It’s been over a month since Moshville Rocktoberfest and the hunger for live metal is needing to be satiated again. I’ve definitely been missing a good mosh so it’s fortunate Tortured Demon have journeyed to Scotland for the last date of their current headline tour. Arriving shortly before doors open for an interview with frontman Jacob Parkinson, there’s a handful of people outside Audio. After a nice catch-up following the band’s performance at our Moshville Oktoberfest last year, we get up to catch the opening band hit the stage.
Stepping out of the stage side room there’s plenty of people spread throughout the space with a handful in the middle getting the pit started. Doppelgänger are the new thrash kids on the block nailing a few killer covers such as “Bonded by Blood” and “Caught in a Mosh” amping up the audience alongside their own crossover ragers such as “Cyberpsycho”. A highlight for sure is the shout-along “Where the Fuck Did My Money Go”, which admittedly I’m not sure if that’s the actual song title or if it’s an original but it’s relatable fun regardless. You wouldn’t believe these folks have only a few gigs under their belt as they keep the crowd going from start to finish. They have some silly banter onstage and take turns getting in amongst the pit while performing, moshing alongside the crowd, even while a couple of stage divers jump over the barrier. This feels like one of those old clips of old-skool thrash bands’ gigs in the 80’s when gigs were more mental. Definitely a band to watch out for, especially for bringing the fun factor.
Following up is Dundee’s Catalysis who continue the vibe in keeping heads banging to their more melodic and groovy sound. The offstage antics continue as the frontman also gets into the pit and screams his lungs out as a handful of headbangers fly in front of him. The crowd keeps the momentum going but it’s feels a little more subdued in comparison to before. Though it’s not a bad thing seeing everyone onstage and off still vibing and enjoying themselves with necks bobbing along to the heavy chugs of “Gone” and new single “Lazarus”.
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Second to last onstage is deathrashers Sacrificial Burial who ramp the energy right back up to 10. The band’s ancient Egyptian theme is immediately present as the cool, exotic yet mysterious instrumental intro (reminiscent of music from Yu-Gi-Oh videogames) preludes opening onslaught “Blood From the Nile”. Screaming for crowd interaction in every song, the band demand attention and they get it. The handful of headbangers are truly keeping the crowd going while the band thrash onstage. The group, mainly Doppelgänger and their friends, are keeping the pit in constant motion, taking turns stage diving every minute and it’s joyous to see. Sacrificial Burial are tight and energetic through thrashing riffs and hooky harmonies, making it difficult not to obey their metal command through their catalogue of catchy bangers like “Firstborn” and “The Carcass Decays”.
The highlight of course being the headliners, the energy remains electric from the moment Tortured Demon take to the stage through to the end of the set. You wouldn’t know it’s been an intense fortnight of thrashing for the boys as they blast through opener “Rise of the Lifeless” and other ragers from their namesake LP like “Global Threat” and the blistering “Erase Your Life” executed excellently with aggressive ease.
Latest single “Nothing Left to Say” also goes down a storm showcasing the band’s brilliant blend of thrashing rage and melodic hooks, both vocal and guitar, that gets heads banging and voices shouting along. Necks are getting wrecked throughout the room as the stage diving group and frontman Jacob Parkinson’s hair compete in flight throughout the set. A few of my favourites from Tortured Demon’s debut also feature which I’ve yet to experience live, namely the title track “In Desperation’s Grip” and “A Knee to the Face of Corruption” after some words of appreciation from Parkinson who, along with the rest of the band, is clearly loving life onstage as he tells us.
It’s definitely felt at a Tortured Demon show and it’s definitely a factor as to why they’re on the rise in the UK metal scene, and destined to grow. Killer catchy tunes, fun and energetic shows, and all round good vibes.
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Tortured Demon: official | facebook | instagram | spotify | youtube
Sacrificial Burial: facebook | instagram | spotify | youtube
Catalysis: facebook | instagram | spotify | youtube
Doppelganger: facebook | instagram | bandcamp | youtube
