The 10yr anniversary for The Cleansing tour opened up with DC/FL extreme metal band Prison, a group of energized dudes with a heavier sound and big, charming smiles. Lead singer Johnny Crowder dedicated the songs to the “outcasts”, saying near the end of the show that he knew first hand about living with those who suffered, having read about mental illnesses, drug abuse, addiction, depression, suicide- welcoming all those who needed someone to talk to to meet him in the back after the set. Prison’s songs reflect that message and jumpstarted the pit that was to stay open and filled with teens all night.
Tejanos Upon A Burning Body had their own admirers that night- the crowd for them seemed to have arrived just for their set. With obvious Mexican influences and mariachi soundbites in some of their songs, they had a refreshing take on metal that I haven’t heard live since Piñata Protest/Brujeria shows. UaBB’s message was clear- stay true to your roots, stay true to yourself. These night, and an obvious love for Texas. Texas Blood Money and From Dusk Till Dawn seemed to be the crowd favorites.
The entire show’s audience looked to be under 23, but Suicide Silence has always seemed to attract the younger crowd. What struck me was that there was no way this particular audience at Brooklyn Bazaar had been listening to the album since it first dropped in 2007. Suicide Silence is a band that just doesn’t seem to age. They played the album in it’s entirety, dedicating ‘The Disease’ to “our brothers in Prison and also Prison”, ‘Bludgeoned to Death’ to Upon a Burning Body and ‘Girl of Glass’ “to our brother Mitch” (former lead singer who passed away in 2012).
After a few failed attempts by fans to dive off the stage, lead Eddie announced “ALRIGHT, if you’re going to stage dive you’d better f***n’ commit to it or I’m going to punch you in the dick. Or the vagina. Either way!” Needless to say, no one was perturbed by that statement- and the quality (and quantity) of stage dives and antics improved.
As far as deathcore goes, Suicide Silence definitely have set a name and place for themselves in the scene- and the show proved it.
