ABORT Magazine™

Live Review: Toxic Holocaust w/ Ancients, Entropia and Dead Asylum – May 18th 2012, Funky Winkerbeans, Vancouver B.C.

Live Review: Toxic Holocaust w/ Ancients, Entropia and Dead Asylum
Friday, May 18th, 2012
Funky Winkerbeans

Dead Asylum is one of those bands that’s hit the ground running. Formed less than a year ago, this melodic death/thrash four-piece has been busy tearing up stages and spreading its name. Despite hitting the stage early in the night, the crowd response was strong. One highlight from the set was the duel guitars and vocals between Mike Lister and Tyler Forde. Catch Dead Asylum this August when they open for Anvil with fellow Vancouver thrash bands Titans Eve and Skullhammer.

Entropia’s been a staple in Vancouver’s local metal scene since forming in 2006. With a driving, heavy thrash sound and back and forth guitar solos courtesy of Mike Fezza and Dave Watson, this band has carved out a distinct style that gives a nod to its predecessors. If the frenzied fist pumps at the front of the stage were any indication, Entropia did a great job getting the crowd riled up. Concluding the set with a cover of Slayer’s “Raining Blood” was a powerful ending to a strong performance.

Ancients is the type of band that can comfortably fit onto any metal bill. While the other bands last night all took on thrash elements in one capacity or another, Ancients stood out with a more ethereal, progressive sound. Despite the difference, Kenny Cook’s (vocals/guitar) brutal growls and commanding melodic singing, with the band’s crushing riffs and unpredictable rhythms kept the bodies moving and all eyes locked on the stage. With a full-length album in the works, Ancients is sure to keep building its reputation as a band to watch out for.

By the time Toxic Holocaust took the stage and jumped into “Metal Attack,” the venue was crammed front to back with drunken, sweaty bodies. Joel Grind (vocals/guitar), Phil Gnaast (bass) and Nicholas T. Rage (drums) wasted no time, hammering out tracks from their entire discography including crowd favorites “666,” “War is Hell,” and “Bitch.”

For those who’ve never set foot in Funky Winkerbeans, imagine a moshpit complete with two giant, solid support beams dissecting the floor. Driven by the toxic thrash metal the crowd took their lives into their own hands destroying each other within this small space. Masters at playing fast and tight, Toxic Holocaust set the pace the whole way, allowing no reprieve. Temporarily ending the set with “The Lord of the Wasteland,” the crowd would not let the band leave without hearing some more. Luckily TH conceded with 2 additional songs, making sure every person in the venue was dead on their feet before the lights came on.

Toxic Holocaust

Ancients

Entropia

Dead Asylum

By: Alxs Ness

WANT MORE LIVE REVIEWS? CLICK HERE

Copyright © 2004-2012 ABORT Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of this publication, in whole or in part, in any form or medium without express written permission from Abort Media Publishing Corporation (AMP Corp.) is prohibited. All use is subject to our Terms of Use.

Comments are closed.