The USA Sickness Tour (2019): Morbid Angel / Watain / Incantation
What better way to end 2019 than with some good ole fashioned death and black metal from three legendary bands: Morbid Angel, Watain with special guests Incantation. What makes this night even more special is that it takes place at the lovely and spacious Buckhead Theatre, which is not normally the spot to watch a show of this metal magnitude. So when I first saw the announcement for The USA Sickness Tour pop up on my Facebook feed, I knew that Concerthopper had to cover this momentous event featuring three of the biggest names in the metal community at the Buckhead Theatre.
Kicking off the night was the band Incantation (death metal/death-doom) who hails from Johnstown, Pennsylvania and have been making music since 1989. Incantation is considered one of the forerunners in the New York City death metal scene (along with such names as Suffocation, Mortician, and Immolation) despite living in an entirely, different state. The band consists of John McEntee (guitar/vocals), Chuck Sherwood (bass), Kyle Severn (drums), and Sonny Lombardozzi (guitar) and have released ten (10) LPs, two (2) live LPs, four (4) EPs, two (2) singles, three (3) splits, one (1) DVD, and three (3) demos. With such an expansive discography, I was really curious to hear what tracks they would play in their opening set. They came out with a full on onslaught and spared no punches for the crowd that came early for their set. What a way to kick off the evening!
Check out some of Incantation’s music over on their Official Bandcamp page today!
Next up was the Swedish black metal band Watain which formed as a band back in 1998 by Erik Danielsson a.k.a E (vocals/bass), Hakan Jonsson a.k.a. H (drums), and Pelle Forsberg a.k.a. P (guitar). Although, it is worth noting that Pelle was denied entry into the United States before the tour started by U.S. Customs and Border agents despite having been approved a US Working Visa. Normally, the band would tour with other live musicians: Alvaro Lillo (guitar/bass), Hampus Eriksson a.k.a. H. Death (guitars), and Emil Svensson a.k.a. E. Forcas (drums). But due to Pelle not being able to make the tour, changes had to be made as they perform as a quartet. Alvaro will move to guitar while lead singer Erik Danielsson will handle playing the bass.
My first encounter with Watain was a few years back while they toured with Mayhem (yes, that Mayhem!) and my fellow Greek brethren Rotting Christ. Incidentally, Rotting Christ will make their way back stateside in April, so stay tuned (hold on for a shameless plug!) to Concerthopper when we cover Devastation of the Nation Tour featuring the aforementioned Rotting Christ, Borknagar, Wolfheart, Abigail Williams, and Imperial Triumphant at The Masquerade (04/11/2020). Thanks for letting me do that drop, now take a look at Watain’s set list from this night below!
Also, head over to Watain’s Official Soundcloud page and hear some of their songs for yourself!
Set list 12/19/2019 Buckhead Theatre
1. “Sworn to the Dark”
2. “Nuclear Alchemy”
3. “Reaping Death”
4. “I Am the Earth”
5. “Furor Diabolicus”
6. “Malfeitor”
7. “Total Funeral”
8. “On Horns Impaled”
Closing out the night was none other than death metal’s mighty stalwarts, Morbid Angel. I can remember vividly the very, first time I heard anything from this band. It was 1991 and Morbid Angel had just released their second LP, Blessed Are the Sick. A friend had told me about them and brought over his cassette tape so we could listen to it in my room. Holy shit, what an album! Tracks like “Day of Suffering”, “Thy Kingdom Come”, and the self-titled “Blessed Are the Sick/Leading the Rats” were some of my favorites back then and still to this day. My personal favorite LPs, Covenant and Domination, are their third and fourth releases respectively. Covenant was released in 1993 on Earache Records and featured some classics such as “World of Shit (The Promised Land)” and “Vengeance is Mine”. Domination was released in 1995 and featured some heavy hitting tracks like; “Dominate”, “Where the Slime Live”, and “Nothing but Fear”.
Fast forward to present day, Morbid Angel has released nine (9) LPs, two (2) live LPs, two (2) EPs, and have been featured on two (2) compilation LPs. After many lineups changes over the years, the lineup consists of Trey Azagthoth (guitar/guitar synthesizer/keyboards), Steve Tucker (vocals/bass), Scott Fuller (drums), and Dan Vadim Von (guitars). Although, Morbid Angel played a few songs that I wanted to hear, “Day of Suffering” and “Abominations”, they also played some tracks that I have not heard in many years, so it was great to revisit them.
Visit Morbid Angel’s Official Soundcloud page and listen to their discography today!
Set list 12/19/2019 Buckhead Theatre
1. Piles of Little Arms
2. D.E.A.D.
3. Garden of Disdain
4. Architect and Iconoclast
5. Unholy Blasphemy
6. Day of Suffering
7. Blasphemy
8. Abominations
9. Prayer of Hatred
10. Rapture
11. Summoning
12. “I”
13. Nothing is Not
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