Krallice, Malkuth, Liturgy & Orphan played Union Pool

photos by Lori Baily, words by BBG

Krallice at Union Pool, replete with stage invaders

Almost no music is more ripe for renovation than black metal, with its hyper mannerisms, its flamboyant obscurantism, its single-mood monotony. Some recent American bands have been doing just that, without Satanism, face paint or bad aesthetics. Krallice, a New York City band with an excellent new record, "Dimensional Bleedthrough" (Profound Lore), takes some of black metal's conventions - its blast beats and guitar drones and scoured vocal yells - and adds physical and intellectual urgency... As written by Mick Barr (also of the bands Ocrilim and Orthrelm) and Colin Marston (of Behold ... the Arctopus), these songs have tons of structure: strategic repetition, moving harmony, sections that develop with new melodic strains. It's way aggressive, but it hasn't closed in on itself. [New York Times]

Friday night's record release show was more like a record release party as Krallice set Union Pool ablaze. The show, night one of a full 'Blackened Weekend', featured killer sets from the controversial black (?) metallers Liturgy, the great Malkuth (who were sick once again), and sludge duo Orphan. Openers were good, but the crowd kicked it up to 11 when Krallice hit the stage, causing a giant mosh pit that consumed literally 1/3 - 1/2 of the floor of Union Pool. (I watched the show from above).

24 hours later Skeltonwitch (with Black Anvil) would somehow best Krallice in crowd participation. Photos from that show, as well as from the Shrinebulder/Rwake/Liturgy show are on the way.

After a day of rest (today, unless you are headed to The Jesus Lizard), the madness continues. A list of upcoming shows at the end of the pictures from Union Pool, below...

Liturgy

Liturgy