Deafheaven at Brooklyn Steel
photo by Ester Segretto

Deafheaven rocked BK Steel with Uniform & Drab Majesty (review, pics, setlist)

Deafheaven are currently touring North America in support of their terrific new LP Ordinary Corrupt Human Love, and their latest stop was at NYC’s Brooklyn Steel on Tuesday (7/24). The band’s setlist featured many newer tracks from their latest record, including the sprawling “Worthless Animal,” “Canary Yellow,” “You Without End,” and lead single “Honeycomb,” which opened the show. The band also brought out some material from past albums, most notably the title track from Sunbather, and “Brought To The Water” from New Bermuda. In addition to these tracks, the band also performed the 2014 standalone single “From the Kettle Onto the Coil.”

Throughout the night, the entire band was consistently sharp and energetic, with guitarist Shiv Mehra and bassist Chris Johnson often bouncing and spinning along to the rhythms of each song, with Daniel Tracy’s blast-beat drumming considerably adding to the show’s overall tension. And lead guitarist Kerry McCoy’s guitar solos, which often ranged from atmospheric to fiery, served as a perfect sonic complement to singer George Clarke’s powerful, screamed vocal delivery. During the band’s many atmospheric instrumental passages, Clarke often pranced gracefully around the stage, greeting enthusiastic fans with handshakes, and on many occasions, posed boldly for the clamoring photographers below. Clarke also drenched his hair with a water bottle before several songs, later splashing several fans near the barrier while headbanging.

The heavily frantic crowd, which was filled with sweaty crowdsurfers, remained bursting with energy throughout the entire show. This collective energy eventually reached a fever pitch during the band’s final song of the night, the fan favorite “Dream House,” where tons of excited fans began moshing and bouncing around the second the song kicked off. No matter how controversial Deafheaven’s style may be among some metal purists, there’s no doubt that they can put on a fantastic show.

Openers for the band were industrial outfit Uniform, and gothy synth duo Drab Majesty. The sharp contrast between the harsh noises of the former, and the more atmospheric sounds of the latter, was a perfect appetizer for Deafheaven’s black metal/post-rock fusion style. You can view photos in the gallery above, and view fan-shot videos with Deafheaven’s setlist, below.

Setlist – Deafheaven @ Brooklyn Steel 7/24/18
Honeycomb
Canary Yellow
Sunbather
Brought to the Water
Worthless Animal

ENCORE
You Without End
From the Kettle Onto the Coil
Dream House

photos by Ester Segretto