By Gina Mattucci
Baltimore Watchdog staff writer
It may have been brisk for a late April night, but that didn’t discourage people from coming out to Ottobar for a night of metal with tickets and vaccination cards in hand.
With an April 28 lineup stacked with varied sounds, the crowd varied from veteran metalheads to casual concert goers—all excited for something different.
Gatecreeper, the Arizona-based death metal headliners brought the heat, along with unique openers for their North American tour. They’ve come to Baltimore plenty of times, but Narrow Head, 200 Stab Wounds, and Fearing were new to Charm City.
The night opened with Fearing, a west coast post-punk group. They crooned away as the mild crowd swayed with their dark, atmospheric sounds.
On stage stood only three members, two guitarists and a bassist, but their lack of live drums and synths didn’t deter them or their music. They played with a deep connection to their songs.
Their lighting choices were unconventional. They only used backlighting for their set, creating a haunting silhouette of each member on the stage. While the choice was mostly for comfortability, it added depth to the atmosphere they had carefully crafted with their music.
“We don’t like lights in our face, and usually when you’re on stage they do it from the front,” said Fearing frontman James Rogers.
He designs and programs the lights himself with a MIDI program, syncing the lights with the band’s drum machine.
“It’s very uncomfortable,” Rogers said. “We never got used to that. We like heavy backlighting.”
Next on the bill was 200 Stab Wounds, and it was a far cry from the dulcet tunes before. These up-and-coming death metal virtuosos from Ohio ripped through their set. This was the band’s first performance as an ensemble in Baltimore, and many of the audience’s first time seeing them.
While their movements were bustling, not an ounce of musical talent was sacrificed in their demeanor—they stayed incredibly tight. Most of the crowd closely observed as the band raged onstage with fast and furious musicianship.
“I can always appreciate when people watch us play and pay attention,” said Steven Jacob Buhl, vocalist and lead guitarist. “But it’s weird when we play a crowd where they’re just kind of observing, because we’re up there just going crazy.”
Afterword, Narrow Head, a Texas-based band graced the stage. They brought the intensity down from the set before, but not the mood.
Their grunge aesthetics coupled with the mix of hardcore and melodic vocals were charming. The lively stage presence helped to maintain the excitement of the night, even with the calmer demeanor of their milder sound.
Their music is inviting and their disposition on stage created a fun atmosphere that anyone could enjoy—even those who’ve never listened.
“I have not seen any of these bands before,” said Mayra Donnelly, a local and newcomer to the hardcore and metal scene. “I love the whole grittiness of it. I’ve always wanted to come here. My friend bought me a ticket and she said come with me, so it’s a fresh experience.”
For those who regularly attend metal sets in the Baltimore area, the anticipation leading up to Gatecreeper was palpable.
“This is my second time seeing Gatecreeper,” said Brennan Brammer, a seasoned guest at metal and hardcore shows. “I think their performances are unusually emotional for a death metal band. They’re a 10 out of 10.”
Gatecreeper finally arrived on stage and the venue had considerably filled out. People pushed to the front and opened a pit as the beginning chords were struck.
Bright green light enveloped the stage as well as the entire room. Fog pumped onto the stage and lingered into the audience. The refraction from the light against the smog enveloped the space.
With a commanding personality on stage, each member of the band was able to capture and sway the audience. All this coupled with their menacing sound transformed the quaint venue into a crypt.
As far as death metal is concerned, their music is catchy, albeit more basic. They have memorable riffs and good vocals. However, the band couples intense aesthetics and impressive stage presence to give people a very authentic experience.
The decision to mix different genres of music with each band for the evening was a risk that paid off well. It invited different demographics of music fans to come and enjoy a band they know and love, as well as new bands and new sounds.
Chase Mason, front man for Gatecreeper, said that this was a deliberate decision.
“We put this tour together of different sounding bands because we wanted it to be like a mixtape of different types of music that we like,” Mason said.