Concert Reviews

Bloodywood: Concert Review Pittsburgh, PA

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2023

In a realm of modern music overflowing with musical genres, there are few bands that possess a unique sonic force that defies categorization while leaving listeners spellbound and yearning for more. One such band is Bloodywood. They are a musical force that blends cultural heritage with a relentless fusion of metal, hip-hop, and traditional Indian rhythms.

As a band, they are carving a distinctive path and leaving an indelible mark on the modern musical landscape. Their raw energy, cultural fusion, and a fearless spirit of rebellion is a testament to the transformative power of music, transcending boundaries and uniting people from all corners of the globe. With their infectious energy and thought-provoking lyrics, the band has built an ardent following, igniting a revolution that stretches far beyond the realm of music or the shores of any country.

Born in the vibrant streets of New Delhi, India, in 2016, Bloodywood showcases their unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries, both musically and socially, as they fearlessly tackle pressing issues and ignite conversations.

The sonic odyssey of Bloodywood graced the stage of the Roxian Theater in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, which is nestled in the shadow of Pittsburgh only a short distance down the Ohio River from the infamous Steel City.

The show opened with a blast of energy from the British duo WARGASM, whose stage presence was undeniable. Sam Matlock, Milkie Way, and company tore through an unadulterated set of nu-metal tracks tinged with punk and electronica that included “Super Fiend”, “D.R.I.L.D.O”, and “Rage All Over”. They followed up with the video sensation “Fukstar” and wound down the set with some crowd surfing and a cover of N*E*R*D’s “Lapdance” and closed out the set with the track “Spit”.

After a brief break in the mayhem, Vended made the stage rumble to life. Their agro-metal induced a great deal of similarity to early Slipknot, and that is not surprising given that frontman Griffen Taylor is the son of Slipknot’s Corey Taylor and Simon Crahan is the son of percussionist Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan. The band sounded tight and featured competent song composition; however, the vocalist needed to learn how to work the stage. It was as if his shoes were nailed to the floor at center stage.

As stage lighting flickered to life, the crowd prepared to be immersed in a symphony of cultural fusion, electrifying riffs, and unapologetic lyrics. We all knew that we were about to experience something quite special. As the sonic saga began, drummer Vishesh Singh sat behind his kit, awash in blue and purple lights, as the anticipation grew more intense. The intro track for “Gaddaar” echoed throughout the theater before the bombastic bass, gnarly guitar riffs, and the thump of the drums shook the walls as the entire band burst onto the stage to metaphorically say, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an electrifying evening filled with raw energy enshrined in a mesmerizing tapestry of sound that defies conventions.”

The crowd began losing themselves in the pounding intensity, their bodies moving in sync with each thunderous beat as Sarthak Pahwa wailed away on his dhol. The band seamlessly migrates from the thunderous “”Gaddaar” to “BSDK.exe” from their most recent release Rakshak that couples a more hip-hop vibe on the verses with a crushing guitar rhythm from Karan Katiyar throughout the rest of the track.

Adorned in their fusion of metal attire and traditional Indian clothing, twin vocalists Jayant Bhadula (vocals and growls) and Raoul Kerr (rap vocals) commanded a powerful presence as they ran through “Aaj” with its hypnotic flute licks and downright brutal lead vocals. The five minute long song pushed the audience into heightened frenzy before slapping them across the chin with “Dana Dan”. Which had Raoul Kerr rapping/screaming “I put a fist through the face of a rapist and yeah, I taped this. For the viewing pleasure of the nameless faces he disgraces.”

Up next was the more mellow and chill track “Jee Veerey” that featured more of Karan Katiyar’s enigmatic flute playing along with a more melodic yet still intense vocal delivery from Jayant Bhadula as he sang in his native tongue.

The track “Zanjeero Se” was followed by “Machi Bhasad (Expect a Riot)” which truly showcased the rhythmic prowess of drummer Vishesh Singh and dhol master Sarthak Pahwa. It was so enthralling to watch Sarthak perform on such a simplistic instrument and to make it so vibrant and energetic. His playing transports Bloodywood’s music to a completely different level.

