When the opportunity arose to review Thy Art is Murder, I honestly wasn’t sure whether or not I wanted
to do it! Apart from my initial reservations about attending a deathcore gig of a school night, I realised I hadn’t really followed the band that closely since their release of Hate (2013) and Holy War (2015). Three questions lingered in my mind the morning of the gig that ultimately left me no choice but to go;
Were they going to attempt their old material with n e w vocalist Tyler Miller? What does Thy Art even sound like post the departure of long-time vocalist CJ McMahon and more importantly (to me, at least), what are they doing to remain relevant since the genres recent explosion of popularity?
A message listing Stage-times for the show confirmed I had made the right choice; the lineup was immense! TAIM had brought four supports to Dublin’s Academy right off the back of Download, and they were all ready to bring that big festival energy to the little venue!
Erra photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Cure
Gungrave
Crawl Backwards Out of Heaven
Slow Sour Bleed
Blue Reverie
Pale Iris
Snowblood
I arrived at 7pm, just as Shadow of Intent had plunged the stage into Darkness. A delicate symphonic black metal like melody echoed through the dimly lit room before being enveloped by a hefty riff that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Bloodbath record. The Heretic Prevails and From Ruin, We Rise stood out as highlights not only of their set, but the whole night; beautifully demonstrating Ben Duerrs incredible vocal talent. His range, power, technique and control blew me away from the outset; a performance that easily surpasses that of any other vocalist I have seen live (including Will Ramos of Lorna Shore). Alpha Wolf were the next to bound on stage, wasting no time in working the crowd as they summoned the mass towards them before so much as playing a single note. I didn’t expect I’d enjoy their. brand of metal-core, but the second they lunged into action I was 100% on board! Tracks such as Sucks 2 Suck and Sub-zero evoked the best of early 2000s nu-metal, instantly devolving the pit into a scene that reminded me of Limp Bizket’s Woodstock 99 footage! Vocalist Lochie Keogh and bassist John Arnold were puppet-masters, and we the audience were powerless to resist their will.
As Fit for a Kings entrance was met with an eruption of cheers and chants it became clear to me that each of the bands billed as supports could well have taken the headline slot in their own right. Fan favorite tracks Backbreaker and Vendetta sent the pit into riot; the call and response elements of each song driving fans further and further into frenzy. The standout of their set for me however was When Everything Means Nothing, a song that allows Ryan Kirby’s clean vocals to soar (while also providing some well needed respite prior to the main event). Four hours had elapsed since the venues doors had opened. Condensation clung to the walls of the building and a thick mist hung over a pit of now mostly shirtless fans eager to welcome their headliner on-stage.
Shadow Of Intent / Alpha Wolf / Fit For A King photos & set-lists:
Shadow Of Intent set-list:
Blood in the Sands of Time
Gravesinger
Flying The Black Flag
Barren and Breathless Macrocosm
The Heretic Prevails
From Ruin… We Rise
Alpha Wolf set-list:
Bring Back The Noise
Creep
Sub-Zero
Bleed 4 You
Sucks 2 Suck
Haunter
Akudama
Fit For A King set-list:
The Hell We Create
Breaking the Mirror
End (The Other Side)
Reaper
Backbreaker
Eyes Roll Back
Vendetta
When Everything Means Nothing
God of Fire
The air was heavy, and it noticeably bared down on those who had pushed up to the front of the crowd too early in the night. Just as some started to fade however, the venue burst into technicolour illuminating hundreds of bemused, flushed and sweaty faces as the bands intro (Vengabus) blared through the sound-system. This was going to be a good set!
Thy Art started strong with a track of Godlike, as expected. New vocalist Tyler Miller then dominated the bands back catalogue of fan favorite tracks, demonstrating that he was a more than adequate replacement for CJ on every one of them! Make America Hate Again, Holy War, The Purest Strain of Hate and Puppet Master were among the most impressive tracks of the set; particularly in that Miller’s vocals were indistinguishable from CJs on any of them! More impressive still w a s the fact that Miller appeared to be holding back on them; reserving his power and ferocity for the bands new material such as Bermuda, Keres and Everything Unwanted.
The reaction to these songs was perhaps my favorite part of the night! It was clear not only that Thy Art’s fans have fully accepted Miller a s their new vocalist, but that Godlike was every bit as loved as the albums that had first put me onto the band nearly 10 years ago! It was also clear that I had made a mistake in failing to follow the band through the many albums they had released between then and now! What wasn’t clear is why I stopped listening to them or how I could think this show was anything but.unmissable from the day it was announced! I’ll be looking forward to seeing them again!
Thy Art Is Murder photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Destroyer of Dreams
Slaves Beyond Death
Death Squad Anthem
Make America Hate Again
Blood Throne
Join Me in Armageddon
Bermuda
Human Target
Holy War
The Purest Strain of Hate
Godlike
Keres
Everything Unwanted
Reign of Darkness
Puppet Master
Photos Carl Foran – @carlforanphotography
Words by Joe Moran – @iosaf_o_explosiff