The show started at 2:30pm, and doors were supposed to open at 2:00pm. The line stretched outside the venue in downtown Orlando well in advance of doors opening. That was tough, since it was about 99 degrees outside with humidity approaching 80%. That sort of heat is enough to kill people. So, when the doors didn't open on time, everyone was justifiably pissed.

Once the doors did get open, I made a quick line to the bar for a nice cold Guinness. ;)

While having one (of many) beers, I talked it up with Terrance Hobbs (Suffocation). Terrance is a cool guy, whose humility served as a reminder of why I love the Death Metal scene so much. So, what to two guys who don't really know much about each other talk about? The weather, of course! Suffocation is from Long Island (Terrance reminded me of that, I guess presuming I didn't already know). It was a bit surreal to talk to such a legend in Death Metal about such a mundane topic. 

Suffocation was (is) selling their new disc at tour dates in advance of the official release this month. Their label, Nuclear Blast, was cool enough to get some of the discs printed in advance for the band. Of course, I picked one up, and It's definitely worth the money.

There were two stages for the show: The main stage downstairs, and a second stage upstairs for the less popular bands. The main stage started first. 

I don't recall who the first band on the main stage was, but the second was Skindustry, a local blackend death metal band right here from Orlando. Skindustry puts on a great show, and it was good to see them play in front of a few hundred folks.

After Skindustry was Blackguard. They were pretty good. The singer has more energy than a crackhead on a thousand dollar binge. That guy has awesome stage presence. Another thing making Blackguard cool: Hot Chick Drummer. Nobody has a girl drummer, let alone one whose got awesome boobs bouncing around while slamming the double bass. Killer change in the standard. :D

The first band to play on the second stage was Amputation, the brutal death metal band from Titusville, FL. I bought my tickets to the show from those guys. Mike (guitars) and Franz (vocals) are awesome guys who write some seriously heavy shit. They're in a bit of transition right now, but they're writing new material and it sounds great.

The next band to play on the second stage was Masticator. Masticator is a 3 piece old school death metal band from my hometown, West Palm Beach. The members are all very young (I think the singers parents were in the crowd). While the band is young, and has a bit of growing to do, they're a really good band. I've been meaning to see them for a long time, and I wasn't disappointed with their show. These kids have the potential to go very far. I hope they keep it up, 'cause their a band to look out for.

While Masticator was playing upstairs, Origin was playing downstairs. I've never seen Origin before, and I will never miss one of their shows again. I caught the tail end of their act, and it was fucking incredible. I've never seen a human play bass as fast as their bass player. Whoever that quick-fretting man was, I'm calling him superman. I'm dead serious. That's the most amazing display of technical dexterity I have ever seen. Nobody, and I mean nobody, plays as fast as that guy.

Mixed in with all of these bands were a bunch of hardcore acts. Beneath the Massacre, After the Burial, Born of Osiris, etc.. I'm not a fan of any of these bands, so I won't speak much about them. It's definitely a different crowd that shows up for these bands though. The difference between someone who came to see Necrophagist and someone who came to see Beneath The Massacre is obvious, even to the uninitiated.

After Born of Osiris, Dying Fetus came on. Dying Fetus has dwindled its size from five members, down to three. Despite the reduction in members, the band puts on a huge show. Watching those guys play the way they do, while singing at the same time, is incredible. Those guys have more talent in their left nut than 99% of the world will have in their entire life. 

After Dying Fetus, I left to get some food (no food at the venue). I was told that there would be a $5 re-entry fee. I had to park about a quarter of a mile away from the venue, and the skies were about to open up (it is Florida). After I made it back to my truck to drop of my merch load, and call the wife, I just didn't have it in me to walk back and see the rest of the show. 

I'm sure that makes me a wuss, but recall I'd waited about an hour in line in the brutal Florida heat, before spending another five hours watching insanely brutal death metal. The thought of walking the quarter mile back in torrential rain to watch another four hours of more insanely brutal death metal was too much.

I'm glad I saw the show, and I'd love to hear from those of you who saw Suffocation and / or Necrophagist. I wish I could have stayed to see them, but I guess I'm getting too old to hang for a 10 hour death metal show. 

I'm a little bent about no food being available for the 10 hour show, being charged to get back in, and beers being incredibly expensive ($6 / beer). I kinda felt like I was getting ripped off by the promoters.