For the second night in a row, the herald has been invited to Wise Hall, where the third and final Night of the annual New Year Winterfest is brought to us by THE name in metal in this city, Journeyman Productions, who has never let me down with a lineup.
After being served a brutal, knee-buckling selection of offerings last night, the herald once again will give in to abandonment and lose himself in the metal.
NOTT
Opening my night is the second offering from this murderous doom-metal duo from Seattle. Fronting this duo, the lead singer is all deep growls with a rasp, hammering all the noise on a sexy eight-string.
There was a huge, thick sound from just them and a drummer, with a massive double kick that pummeled our ears while the sludgy, monstrous, doom-laden sound washed over us—so much huge headbanging.
The final song oscillates between heavy and chill. When it ramped back into heavy, a massive boom would shake the soul. Fucking gorgeous.
It was a good-sized crowd already, and a small but enthusiastic group of smashers and bangers were having a good time. Much like last night, a lot of delicious energy in there tonight.
XOTH
Another visitor from Seattle, this quartet, offered up a death metal face smashing with a thrashy bend to them. Full of solos reminiscent of old-school thrash, bringing the whole vibe back to a day when metal was all about a good kick in the ass.
The whole band sounded crisp with zero muddling and could easily pick up everything. The lead singer told small stories about the next song and spoke in the classic low metal voice. Entertaining as fuck up there.
They all had that metal look up there, except one who was instead dressed as a sparkly cowboy. Looked fantastic.
The crowd had picked up more into a flail pit and kept it going for most of the set. There was great energy down on that floor.
TRUENT
This hometown metal offering—their first one—was a crowd favorite. The pit went full circle pit madness many times, complete with overly aggressive dudes that kept any but the most hardcore out.
The lead singer had a fantastic growl that was so clear and massive. It cut through everything, and there was so much control, climbing over everything. So fucking rad.
They produced a huge sound, with some great stomping moments that got me really good. The drummer was an excellent target for my feet to follow as they crashed and banged, and the double kick blasted my earholes really well.
One of the guitarists from BLACKWATER BURIAL was up there, fitting in nicely as they created a killer sound for the singer to climb above. A thrashy, technical blast of death metal that was so thick and massive, a total blast to flail around to.
COFFIN ROT
The final offering of this year’s Winterfest joined us from Portland, and along with a fantastic name, they gave us one last dose of death metal, and fucking hell; what a dose it was.
An absolutely massive voice up front, deep and guttural with a lot of growl. Loved how deep their voice would get; from way down inside, that voice would come out like an animal warding off enemies.
They laid down several great solos that would pop up here and there. They would grab me every time and get me squiggling all over. I loved the guitar tones and such speed. Coupled with the vast, thunderous drums that displayed some killer tom work, this was a delectable taste of metal.
The crowd was in it to the end; they even got a power violence guy joining in on the chaos as the last energy poured out on that floor. So much stomping and headbanging.
He was pleased with this night’s offering.