“So this is what you want? A world not suitable for life?“
Shot on the 2nd of February 2025. Photography by Kieran White, contact before any use. Words by Emily Cole.
Kicking off 2025 with one of the most heavy and grotesque performances that this year will see was Cattle Decapitation on their Terrasitic Reconquest Tour. Supported by Vulvodynia and Revocation; this lineup was truly stacked with crushing riffs, brutal breakdowns, and violent vocals that even concrete earplugs would not protect you from. From start to finish, the intensity was unmatched with a charismatic crowd engrossed in the chaotic energy of this vile lineup: A show truly for fans who crave the extreme.
Opening the show were the South African slam band, Vulvodynia. Coming all the way from Durban to join this relentless tour, Vulvodynia made sure to start each gig with no efforts in holding back. It’s safe to say that their music holds up significantly better in live environments as their songs aren’t restricted by the ignorant slam production style that is typically heard in their studio work. Additionally, you also get to experience the band member’s entertaining stage presence, including the guitarists’ superb stomping dance moves and Lwandile Prusent’s sweet personality. Contrasting his innocent demeanour; however, was his vicious vocal style that truly sounded inhuman. Paired with the rest of the bands ridiculously heavy instrumentals, this created the perfect set of aural destruction.
Taking the stage after Vulvodynia were Boston-based, Revocation. Unlike Vulvodynia, Revocation’s sound was much more progressive and technical, with elements of old-school death metal and groove-based inspiration. With three members of the band providing vocals, they had a richness in texture that really added a unique depth and professional element to their set. Their stage time was filled with a great mix of their discography, including newer tracks such as “Diabolical Majesty”, from their album, Netherheaven, as well as older songs including “The Grip Tightens”. Their performance was intense in a whole new way – crammed with syncopated, chugging rhythms and squealing solos that really helped them stand out from the other bands that night.
Bringing the show to a close were hard-hitting headliners, Cattle Decapitation. Known for their gruesome and nihilistic lyrical themes as well as Travis Ryan’s iconic, goblin-like highs, Cattle Decapitation undoubtedly delivered a performance that was so devastatingly heavy, you became completely immersed in the sensory chaos. From the intensity of the strobe lighting to the ear-piercing elements of their grinding riffs, their set truly felt like “One Day Closer to the End of the World”. This sheer spread of hostility was combined with macabre samples and dark humour from Travis Ryan, which added another element of complete controversial perversity.
Their set contained a wide range of their disturbing songs across the atlas, with tracks from their latest release, Terrasite, including “Scourge of Offspring” and “We Eat Our Young”, as well as older songs from one of their most renowned albums, Monolith of Inhumanity. They also made some new additions that were not part of their previous setlist, including “Forced Gender Reassignment”, which unfortunately had to be skipped as a member of the crowd had passed out – clearly unable to handle their intense atmosphere and gory lyrics. Despite this, Cattle Decapitation carried on with their anti-humanist force; crushing each and every audience member like the Human Jerky we are.