But when the guys went back in metal history and played an up tempo, thrashed up version of Motörhead’s ‘Ace Of Spades’ the people got a lot more enthusiastic. Viu Drakh seemed to have some problems convincing people on a big stage but their attempt was quite alright.

Severe Torture
Severe Torture is certainly a band that has made quite a name for itself in The Netherlands and abroad. They recently released a new album called ‘Misanthropic Carnage’ which has caused them to get even more attention as the cover artwork seemed to be shocking enough to get banned in some countries.

The set consisted mainly of songs from ‘Feasting On Blood’ and ‘Misanthropic Carnage’. Although one can’t deny the abilities of the band it seemed to me the set went on auto pilot. It seemed as if they have toured so long that it is more or less routine to play and get response.

It wasn’t hard for Severe Torture to get the audience in front of the stage but there was no real heavy action in the pit. Something we would get to see later that night.

Dew-Scented
It was time to eat up your spaghetti and listen to Morricone’s man with the harmonica. After this western intro Dew-Scented went on thrashing brutally while more and more metalheads found their place right in front of the stage.

Dew-Scented looked very eager to play. Just before they started the song ’Idolized’ the singer said “If you get a pit going you really make my day” and thus it happened. The rest of the evening would be filled with slamming pits. Dew-Scented’s set primarily consisted of songs from their latest album ‘Inwards’. Amongst others: ‘Locked In Motion’, ‘Life Ending Path’, ‘Feeling Not’, ‘Inwards’ and their ode to Death Metal ‘Reprisal’.

They ended the set with ‘War Ensemble’. That got the crowd really going wild. The pit was furious and you could hear people screaming along with Slayer’s legendary song.

Cannibal Corpse
The crowd was already warmed up for the main act of the evening. All the previous acts had a killer P.A.-sound so it was no surprise Cannibal Corpse had a perfect sound as well. To add it all up the response from the audience was even more intense.

At first it seemed to me Cannibal Corpse primarily played on auto pilot too but as the set was progressing it was clear that the more people began to mosh the more the band got loose. Besides some evil looks bestowed upon some crazy stage divers singer Fisher looked very content.

The set contained the necessary classics like ‘Devoured By Vermin’, ‘Stripped, Raped and Strangled’, ‘Gutted’, ‘Addicted to Vaginal Skin’, ‘Meat Hook Sodomy’ and many more as the set was long enough. It also contained newer songs like ‘Drowning In Viscera’, ‘Pit Of Zombies’ and ‘Dormant Bodies Bursting’.

They lost the slamming part of the public a bit playing the newer songs but regained them as soon as ‘I will Kill You’ and ‘Perverse Suffering’ ripped through the amps. The set ended in style with ‘Staring Through The Eyes Of The Dead’, ‘Compelled To Lacerate’ and of course ‘A Skull Full of Maggots’. The latter ended up in a massive pit.

This was definitely one of the most attractive Cannibal Corpse gigs I have seen. A medium venue with close contact with the audience and a good sound serves Cannibal Corpse well.

(Review: Wilfred de Zoete
Pics: Sebastien Sam)