Vader and Kataklysm’s “Carnival of Death” tour came to a close on Sunday evening with the final stop at the Brooklyn Monarch in New York City. Joined on the tour by Malevolent Creation and Skeletal Remains, the bands played 23 cities in about as many days — a true marathon of an itinerary. They appeared determined to go out with a bang, as every band left it all on the stage in Brooklyn.
A necessary driving route through Manhattan mixed with a choice of Google Maps’ suggestion over my gut instinct led me to a late arrival to the venue. To my dismay, I arrived just in time to hear Skeletal Remains say goodnight. Alas, there were still three rounds of death metal mayhem left to be experienced, and I was ready for them.
My introduction to Malevolent Creation came by way of “Manic Demise” appearing on the Bam Margera skate video CKY2K. Obsessed with all things CKY and Jackass, I latched onto any songs that served as music beds. I remember being particularly obsessed with “Manic Demise” and their brutal, no-frills style of death metal. Somehow this was going to be my first time seeing them live.
The band is currently playing as a trio while Phil Fasciana recovers from an illness, and despite being down one guitar, Malevolent Creation still played a fierce, high-energy set. Their setlist included “Manic Demise,” much to my excitement, along with a handful of classics and fan favorites. After a long day followed by sitting in traffic for well over an hour, Malevolent Creation was exactly the kickstart I needed to find my second wind.
While I’ve been a fan of metal for as long as I can remember, there are still plenty of iconic bands I’ve somehow managed to overlook. Kataklysm and Vader both fall into that category, and seeing them live for the first time felt like finally checking a box I didn’t realize I’d left empty.
Bathed in fog and blinding lights, Kataklysm opened with “If I Was God… I’d Burn It All” and proceeded to metaphorically burn the venue to the ground. Speaking of annihilation, vocalist Maurizio Iacono took a moment to address the state of the world and the need for love and unity if we’re ever going to move forward.
The band then launched into their new single, “The Rabbit Hole,” a track Iacono has described as being about “always trust[ing] your gut and what is right versus what is force-fed.” The song packed quite a punch and fit seamlessly into the band’s career-spanning setlist, balancing their trademark intensity with a surprising sense of groove.
The mighty Vader brought it all home with an amazing set that made me question why it’s taken me this long to see them live. Frontman Piotr Wiwczarek commanded the stage with a quiet confidence that comes only from decades of doing this, and the band sounded absolutely razor sharp. Their set drew from across their catalog — including “Dark Age,” “Wings,” and the new single “Unbending,” which doubles as the official anthem of this year’s Mystic Festival in Poland.
Vader left the Monarch scorched — exactly how a tour like this should end. “Carnival of Death” lived up to its name, but in the best possible way: a celebration of the enduring power and community of death metal.