As the set reached its crescendo, it was obvious that the sweat-drenched band had poured their hearts and souls into every note. Wrapping up their set was the sing-along inducing “Ari Ari” that left the crowd breathless and drenched in the passion that radiated from the stage.

But… There is more. As an encore, the band jumps back in to the opening track “Gaddaar” thus cranking up the mosh-pit’s intensity to eleven, causing every person down front to expel every ounce of remaining energy from their bodies.

It was incredibly refreshing to see a band that, in some magical way is able to unite people regardless of age, background, or nationality. To see people connected by their love of the music and a band. The shared experience created an atmosphere of camaraderie and acceptance, where strangers become friends, and barriers dissolve in the face of the music.

Unfortunately, this was the last stop on Bloodywood’s North American tour, save some festival dates. Hopefully, they will be returning to the states soon. If you have the opportunity to see them live, do not sleep on it. I promise you will not be disappointed.

In the meantime you can get more info at: www.bloodywood.net/

About Author

Josh Drespling

Josh is the Publisher and creator of Empire Extreme and it’s sister publication Kingdom Extreme Magazine. He is an accomplished writer, photographer and graphic designer. He is always conjuring up new ideas and has a amazing passion for the music industry and all the things that surround it.

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Concert Reviews

Paleface Swiss Pittsburgh Show Review

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2025

George Archibald

A packed crowd gathered outside the Roxian Theater in Pittsburgh tonight for The Cursed Tour featuring Paleface Swiss, Stick to Your Guns, and Nasty. The crowd was lined up across the front of the venue and several blocks down the street, with all types ready to get out their weekly frustrations this Friday eve. Hardcore, deathcore, and beatdown will be the soundtrack to usher in the weekend for all in attendance tonight.

Nasty would kick off things; this band comes from Belgium and has a metalcore/beatdown sound to them. Nasty also released their latest EP on March 14th, called Black My Heart, which features a single with tourmates Paleface Swiss entitled ‘Talk.’ From the first note, Nasty cranked the energy to 11, heavy riffs and fast, heavy vocals coming right down the barrel. The pit was going hard and fast with bodies careening into each other for the whole set. The band was just as energetic, pacing the stage while performing and running across the stage; vocalist Mathias even jumped down into the crowd for a part of the set.

With the crowd now primed and firing, Stick to Your Guns took the stage next. This Californian hardcore outfit dropped an album in early 2025 entitled Keep Planting Flowers. Their high-energy set had this Pittsburgh crowd bouncing to every song. The pit kept turning as crowd surfers were starting to come over the barricade now. The band played through many of their hits, “Invisible Rain”, “Keep Planting Flowers”, and “Spineless”, before wrapping up.

Paleface Swiss took the stage in a fury of angst. As soon as the lights rose after Un Pobre Nino Murio finished, the venue was in chaos. Vocalist Marc Zelli Zellweger ripped right into “Hatred”, pacing the stage as the crowd whipped into a frenzy. The music was fast and heavy as security had their hands full with moshers, crowd surfers, and occasional injuries along the way. The band played through “Nail to the Tooth”, “The Gallow”, and “Rivers of Sorrow” before throwing the crowd into another gear with “Please End Me”. The pace was unrelenting as the band came back out for an encore, closing out with the single Love Burns.

If you are looking for a fast-paced, heavy show, mark off the calendar to see The Cursed Tour. These bands came to play their asses off, and you won’t be able to stand still the whole show.

About Author

George Archibald

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Concert Reviews

KIM DRACULA/Hanabie SilverSpring Maryland Show Review

Published

2 weeks ago

March 20, 2025

Ron

AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN COLLIDE TO BRING THE USA SOME KICK ASS MUSIC AND FUN.

Kim Dracula, alongside Hanabie and Crystal Lake, came into the Filmore in Silver Spring, Maryland, and brought the right kind of entertainment that we so needed.

Crystal Lake put on a super intense and chaotic live show. With super insane riffs and brutal drums, Crystal Lake opened up the show perfectly, getting the crowd into a frenzy. This was my first time seeing the band, and they brought the fierceness of the metal genre with them.

