Acid Bath
The Agora, Cleveland, Ohio
Openers: Radian, Nunslaughter, Amigo the Devil, Midnight
By Rob McCune
Sludge metal pioneers Acid Bath, who melted faces for most of the 1990s before taking a nearly 30-year break, are touring again and gathering a truly menacing menagerie of metalheads to mark the occasion.
For the band’s much-anticipated return to Cleveland, the devils in the details included Akron-based Radian (set to release their third album this summer), Nunslaughter (formed in 1987 with another new album on the way in June), Cleveland-founded Midnight (who dropped a record last year) and Amigo the Devil, a “murderfolk” singer/songwriter.
Radian started the night out blazing, with lead vocalist Corey Staley storming the stage in a Detroit Redwings jersey and hockey goalie mask. The mask came off quick – flung into the audience as a lucky souvenir – and the jersey soon after in an energetic, riotous performance to get the blood pumping.
Next, Nunslaughter played a set awash in blood red light, framed by two upside-down crosses as if desanctifying the stage. Founding member and lead vocalist Don of the Dead wielded, like a bludgeoning weapon, a mic stand of metal chain sturdy enough to bind the devil himself as he thrashed along with Jim Sadist on guitar, Vince Verrett on bass and Dale Flood on drums.
Strategically center in the lineup, Amigo the Devil provided a bit of a breather, appearing under a spotlight solo with a banjo and a smirk. He entreated the crowd to bear with him a minute, before passing judgement, and then launched into a medley of dark, murderous folk music. Not everyone in the audience was unfamiliar, as on a few of the songs, most notably the single “Hell and You” off his first album, stirred a singalong.
The masked ninjas of Midnight then cranked the volume back up to ear-bleed levels. Founder and lead singer Athenar led the charge on guitar-gutting tracks including “Satanic Royalty,” “Necromania” and, for the hometown fans, “Cleveland Metal,” which ended the set with a smashed guitar – the bones of which were tossed out as manic mementos.
Headliners Acid Bath emerged in a acid-green fog to close out the night with 10 tracks off their two studio albums, starting with “Tranquilized” and ending with “Dr. Seuss Is Dead.”
Metal as ever and with more sludge to spread, Acid Bath is continuing its tour this summer in Europe.
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