|
C O L U M N S
Road Reports
Exhumed / Oxygen Destroyer / No/Mas By: Josh Greer
Show Date: 3/3/2026 Published: 3/27/2026  Exhumed. Copyright Josh Greer
Among a historical railroad hub along the surrounding James River that is the twists and turns of downtown Lynchburg, Virginia, lurks a currently growing hotspot for extreme and raucous music. That is undoubtedly no other place than Super Rad Arcade. A calm chill in the air on a fading early sunset commenced the mood for a very abrasive night. Get ready, player one; no quarters needed and the head banging is free and infectiously unpreventable. Originally booked as a 4 band gig, not a single second was wasted. Washington D.C.s very own No/Mas kicked and stomped into a non-crowd killing frenzy with their very own energetic Death/Grind resistance. The social awareness rang strong throughout the set with an obvious anti-ICE agenda as No/Mas completely pulverized the crowd sonically along with maybe a sharp elbow or three. The hammering set ended with the appropriate and affective Bad Brains cover "Banned in D.C.", instructing a lesson in mobility when the beats are blasting. Washing ashore from Americas West Coast, and possibly Japan--Oxygen Destroyer (minus a bassist) released atomic breath into the crowd for their very own Brutal Thrashing Kaiju Metal. The Hill City came crashing down into the dark basement stage amidst continues and extra lives from blistering speed, monstrous riffs, and bestial savagery rampaging between shrieky song announcements.  Only red asphalt is real and after 20+ years on that long and grinding road, Exhumed exude why they are the reigning gods of Gore Metal. Adorning the newly renovated stage with caution lights and car crash videos to set the romantic mood, long time lifer (barfer? No, they don't do that anymore) Matt Hardy began the hack, maim, and kill as good if not better than his contemporaries yet still having an 80's performance spirit. "Hall of the Mountain King" sound check can't be denied, for it is not allowed. Any doubters can face the road rash and simply be wrong. A duel between Ross Sewage on the grinder and guitarist Sebastian Phillips set the sparks literally flying and blood spilled from a severed head into the lucky contestants in the front row. What other band brings their own bloody stage head all in the name of gore? Armed with no less than a 3-decade arsenal, Exhumed completely obliterated--blood, guts, blast beats, chainsaws, giant beach ball eyes and the ultimate car crash anthem from KISS (Detroit Rock City!) ended the night while only a few red puddles remained. No one in attendance will be the same or forget. Same as that one stuck beach ball eye will never come down from the joists and air vent. See this tour and game on Super Rad Arcade! Links: Facebook.com  Exhumed. Copyright Josh Greer
[Other Maximum Metal Columns]
|
 |
RANDOM ACTS OF METAL
|