Savage Imperial Death March Part II Tour, showcasing Napalm Death and Melvins, delivered a catastrophic onslaught obliterating all semblance of societal tranquility from Carrboro, NC.
Lightning filled the sky above Carrboro, NC, as if foreshadowing something wicked this way comes. The capacity crowd at Cat’s Cradle walked in hot and sweaty from the humid, hot outdoors and ecstatically waited for what would be a transcendental evening for metalheads, stoners, and nerds alike.
North Carolina’s own Weedeater from Wilmington, NC, unexpectedly opened the show. Dark Sky Burial, the solo project from Shane Embury, formerly the longest-standing bassist for co-headliner Napalm Death, was scheduled to open the show but did not for unknown reasons. Formed in 1998, Weedeater has been a vital part of North Carolina’s strong metal scene and approaching 30 years later, shows no signs of slowing down. After a piercing, feedback-filled stretching session to loosen up the band’s legs and back, “Hammerhandle” from their 2013 release Jason… the Dragon opened the show with raw aggression. Dave “Dixie” Collins, Weedeater’s founding vocalist and bassist, grimaced and writhed his way about the stage as if he was being paid for every irreverent and startling pose. Drummer Ramzi Ateyeh pounded beers between each song, rapidly working up a sweat and removing his shirt to display his fully tattooed chest and front. The band powered through “Mancoon” and “Jason… the Dragon” from the same album and included fan favorites “God Luck and Good Speed” and “$20 Peanut.” They did not perform any songs from their latest 2015 release, Goliathan. Raucous and loud, Weedeater was essentially received as a third co-headliner by this welcoming North Carolina crowd.
The energy in the room was impossibly high moments before Melvins took the stage. Set up in a dual drum kit formation, guitarist Buzz Osborne, drummers Dale Crover and Coady Willis, and bassist Steven Shane McDonald arrived on stage to deafening applause and cheers before the opening drums of “Working the Ditch” filled the venue. Throughout the entire show, Coady and Dale did the impossible. They locked in and delivered an Earth-shaking performance of two drummers performing simultaneously, in sync at times while either dueling or complimenting each other. They created the most uniquely heavy rhythm section that must be experienced to fully appreciate its awesomeness. Buzz with his seriously focused face, physically channeled the band’s relentless intensity with a full-body performance that should have drained him into an exhausted puddle of sweat but somehow Buzz remained clean, neat, and limitless with energy.“Billy Fish” mid-set continued the flawless drumming perfection and the iconic song “Honey Bucket” launched the already dancing audience into a large mosh pit. Only addressing the audience once, to thank everyone for attending and to ask for applause for their fellow bands on tour, Melvins closed with an incredibly intense performance of “Night Goat.” Never once throughout their entire set was there ever a moment for the audience to take their eyes away from the stage and rest. To say Melvins delivered a non-stop intense set from start to finish is a dramatic understatement. If there was ever doubt that Melvins had the power and authority to inspire some of the greatest rock, metal, and grunge bands to ever form, this performance would have laid to rest those doubts. Cat’s Cradle experienced a legendary show by one of the most influential and powerful rock bands in existence.
After clearing the once totally full stage of all extra drum kits and amplifiers, co-headliner Napalm Death took the stage. Vocalist Mark Greenway, dressed in an old-school punk outfit of a solid blue tee-shirt and black pants held up with suspenders, Mark used the empty stage as his own dance floor as he moved constantly like a tiger fueled on cocaine trying to escape the demons, thrashing about in his head.Opening with “Multinational Corporations Part 2” and leading into “Silence is Deafening,” Napalm Death stepped on the gas and refused to stop. Their thrashy grindcore setlist aside including “Amoral” and “Backlash Just Because” was interlaced with several political statements delivered by Mark on the state of United States politics, inequity, and the damaging effects of forced consumerism. The still very full venue responded enthusiastically and showed no loss of energy as they moved and headbanged up until the very last notes.
The Savage Imperial Death March Part II Tour continues until June 7, ending in Berkeley, CA. Melvins and Napalm Death are two of the most iconic names in metal music history. To have both these bands on the same tour, sharing the same stage, is a rare gift every metal fan should move heaven and earth to find their way to attend at least one show.
