Charlottesville, VA – The “South of Heaven” series continues with Charlottesville’s paranormal death metal band Ekktoplasm and a rare Virginia performance by Virginia Beach thrash metal legends At War. Charlottesville’s grindcore outfit Septic Vomit was supposed to play but dropped off the bill.
With no opening band, Ekktoplasm took a little extra time getting ready before starting their set. Bathed in blue and green light, lead singer Kim Dylla took the audience on a journey through the various “haunted” places and people in Virginia. Backed by guitarists Larry Shreddy and Justin Melton, bassist Benjamin Linden and Raphael Arruda on drums they play some damn fine technical death metal and look like something out of someone’s nightmare. There was some pit activity, which came close to a brawl before it was broken up. Kim joked about how Septic Vomit had the most outrageous pit but for the most part it was a good time with lots of headbanging and pit activity. If you like spooky and offbeat tech death, Ekktoplasm is the band you want to see!!!
Ekktoplasm SETLIST
Ticket To The Burial Ground
Bell Witch
Dunlora
The Exchange
Western State
Hollywood Vampire
Bunnyman
Succubus
Peyton Randolph
Shadow Figure
Jilted Bridge Suicide
On May 23rd, At War played on the Thursday night Power Plant Live! stage at Maryland Death Fest, a major career milestone for a band that has played shows all over the world since 1983. Three weeks after that night they came to blow the roof off the Southern. At War does not play in Virginia that often, so getting the opportunity to see them live is a special treat and the crowd was stoked to see them. Playing the same set that they played at Maryland Death Fest, the band went through select songs from their three albums 1986’s Ordered To Kill, 1988’s Retaliatory Strike and 2009’s Infidel. What I have always liked about At War is the Motorhead like swagger coupled with the ferocity and similar lyrical content to early Warbringer. They always put on a good show and this night was no different. If you missed it, I can’t tell the next time they are going to play, but don’t sleep on it!!!!
At War SETLIST
Conscientious Objector
Ordered To Kill
Creed Of The Sniper
Semper Fi
Ilsa
Assassins
Dawn Of Death
The Hammer
Rapechase
At War
Eat Lead
