland was the headliner for the night and brought out a crowd of metal heads that may have varied in age, but all held the same love for the scene. Halfway through the first song and people were taking advantage of the lack of barricades; fans climbed on stage and dove off. Some were caught, others were not and were left to climb their way up peoples legs to fresh air again. I would be lying if I said there wasn't some amusement found in that, but a few bruises are expected here and there at these kind of concerts!
Dying Fetus may be a three piece band, but they have the heavy sound of a larger group. Playing heavy track after heavy track, their powerful energy radiated throughout the venue and deep and slamming breakdowns had everyone going nuts. It was clear to see why they are, and have been, one of the most influential and respected bands in the metal scene. Their set was overwhelmingly amazing and this whole night just goes to prove that metal is still alive and well in Toronto. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube,  Spotify.
