Show: Dire Omen / Teleportoise / Decimate
Where: Doors Pub [Hamilton, Ontario, Canada]
Photos by: Fritz [Paul] (Click to enlarge)
As soon as the riffage began and the first crash of the cymbal was heard, I knew I was in for something proper. The best way to describe Deciamte is – typical. This isn’t meant to be a slight in any way, shape or form, oh no my headbanging friends, this was some fine
death metal. Everything about this band was great. The drums sounded like that good, old school “tin can” tone, and the guitar work was heavy and crushing and once the vocalist began to belt out his violent sounds, the package was complete. It’s no secret that I’m a death metal fan, and if you’ve ever followed the podcasts or read the album reviews I’ve written, then you know that I’m a no bullshit sort of guy when it comes to metal. I like it fast, ugly, and above all else, riffy. I’ve never slighted a band for sounding like their heroes, and Deciamte achieves 
everything I look for in death metal, to the point, no crap, just proper riffs and strong vocals. As the set rolled on, the musicianship of the band became apparent, and that was of a high level. Riff after riff, the violence and pleasure grew; I was completely enthralled, hell the band was even nice enough to dedicate a song to me! But for me the highlight of their set, was “Don’t Fuck With 
Chuck”, an obvious Chuck Norris reference, but that song was the pinnacle. It was chalk full of thrash influence, tempo changes, tight riffing, and vocals that could destroy even the biggest of monuments. Overall, I could go on and on about this band and how they achieved their mission properly, but one thing is for sure, Decimate can play death metal, and play it very, very well. These Cambridge death-slingers, have a nice and bright future for sure.
“I felt like I was on acid” said one attendee, and I couldn’t be in agreement more, well sans taking the acid part, but I imagine, if I had swallowed acid this would be the soundtrack to that trip. Admittedly Teleportoise was the odd band out, being sandwiched between two death metal bands, but none-the-less these psychedelic doomsters put on a proper show. Their on-stage [or floor in the Doors case] charisma was electric to say the least. The band had an aura, and that added to the atmospheric sounds this band purveys. The best comparison I can make between this band and another is that of fellow Canadian doomy miscreants, Mares Of Thrace. The sound was obscure, bleak, psychedllic and most of all crushing. The Sunday night crowd
was eating it up and wanderers in could be seen bobbing their head to the slow tempoed madness. The band was tight and more than well rehearsed, and that definitely showed in their performance. As mentioned previously, the charisma Teleportoise had was furthered by the percussionist setting up a tin pot as a crash symbol, or as he said after his set “the tin pot of doom” and that was an interesting stage prop, and it added a cool unique sound to his playing. Overall, if doom is your sound, give these Guelph doomsters a shot, you won’t regret it!
Finally it was time for Edmonton, Alberta’s own, Dire Omen to take the stage. These blackened death metal slingers know how to play the sound, and play it extremely
well. Their live show was plain and devoid of useless filler because the main course was their sound. Dire Omen sounded possessed, evil, and above all else totally and utterly crushing. I’m a big fan of this style of death metal, and there really is a fine line between proper execution and a flop, and believe you me, Dire Omen is anything but a flop. This power trio sounded like a six man horde, and really did crush the crowd. This feeling was echoed as violent moshing erupted, and that brought the level of violence to an all time high. Once Dire Omen saw this, their intensity level was upped, and their pain train became even 
more dangerous. After every song, thunderous cheers could be heard, and it really showed
that the crowd was eating this all up. Their live sound is one that most death metal bands with four or five members wish they could achieve. Dire Omen are clearly a band that are putting the time in, and I have feeling, much like with wine, Dire Omen will become even better with time, Dire Omen is truly just getting warmed up. If these demons roll through your city, and blackened death metal is your taste, don’t be a fool, and miss them. You’ll thank me later.
