Dying Fetus + Revocation & Cerebral Bore - Norwich Waterfront - 17th September 2012

First of all I would like to apologise for taking so long to: A. put up another review, and B. review this gig which happened about 2 weeks ago. I've had plenty of work to deal with and was away with family all weekend, more reviews will follow in the next day or so.

Now, onto the main event...

After falling in love with Dying Fetus due to Reign Supreme, their monster release from earlier this year, I leapt at the chance to see them live along with two other upcoming bands I'm a huge fan of: Cerebral Bore and Revocation. So myself and a group of friends undertook the hour long trip to Norwich and made our way to the Waterfront, where I was surprised to learn two things. Firstly, death metal wasn't nearly as popular here as it was with my friends at home, in a small market town with no venues of its own for musical entertainment. Secondly, the gig was to take place upstairs in the Waterfront, in a room that had a capacity of roughly 200 people at best.

Upon arriving I was slightly dismayed that a band of Dying Fetus' calibre was confined to such a small room, however when Cerebral Bore (9) took to the stage I realised that it didn't fucking matter at all.

Vocalist Simone "Som" Pluijmers & guitarist Paul McGuire

From the first note of "Maniacal Miscreation" to the closing screams of "24 Year Party Dungeon", incidentally one of my favourite song titles ever, Cerebral Bore don't let up, even though vocalist Som is showing signs of jet lag after their lengthy stint on the summer slaughter tour which finished only days ago stateside. They show that venue size clearly doesn't matter and tear us all a new one.

Revocation frontman Dave Davidson

Revocation (8) are a band that I've only recently been introduced to properly but I was very impressed with their performance, and frontman Dave Davidson (sick name or what?) is quite frankly amazing, how he manages to play such intricate music and do vocals is astounding. "Dismantle The Dictator", "Harlot" and "No Funeral" all sound fantastic and show that Revocation are clearly a force to be reckoned with live.

John Gallagher of Dying Fetus

When Dying Fetus (10) get up on stage, they waste no time in tearing straight into "From Womb To Waste", definitely a favourite of mine from Reign Supreme, over the course of their hour long set we are treated to songs from every album in their catalogue, all of which are delivered with power and precision. "Subjected To A Beating", "Skullfucked" and brutal closing number, the hilariously titled "Kill Your Mother/Rape Your Dog" Every sweep and breakdown is perfectly executed, with members John Gallagher, Sean Beasley and Trey Williams all brilliantly talented musicians in perfect sync with each other.

Afterwards, making sure to grab a setlist from the stage, we make our way to the merch stand where we are lucky enough to meet the whole band, making this truly a night to remember. This was truly a great night which proved that even gigs in tiny venues can be great.

On a side note I was especially impressed with my friend Alex, who came with us on the spur of the moment to what turned out to be her first gig, having never listened to Dying Fetus or any of the other bands before. How fucking cool is that??? And she loved it. Just proves that death metal is king and Dying Fetus most certainly reign supreme (see what I did there?).

Dying Fetus Setlist:

1. From Womb To Waste
2. Your Treachery Will Die With You
3. Procreate The Malformed
4. Subjected To A Beating
5. Epidemic Of Hate
6. Skullfucked
7. Tearing Inside The Womb
8. Invert The Idols
9. In The Trenches
10. Homicidal Retribution
11. Pissing In The Mainstream
12. Kill Your Mother/Rape Your Dog

Reign Supreme is out now on Relapse Records
Cerebral Bore's Maniacal Miscreation is out now on Earache Records
Revocation's Chaos Of Forms is out now on Relapse Records