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GWAR’S “Black Death Rager World Tour”

Jason Sealand

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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′

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Concert Reviews

WEDNESDAY 13:THERES NO SUCH THINGS AS MONSTERS MARYLAND SHOW REVIEW

Ron

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MURDER TO THE LEFT…MURDER TO THE RIGHT. HORRAY FOR WEDNESDAY 13, STITCHED UP HEART AND DEAD RABBITS

The Dead Rabbits opened up and started the show off with great music, awesome rabbit masks, and “Escape The Fate” singer Craig Mabbit’s birthday. This was my first time being able to see the band live, and they put on a great show. With songs like “Dead by Daylight,” “Dead Again,” and “Deer in the Headlights,” Dead Rabbits got the crowd pumped for a good time.

Stitched Up Heart was up next, and it had been a while since they played in Maryland. The band has always put on a hell of a show, and singer Mixi always brings such energy and fun to the shows as well. She’s always talking to fans and being genuinely an amazing person. When she’s on the stage, you can tell she’s in her element. The crowd was really getting into them, and the band even got to have a little mosh pit. With songs like “To the Wolves,” “Catch Me When I Fall,” and “Sick Sick Sick,” Stitched Up Heart always puts on a hell of a show and gets the crowd pumped.

The Duke of Spook. MR. MOTHERFUCKING13. WEDNESDAY 13 was up next, and the crowd was ready to be shocked and rocked. Playing a good mix of Muderdolls In the Valley of the MurderDolls and Wednesday 13’s first “solo” album, Transylvania 90210. You know when you go to a Wednesday 13 show you’re gonna hear some fun songs, you’re gonna hear some great songs, and you’re just gonna have fun. I was excited to hear a few songs that I haven’t gotten to hear in a while, like “Ghost of Vincent Price,” “Rambo,” and “God is a Lie.” We also got to hear a few songs off the new album that comes out on April 25th called “Mid Death Crisis,” songs like “When the Devil Commands,” “In Misery,” and “No Apologies.

With the new album coming out Wednesday, Wednesday 13 has a new addition to the band: guitarist Ashes (DevilDriver, Static X) has joined the WED13 camp. Which is awesome because not only is he a good friend, he’s a kick-ass guitarist and just an all-around badass and great guy. Wednesday and the band came out for an encore and gave us a few more songs to bang our heads to, like “Slit My Wrist” and “Love at First Fright,” and ended the night with “I Love to Say Fuck,” in which, during the end of the song, Wednesday broke his umbrella, looked at just the handle, laughed, and used it like he was leading an orchestra.

It was a great night of music and hanging out with great friends. We got to celebrate the lives of MurderDolls Joey Jordison and Ben Graves. And the show just happened to be on Paul Gray’s (Slipknot) birthday.

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Paleface Swiss Pittsburgh Show Review

George Archibald

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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.

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KIM DRACULA/Hanabie SilverSpring Maryland Show Review

Ron

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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.

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