LIVE: DECIBEL MAGAZINE TOUR 2025 – Nashville, TN, USA – March 18, 2025

Venue: Brooklyn Bowl

Date: March 18, 2025

Review and Photographs by: Jacob Smith (https://www.jhs-photo.com)

For the Tuesday after St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Brooklyn Bowl had a serious crowd of diehard fans in the house. The main room was packed, and people could get various great balcony seats to view the show. Doors opened at 530 and the show started at 630. Like clockwork a relatively new band on the scene New Skeletal Faces hit the stage and commenced to play a 30-minute opener set filled with a glam styled Death Rock. They got the room ready to roll for the remainder of the evening. Next up was an experimental metal band adorned in masks called Imperial Triumphant. I had never heard this band prior to the show, and I was absolutely in love with the long form numbers they were playing filled with slight jazzy riffs and moody visuals. I definitely made sure to pick up some merch from them after their set was done. They played a 35-minute set that felt more like an hour. I was fully into their aesthetic and mood. When they finished their set, they blew kisses to the crowd and wished thanks and then the changeover for Mortiis began. Mortiis was a bit more low-key than the two openers with his synthesizer and drummer set, but that didn’t take a single bit of energy out of the room. I felt like it was that dark and melodic pervading tone that was getting the crowd amped for the final act of the night… Mayhem.

Mayhem hit the stage in full force and played a 2 hour long set with selections off most of their albums. With a projector screen displaying behind the band, they had visuals for each song and occasionally highlighted the members that have passed. Several of the numbers were long form instrumentals while lead singer Attila was off stage changing costume or getting a small respite. During “Funeral Fog” they played Death’s vocals while they played. Their set was 20 songs and by far the highlight of the evening for everyone in the room. At the end everyone thanked the crowd and waved and exited the stage. I was ready for another encore but when I looked at my phone, I realized the night was over. Definitely could have handled a few more songs even though that was 2 hours of sheer face melting bliss. By the time Mayhem was finished my body was finished. Such a heavy and anticipated crowd and show.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the entire lineup and pace of the performances. I came away with a few new bands to enjoy in New Skeletal Faces and Imperial Triumphant and had renewed love in the moodiness and attitude of Mortiis and Mayhem. If you are thinking of getting a ticket for this Decibel Magazine Tour, I highly advise it. You will not be disappointed.

Setlists:

Mayhem: Malum – Bad Blood – MILAB – Psywar – Illuminate Eliminate – Chimera – My Death – Crystalized Pain in Deconstruction – View From Nihil – Ancient Skin – Symbols of Bloodswords – Freezing Moon – Life Eternal – De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas – Funeral Fog – Deathcrush – Chainsaw Gutsfuck – Carnage – Pure Fucking Armageddon

Imperial Triumphant: Goldstar – Eyes of Mars – Devs est machina – Hotel Sphinx – Lexington Delirium – Chernobyl Blues – Gomorrah Nouveaux – Atomic Age

New Skeletal Faces: Empathy Asphyxia – Skeleton – Structure – Until The Night – Banshee Sex Tomb – Leather Funeral – Cult Disease

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DECIBEL MAGAZINE TOUR LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

MAYHEM OFFICIAL SITE

MORTIIS OFFICIAL SITE

IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT OFFICIAL SITE

NEW SKELETAL FACES OFFICIAL SITE

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries