Well, you know. 2023 was a little too good at delivering great tours (not that 2024 is not already looking staked or anything), but I think this gig review *might* be my last for this year. Dying Fetus is a band I somehow miss when they come around, so when I saw they were coming to Warsaw with Despised Icon, The Acacia Strain, and Creeping Death – I already had my Friday night off from work fully booked. I already knew that only the best would turn up for this event. They sure did for the third to last gig of this US circuit.
The first thing to strike off was a hearty Polish dinner. The kitchen opened up a little after the doors opened after six. If you ever attend a gig at this venue, I highly suggest trying the Kielbasa sandwich and the Warsaw special with a few pierogies, some Kielbasa, and hunter stew. The portions are minimal at best. However, it is still a real meal deal worth the nineteen dollars.
The first main band was Gates to Hell. Although I do not have much to mention about Gates to Hell, I will gladly say to check them out if you are into that style of extreme metal.
Second was the violent quintet from the Lone Star state, Creeping Death. It was my second time seeing them in 2023 since opening for Carcass at Irving Plaza in April, but it was refreshing to see them again. The rising stars of MNRK Heavy did not play for long, but they made the most out of their minutes for the most fatal of the New York hardcore faithful.
At around 8:30 p.m., it was time for The Acacia Strain. While I have not been keeping up with their career like I could have been, I did not mind anything they played live due to their intense performance. I was also made aware the pit was like something out of a vicious Dragon Ball Z fight scene. The ferocity increased from Is This Really Happening? to Fresh Bones to Carbomb. Their power level brought nine-thousand neck-snaping tons of Massachusetts-style hardcore. It was amusing as songs from Have Yourself a Meaty Little Christmas blared over the P. A system to get us into the holiday spirit as The Acacia Strain was setting up.
Being a fan since college, I was excited to see Despised Icon. Despised Icon ruled and further brought both ferocity and heaviness to the night. The sound was crisp for the band, thanks to Warsaw getting renovated. Despised Icon is a band that sounds better live than on the albums. They put on a stellar performance. Despised Icon was the only one I hadn’t seen before and was most excited to see alongside Dying Fetus. The vocal trade-offs between Alex Erian and Steve Marois sounded gnarly when performing cuts like The Aftermath and Beast with enough punishing riffs from the band to set the stage for the death metal heavyweights Dying Fetus.
Last but not least was Dying Fetus, one of the supreme leaders of brutal, grooving death metal. It was my first time seeing them. They did not fail to impress. Turning in a defiant, ear-blistering, and sickening hour set, the band played a thirteen-song song set covering many albums. Fixated on Devastation, Unbridled Fury, From Womb to Waste, Wrong One to Fuck With, and many more bone-grinders were played. The set was great. The band would draw you into its gruesome world. When the riffs begin to simmer – the songs slam you down with more rotten brutality. Fucking hell, they didn’t cool down for a moment, but seeing how galvanized John Gallagher, Sean Beasley, and Trey Williams are locked-in as a trio, it didn’t bother anyone. John and company showed sheer brilliance and reduced Warsaw to rubble. The crowd was rabid and remained wild since the evening began with Gates to Hell. Overall, it was a night of good food, great music, and great times.
