Opening Band Report: SepticFlesh, on tour with Cradle of Filth & Satyricon at First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN - Monday, January 26, 2009

While I don’t think anyone would necessarily call them one of the most legendary death metal bands of all time, SepticFlesh are certainly not newcomers to the scene either… From 1991 through 2003, this outfit from Greece managed to churn out six studio albums and two EPs,  then decided it was time for an open-ended hiatus.  Five years later  they returned with a new album, “Communion”.  The latest offering features symphonic elements composed and arranged by guitarist Christos Antoniou – performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Prague.

Anyone who came to the show looking for a career-retrospective from SepticFlesh was in for a surprise.  The band ripped through a six-song set that featured only one song that wasn’t on “Communion”.  Clearly the band is very proud of what they’re doing these days and want the world to know it’s a whole new era for SepticfFlesh.  Fans of the old band might not be too thrilled, as I believe the one track they played that wasn’t new, is from their last pre-hiatus album, 2003’s “Sumerian Daemons”.  If you’re looking for classic SepticFlesh, it seems you’re not going to get it.

I had worried that incorporating  symphonic elements into their live sound would prove problematic at best…….those fears were proven unfounded.  “Communion” was produced and engineered by the legendary Fredrik Nordstrom,  sounded as if they’re using these exact recordings of the Prague Philharmonic for their live settings as well.  Everything was pre-recorded; no live strings, choirs, or synths of any kind were used.

That brings me to  my only complaint about their set: the sound mix was awful.  The drums and the symphonics were loud and powerful,  all the guitars and vocals sounded distant and muffled throughout the set.  The situation definitely improved as the performance went on, even then the guitars gained volume but no bite.  It was as if someone had stuffed cotton into the PA speakers.  Some sound guys spend too much time looking at their board levels and not enough time actually listening to what’s coming out of the PA.   In all fairness, that’s hardly the band’s fault.

The crowd took a little time to warm up to SepticFlesh,  by the end it was clear that everyone was definitely pumped up and ready for a night of METAL.  The flux of people towards their merch table after the set would  confirm this.  Being the first band on the bill for an early show (they went on at 6pm) is never a great spot to be in, especially when you’re being followed by two truly legendary bands who come from somewhat different worlds of Metal than you.  SepticFlesh clearly showed that five years of vacation haven’t eroded any of the experience they have to their credit.