JUNE 6th, 2023
THE DECIBEL MAGAZINE TOUR

Review By: Metal Mom Rita
Photo Gallery By: Char Tupper
http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/the-decibel-magazine-tour-2023/

Metaltitans' own, "MetalMom" steps out to cover The Decibel Magazine tour featuring Dark Funeral, Cattle Decapitation, 200 Stab Wounds, and Blackbraid at The Vogue Theater here in Vancouver, BC. 

The Vogue Theatre is a historic site, 82 years old, and holds 1,280 people. Fun fact, the first performer was Dal Richards in April of 1941. It is also said to have a shadowy figure in the basement around the dressing rooms. would be interesting to ask musicians whom have performed here. Has anyone seen this shadow?  Maybe someday we will have to do some digging on that, for now, let's get on with the show.

Headliners tonight were none other than DARK FUNERAL,  the  "Ineffable Kings of Black Metal", established 1993 out of Stockholm, SWE, 30 years they have been taking us to hell and back. There was much anticipation waiting, the lights dimmed, there was silence, and then they had our attention since the first note, with the crowd cheering and raising their horns.  They have mastered their craft, and they execute it to perfection for all of us. There were songs from the past as well as the present, and I enjoyed every one of them. I could tell the fans enjoyed too, in fact,  some so much they had to do some crowd surfing. Dark Funeral never fail to entertain, and keep us focused on what they are doing on stage. I hope you had the chance to witness this extreme metal,  I do have to say though, I am not really a black metal fan, but when you have the talent, the lyrics, the thundering bass riffs mixed with guitars, blast beats, and vocals to pull it all together mixed with melody, it simply flows and sounds great. I am hooked.

Direct support was CATTLE DECAPITATION. They hit the stage next, to another full, crazy metal crowd. The first time I saw them was back in 2009 in New Westminster, BC. A long time ago for sure, and a much larger venue to a much larger crowd. Sadly when it came to visual, mine as well have turned off the lights, since they had little to no front lighting. It might not matter to some (photographers are angry! haha) , but for me, nothing better than seeing their faces performing, watching them do what they love doing. The crowd knew what they liked, some crushing breakdowns, the band didn't hold anything back, they gave it all.

Cleveland death metal quartet 200 STAB WOUNDS is next, wow, the floor has filled to capacity for these guys, and me, well again, haven't seen them perform before. Sadly their banner had more light shinning on it than the band. Very similar to several American Death metal bands,nothing really "original", which is fine, but I enjoy more if they have their own sound, they played their set to screaming fans, and that is what it is all about, the fans getting their night of the band they like.

The opening band tonight is BLACKBRAID, I hadn't heard of them before, but here is a little fact for you  . . they are an American black metal project from the Adirondack Mountains, New York, formed in 2022. The unique project is the solo endeavor of its creator, Jon Krieger. Krieger is Native American and is also known by his pseudonym Sgah’gahsowáh (how to pronounce it: SKA-Gah-SoW-Ah), a Mohawk name meaning "the witch hawk". I wondered why when they started their set there were indigenous drums playing in the background.  I think I missed out on their live experience because it was poorly lit as well. I could not see their faces or visual aspects that tied in the Indigenous aspect, which again, why bother having stage gear and face paint, if you don't turn the lights on so everyone can see?  What a shame. Their music was good though, unique to the bill, but suiting for the black metal aspect, a fitting band for the line-up,  just would have been more epic to visually see them on stage.