BRINGING HEAVY METAL AND INTERGALACTIC DOMINATION TO THE BURGH’

GWAR WITH CROBOT AND NEKROGOBLIKON

@MR. SMALLS – PITTSBURGH, PA -SEPTEMBER 16th, 2022

Photos and Review by Jason Sealand

How does one prepare themselves for an Intergalactic Invasion of apocalyptic proportions that spews bodily fluids and killer heavy metal riffs? That was the question of the night as I walked around the crowd at Mr. Smalls. Fans of new and old, piled in while giving up their best GWAR stories of shows from the past. Some HAB’S were more prepared than others. I myself have been to a few heavy metal invasions from our intergalactic overlords… I first jumped in the pit around 1997 at The Agora Ballroom in Cleveland. Halloween show if my memory serves correct. It’s been a while though and I wanted to see what the new album, The New Dark Ages was about and the line up of bands had me stoked as well. Let’s just say this assignment did not disappoint!

The night started for me as Crobot took the stage and laid out some uncompromising riff laden high energy rock and roll. The crowd seemed pleased, and I can attest, this is a band you do not want to miss live. Their newest album FEEL THIS released in June is some of their best offerings yet.

After a quick set change, I got the feeling that the next band Nekrogoblikon had landed and brought some fans in tow for support of their latest album, The Fundamental Slimes and Humours, released April 22’. The stage was surrounded, and the buzz was heavy. When the first chords were struck and John Goblikon hit the stage and laid out his best Jesus Christ pose adorned in his Sunday’s best white dress shirt and chinos, the crowd went insane. My second time catching this melodic death metal 6 piece. Yes, 6 guys on the stage at the same time at Mr. Smalls. It is indeed possible and Nekrogoblikon pulled it off and took it to the next level. Some highlights from their set were “Bones” and “The Magic Spider”. It’s been a few months since my ears have been so joyfully pummeled into submission and I feared that GWAR had nowhere to go after this set. But Nekrogoblikon did what they came to do, and the night was not over yet…

The crowd without a doubt needed a break after this set and as soon as it did you could feel the anticipation build for what was to come. I mean, it’s one thing to hear GWAR’s music on a record. It’s another thing entirely to see them live and experience the guts, blood, gore, and good times that is had. I myself wasn’t sure on how they would start out. The venue was covered in black plastic and fans adorned in white t-shirts and goggles. I was just hoping they would give me and my camera a break and give me the first song to get some shots in before I fell victim to the slaughter.

This was not the case, as a GWAR “fan” that came on stage spewing his hatred for the new version of the band saying they aren’t as good as they used to be. The lead singer, Blöthar the Berserker, faced the “fan” with a giant sword in hand. With one foul swoop, the annoying character was beheaded, and fake blood gushed all over the front row including myself. The band fired up the sonic wave of destruction and laid into their first song of the night, titled “The Cutter” off their new album The New Dark Ages.

I retreated and escaped most of the blood bath and tried to regroup and find a better perch to shoot the band from. I just didn’t know a few minutes later I would be on the side stage almost at arms distance from one of the greatest metal bands in existence.

This 17-song set was most impressive and had a good mix of new and old. The Intergalactic Overloads of Gwar landed in the Burgh’ and slayed most righteously as they enslaved the lot of us with their heavy metal riffage and gore. I’m blown away by how they circled back the ships and landed with such a great album. Check it out here: The New Dark Ages and companion graphic novel “GWAR In The Duoverse of Absurdity”, in which the band are sucked off into an alternate universe to do battle with their evil twins and the specter of rogue technology. while you’re at it check out their documentary This is GWAR .

Signing out from GWAR’s “Black Death Rager World Tour” in the Burgh. Until next time keep it Heavy and stay Metal! \m/

GWAR SETLIST:

THE CUTTER 22′
THE ISSUE OF TISSUE (SPACECAKE) 94′
BRING BACK THE BOMB 04′
NEW DARK AGE 22′
MOTHER FUCKING LIAR 22′
RISE AGAIN 22′
BORED TO DEATH 22′
SADDAM A GO GO 94′
RATCATCHER 22′
WOMB WITH A VIEW 04′
BLACK AND HUGE 88′
VENOM OF THE PLATYPUS 22′
BERSERKER MODE 22′
U AINT SHIT 88′
NONE BUT THE BRAVE 95′
SICK OF YOU 90′
FUCK THIS PLACE 17′

About Author

Jason Sealand

Jason is one of the newest talents that has joined forces with Empire Extreme. Not only is he a skillful photographer and journalist, he is owner and founder of Mad Viking Beard and Mustache Company and Brewtality Coffee Co. www.madvikingbeard.com

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