Winter, Wormrot, Deathcycle & Kings Destroy @ Union Pool (pics)

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Wormrot

Wormrot, Winter, Deathcycle, and Kings Destroy played Union Pool on April 3rd, marking Winter's first show in many years and their warm-up for an appearance at Roadburn as part of the sunn O))) curated portion of the festival. The band played an hour-long set that opened with the crushing "Servants of The Warsmen" before transitioning into additional Into Darkness burners. Though admittedly nervous at the outset, the band hit their stride midset and ended with tons of "wow"s and "holy shit"s from onlookers leaving the venue. Winter's death-doom rep was intact, and I can't wait to catch them again.

Wormrot, who are coming off of a much larger US tour as part of their appearance at Scion Rock Fest, played their first show since the hurried release of their new LP, Dirge (available for free download). The Singapore band followed Winter, and were the perfect yin to Winter's yang with 1000 MPH drum blasts and jaw-dropping grind riffs. Menacing, and somehow more impressive than their showing in Austin at Lovejoys.

For Deathcycle, the show marked another reunion, and first since the band played a pair of shows in honor of fallen comrade Lee Altomare (who was shouted out at the venue that night, RIP). Vocalist Ron Grimaldi mixed it up with the crowd as he belted away vocals atop the searing hardcore riffery. Excellent set, I just wish that catching a Deathcycle show wasn't like seeing a shooting star... but as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

For Kings Destroy, the NYC date wasn't much of a special occasion-, but they impressed the early crowd with their thundering doom riffs (mission accomplished). With the glacially-paced Winter, the mid-paced hardcore of Deathcycle, and the lightning-grind of Wormrot, it was nice to have a mid-tempo doom band to cleanse the palette. Diversity is always a good thing.

More pictures from Union Pool and some video is below.