Hanabie was next, and this was my second time getting to see them. I saw them last year when they toured with Jinjer. They are a perfect mix of metal, K-pop, and all-around fun. These girls not only know how to entertain and put on a show, they also play their instruments with perfection. Such a great blend of vocals from sweet and innocent playfulness to guttural growls. The crowd was loving them, and they have such a huge following in America, and I only see them getting even bigger.

Kim Dracula was the headliner, and this was my first time seeing the band. I’m kinda new to the whole Kim Dracula scene but have jumped on board right away with their mix of music and odd and weirdness they bring to the stage. I’m an old head, so for the younger generation, the closest I could say is that Kim Dracula reminds me of Mr. Bungle with a new generation twist. The show was fun, and damn, Kim is such a phenomenal persona. Not only is it amazingly entertaining, but what an amazing voice! Kim Dracula goes from metal screams to deep voice talking to crazy fast raps to singing high chops like Rob Halford. I was surprised to hear not one but two covers. Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow” and Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.”

Not only do you get this amazing music and musicians on stage, but then all of a sudden the song breaks out into a saxophone solo. WHAT?? So I encourage everyone to go see Kim Dracula when they tour in your area; you won’t be disappointed.

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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Concert Reviews

TERRIFYING NORTH AMERICA

Published

4 weeks ago

March 4, 2025

George Archibald

Terrifying North America Tour featuring Aborted, Ingested, Peeling Flesh, and Extermination Dismemberment at Preserving in New Kensington, PA, 3-2-2025

It was a bitterly cold Sunday, a biting cold as death metal fans lined the sidewalk in front of the old church, which is Preserving Records in New Kensington, Pa. Tonight the Terrifying North America Tour brings death metal veterans Aborted back to the Burgh. Aborted have frequented the Pittsburgh area over the last few years, having played the Roxian and building a solid fan base within the city. Along with Aborted is English death metal act Ingested. Also a season veteran in the genre, Ingested returns to the states with new vocalist Josh Davies and new guitarist Andrew Virrueta. Also opening up the tour is Extermination Dismemberment and Peeling Flesh, two bands making their rise in the scene.

Extermination Dismemberment kicked off the show. This band didn’t waste any time, grinding and slamming out of the gate; the pit was churning immediately. The band welcomed everyone for coming and made everyone aware they came from Belarus to kick their asses. The songs were filled with double bass, snare blasts, and fast-paced grinds; enough to make any hardcore enthusiast’s ears perk. When the band kicked into “Corpsepit”, the crowd was jumping up and down in unison before breaking out into chaos. The band closed out their set with “Omnivore”.

Peeling Flesh was up next; this band has been gaining quite a bit of attention in the scene lately. Having appeared on the Garza Podcast and hitting the road hard has helped in growing their following. Another slam from the start and count the bodies later band, Peeling Flesh came out in a fury. Pit churning, limbs flying, as straight out the game the band was bringing heat. “Mr. Nasty Time”, “12 Gauge Autopsy”, and “Bodega Bloodbath” really got the crowd moving. The band will throw samples and hip-hop beats in at times, then, like whiplash, head into another slamming breakdown. With snare bombs going off and bodies careening, it is like watching a car crash unfold.

UK death metal veterans Ingested took to the stage, opening things up with “Titanomachy”. New vocalist Josh Davies is full of energy and fits well into the shoes of former vocalist Jason Evans. The band sounded mean; slams and fast-paced breaks kept the crowd on its toes. These veterans know how to work a crowd, as surfers were now making their way onto the stage. Newest single “Alter of Flesh” really got the bodies moving; the band kept up the energy ripping through “Invidious” and “Cremated Existence” before closing with a wall of death on “Skinned and Fucked”.

Closing out the night was Aborted. The crowd was all fired up and had eagerly been awaiting these masters of macabre to take the stage. Vocalist Sven De Caluwe paced the stage like a madman. Known for his high-energy live shows, this crowd wouldn’t get a rest during the set. The band’s setlist was filled with heavy hitters; “Retrogore”, “Dreadbringer”, and “Death Cult” made the pit sway and churn. The band continued the mayhem, playing through “The Shape of Hate” before ending with “Hecatomb”.

Pittsburgh was such a gracious host for the Terrifying North America Tour. The crowd was enthusiastic, and the energy never dropped. If you are looking for a heavy death metal show to get the blood moving, this is the tour for you.