Richmond, VA – Progressive metal icons Cynic and Atheist bring their unique style of music to Richmond for an amazing evening of metal with local support from Richmond melodic death metal band Dreams of Atrocity.
Although Dreams of Atrocity have been together for a couple of years, this was my first opportunity to see them live. Their set consisted of six songs of new material that is not listed on either their Facebook or Bandcamp pages. A number of people came out to support them and I liked what I was hearing and hope to run into them again. If you are a Virginia metalhead, you should check Dreams of Atrocity out.
Dreams of Atrocity SETLIST
Razors – No Ending
Chapter Black
Void
Singularity
Depths of Insanity
Sentient
The night was about contrast and the melodic sounds of Dreams of Atrocity gave way to what I can only describe as absolute chaos for the next hour as Atheist decided to decimate the Canal Club with a set of songs from 1988’s “Beyond” to 1993’s “Elements”. On their Encyclopedia Metallum (www.metal-archives.com) Atheist fits into the genre “Progressive Death/Thrash Metal with Jazz influences”. While I didn’t hear much jazz, we all heard and threw down to the thrash!!! Seeing Atheist live was one of the most energetic experiences I have ever witnessed as a metalhead. Not to take anything away from Cynic, but the set Atheist played was worth the price of admission!!!!
Atheist SETLIST
No Truth
Mineral
On They Slay
Enthralled in Essence
Your Life’s Retribution
Air
An Incarnation’s Dream
The Formative Years
Brains
Fire
Unholy War
Water
I Deny
Unquestionable Presence
Mother Man
Piece of Time
From chaos to tranquility is how I would describe the change in pace from Atheist to Cynic. A friend of mine who used to play in a progressive metal band years ago turned me onto Cynic. What I like about them is that the band was willing to go places with death metal that many bands would not. In some ways Cynic reminds me of Animals As Leaders where artistic expression through music is more important than just making and playing sick riffs. The lighting changed to a custom arrangement that emphasized mood and the backdrops had images of the late Sean Reinert and Sean Malone, both former members of the band. The tour is in part an homage to the former members as well as it is a celebration of 30 years since the release of 1993’s “Focus”. Listening to the band I felt as if I was at home listening to the album in my living room, it was nothing short of amazing!!!! This is by and far one of the best live shows I have ever attended!!!!!
Cynic SETLIST
Veil of Maya
Celestial Voyage
The Eagle Nature
Sentiment
I’m But a Wave to…
Uroboric Forms
Textures
How Could I
Kindly Bent to Free Us (from “Kindly Bent to Free Us”)
Adam’s Murmur (from “Traced In Air”)
In a Multiverse Where Atoms Sing (from “Ascension Codes”)
Evolutionary Sleeper (from “Traced In Air”)
Show Date: 7.08.2023
