VITAL REMAINS
CLUB HELL, Providence, RI
WORDS & PHOTOS: Christopher Thompson
July 29, 2007

As a head banging, face crunching heavy metal fan, the louder something is the better. The music is about pain, so to endure pain while experiencing the art in a live setting is all the better. Power comes from Satan and voltage. A recent ear-bleeding Vital Remains show put that to the test because I'll be damned if I’ve ever come across louder guitars this side of Sunn O))).

To be fair, it was not really the band that made the decision to be so loud. The venue, appropriately (or portentously?) called Club Hell, set the decibel precedent with the house music, which was way too loud. Every opening act was set past 11 and into heart attack mode on the sound board. Local Providence mainstays I, Destroyer and Sin Of Angels were well received by the crowd, but it was not until touring acts Unmerciful ignited the double bass in a spontaneous jam session with Vital Remains' diesel guitar engine, Dave Suzuki, did the crowd get in gear. It appeared there was need to kill time because Vital's session musicians were lost on the road somewhere, so to keep the people from leaving they played made up songs such a swinging ditty by the name of "Fuck You Jesus". There was no structure to the songs, just blast beats and tremolo picking fast as fast can get.

Unmerciful took it up a notch higher when they actually played. A young group with talent by the truck loads got the crowd moving to their technical death grooves. Their guitarists could shred, their vocalist was animate, and their drummer, James King, was the surprise of the night. You could tell he is the do nothing but practice type. His speed and precision was a great spectacle.

Standing stage left, one could not help but notice, the 6 cabinet amps lying and waiting for the headline performance. With the pattern of volume set, I prepared myself for the worse when the stage hand flipped the amp switch to be followed with a strong and viral hiss emitting. Upon pre-show testing the upper frets pierced straight to the skull, but the signal kept cutting in and out as well. Every band before hand was marred by sporadic feedback. But with such strength in sound these tech errors seemed like an ominous warning.

Vital began their set with title track from their new album, Icons of Evil. The first thing to notice was their new touring vocalist, Damien Boynton. On record and in past performances with historic Glen Benton as your singer you get quiet a range of sounds. He'll give you the much desired deep lows and excitement filled screams. Damnien on the other hand stayed at mid tone half growl. This style could work alright with some other band, but Vital Remains, who are one of the heaviest, technically proficient, and traditional bands in death metal, deserve a fuller spectrum vocalist.

The crowd despite the low attendance and sound torture made reserve from going nuts. Stage diving, rafter hanging, bar stool podium sing alongs, and sloppy moshing were all in attendance. Suzuki crunched out solo after solo whether his amp was working or not, but quickly received technical support from fans to bash a cord back in its place or slap a tone pedal. One woman felt the strong desire to make constant reference where each member's penis was located. You know, incase they forgot.

The new material got played quick and early in the beginning of the set, which I felt was wise. There is nothing in particular wrong with the new songs, and they are just as brutal as ever, but they don't hook like Dechristianize songs can. It's great to hear my favorite new track Scorned, but there is a detectable difference in attitude from band and fans alike when Dechristianze material. Witnessing "Devoured Elysium" brings out the most comic book evil in everyone.

For the whole beginning of the concert some drunk guy couldn't stop yelling ""Anthony!" in reference to Anthony Geremia, vocalist on Vital's last tour and well known Providence bouncer. He was an active member in the crowd that night. In past shows with Vital, Geremia was home run for the fans and the question lingers why he wasn't on stage again. Looking at the tension in the band's eyes every time the drunk called the name, I got the sense that there might have been some sort of falling out between the band and Anthony, but never the less he did take the stage for one song. In that one song Geremia exploded with energy fumbling all over the stage with discernible attitude to show Damien how it's done for Vital Remains.

By the sets end the lights quickly came up and the PA was shut out. The band and Fans begged for the sound board operator to turn the sound back on for one more. After 5 minutes he finally caved in, but left the lights on. So for an encore they sent everyone home with Saviour To None, Failure For All, but with the house lights on it created an awkward vulnerable feeling. A fitting touch to an odd and sloppy concert.