February 13, 2025
Cornerstone, Berkeley, CA
First death metal tour package of the year, and my first time seeing a show at the Cornerstone in Berkeley. Pretty comfortable for a metal club, with a large brew pub restaurant where you could hang in between sets, and separate attached live room which was big enough but pretty intimate.
We just caught the tail end of the opener unfortunately, although with a pretty stupid name like Embryonic Autopsy it might have been the right call.
I was there to see Psycroptic, a technical death metal band apparently really from the island of Tasmania in Australia (I always thought this was the singer’s (too) long running joke). The brothers who founded the band, the guitarist and drummer, are from there at least.
Having seen Psycroptic in 2019 opening for Revocation & Voivod, and again in 2023 at an upstairs DNA show with Decrepit Birth, I was blown away by their live performances. A really great band, and they did not disappoint at the Cornerstone. Highly recommended if you are a fan of technical death metal.
Next up was Six Feet Under, who seemed like they drew much of the crowd. I can’t remember the last time I saw them, it has been so long. Though I’ve seen Cannibal Corpse a few times over the years, the first time just after Ace Ventura (!) came out on the 1993 tour with Unleashed and Epidemic supporting.
Chris Barnes has lost some of his vocal loudness and depth, but he still put on a good performance and overall I thought Six Feet Under sounded great. Jack Owen, who was in Cannibal Corpse 1988-2004, and then in Deicide for over a decade, held down the guitar from stage left.
Finally, old school death metal vets Nile headlined the night. With three guys doing vocals and consistently fast yet technical songs, and constant references to Ancient Egypt they are a bit unique among death metal bands. I thought their set was great and will definitely catch them again the next time they come through.
--Hectic
Video Playlist
Thanks Jesse Davis, Todd Owens and Capital Chaos TV