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Devastation on the Nation Tour Review: I Am Morbid at The Belasco

11/26/2024 - Los Angeles, California

The Belasco in downtown Los Angeles became a temple of darkness for death metal disciples on a night that promised nothing less than pure auditory devastation. The “Devastation on the Nation Tour” was headlined by the ferocious tribute act I Am Morbid, led by legendary bassist/vocalist David Vincent and original drummer Pete Sandoval. Originally, the tour was supposed to feature Morbid Angel, but with the torch passed to I Am Morbid, the night was set to resurrect the classic, punishing glory of Morbid Angel's sound. Rounding out the lineup were guitarists Richie Brown (EXMORTUS, THE ABSENCE, TRIVIUM) and Bill Hudson (NORTHTALE, DORO).

A brutal gauntlet of death metal's finest supported the act: Suffocation, UADA, Mortiferum, Fulci, and Knoll, each carving scars on the battlefield.

Knoll: Grindcore Dystopia

Knoll kicked off the night with an unrelenting barrage of grindcore and death metal. Their set was a relentless, chaotic beast, and frontman Jamie Eubanks delivered guttural roars that seemed to claw from the abyss itself.

The atmosphere was pure dread: three dim, incandescent lamps flickered ominously, setting an almost sacramental mood. Knoll didn't just play, they incinerated, dragging the crowd into a maelstrom of twisted anguish.

Fulci: Italian Horror Metal

Next up, Fulci. Hailing from Italy and taking their name—and horror-fueled aesthetic—from the legendary filmmaker Lucio Fulci, they delivered a masterclass in brutal simplicity. Their straightforward, slamming riffage felt like a relentless hammer to the skull, each note soaked in cinematic terror. Fronted by Fiore Stravino, their set felt like being trapped inside a blood-soaked Italian horror flick: bloody, brutal, and utterly merciless.

Mortiferum: Doom-Laden Despair

As the night deepened, Mortiferum took the stage and dialed the atmosphere to pitch-black despair. Max Bowman’s vocals dripped with venom, each growl a harbinger of doom. Their brand of melodic doom-death, peppered with face-melting solos, showcased a mastery of contrast. Slow, brooding passages that erupted into furious assaults. It was an embodiment of suffering, each riff a dagger, each lyric a lament. This wasn’t just music; it was a descent into torment.

UADA: Haunting Elegance

UADA emerged like wraiths, hooded and clad in black leather, exuding an aura of shadowy menace. Their blackened melodic death metal was hauntingly beautiful. Icy tremolo riffs and ghostly melodies that wrapped around the audience like a spectral embrace. Their set was both brutal and ethereal, each song a hypnotic dirge.

Suffocation: Relentless Brutality

Hailing from New York, Suffocation hit the stage like a tidal wave of aggression. Their American death metal assault was razor-sharp and unrelenting.

Terrance Hobbs (guitars) and Derek Boyer (bass) whipped their heads into a frenzy as they delivered a furious rage. The crowd was a sea of headbangers and crowd surfers. Each track was an onslaught powered by Ricky Myers’ guttural prowess, which left the audience shattered and hungry for more.

I Am Morbid: The Resurrection

Then, the lights dimmed. The dark deathly air awaited. A roar erupted as I Am Morbid took the stage. David Vincent, Pete Sandoval, and their crew unleashed hell. This was more than a tribute; it was a resurrection of Morbid Angel's glory.

Vincent's growls were as feral as ever, Sandoval’s drumming a merciless barrage, and the guitars seared through the mix like molten steel.

Their performance was a brutal onslaught, classic death metal delivered with devastating precision. "God of Emptiness" was a haunting highlight, its slow, crushing riffs reverberating through the venue like the tolling of a death knell.

By the end of the night, the Belasco was a war zone of sweat-drenched bodies and broken necks. I Am Morbid proved that death metal’s fire still burns as fiercely as ever—merciless, raw, and gloriously brutal.