Since 2011, the guys in SKELETONWITCH from Athens, Ohio have only been touring in support of other bands. The time came in 2014 for their next headliner concert series, and good thing too. Having established themselves as thrash metal phenoms before the release of their 2013 album "Serpents Unleashed", it's nice to see them bringing their own style to the stage for a massive set encompassing their latest album and several of their older ones.
When I saw them in January as support for AMON AMARTH, they kicked off a quick, thirty-minute set with "Within My Blood", so while I was expecting that to be the case, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they were indeed closing with that one. My impression of the set list as they played through it was that the way the songs are performed live match consistently with the recorded version of each individual song. No one missed a note, a beat, or a lyric. Chance, the vocalist, was actively engaging the crowd and for a laugh, I managed to capture his attention and helped make a segue into the next song. There was plenty of beer to be accounted for, however, so all parties involved were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
The level of the Masquerade venue that this particular show took place was fairly small, but adequately sized for the crowd in attendance. While drawing a moderate crowd, it was a special blend of characters because without a doubt, there was a mosh pit that never really stopped, crowdsurfing aplenty, and it's not always a guarantee to see those things at a show where the crowd isn't the biggest.
Needless to say, the fans who made the trip to the show were not disappointed, but, as is so common (and cool of the band to do so), they were out and about in the venue before and after their set, so the fans who recognized them were paid back for coming out by the "Chance" to stop and make conversation. The openers were not to be taken lightly either, as BLACK ANVIL and GHOUL are heavyweights in the world of Metal. All in all, this one a fantastic performance and I was honored to be a part of SKELETONWITCH's first Atlanta show since 2011 as a headlining act, and I'm looking forward to seeing more from them in the near future!
Setlist:
1. More Cruel Than Weak
2. I am of Death
3. From A Cloudless Sky
4. Burned From Bone
5. Upon Wings of Black
6. Choke Upon Betrayal
7. The Infernal Ressurection
8. Fire FRom The Sky
9. Stand, Fight, Die
10. Beneath Dead Leaves
11. Serpents Unleashed
12. This Horrifying Force (The Desire To Kill)
13. Crushed Beyond Dust
14. Unending, Ever Living
15. Cleaver of Souls
16. Beyond The Permafrost
17. Baptized in Flames
18. Limb From Limb
19. Repulsive Salvation
20. Of Ash and Torment
21. Within My Blood
