Whitechapel have been making quite a name for themselves ever since their formation back in 2006. With 9 albums under their belt and arguably being the literal face of the deathcore genre, there is no denying the impact that Whitechapel has had on the music industry. With their most recent album, Hymns in Dissonance, being released on the 7th of March, the band has embarked on a tour alongside Alluvial, 200 Stab Wounds, and Brand of Sacrifice, this tour is sure to be the most chaotic and heaviest tour of the year.
Alluvial hit the stage first and, while this was my first time hearing the band, I can safely say that I am hooked. The band is simply just heavy and I love that. It is not often that you're able to see an opening band command a crowd like Alluvial did. As fans gathered to open the pit into a Wall of Death, crowd surf the night away, and leave all shreds of sanity behind, each song was better than the last. I couldn't even contain myself as I jumped into the pit as well, and thankfully only acquired minor injuries!
Up next was 200 Stab Wounds and where do I even begin to find the words to describe this band? As heavy as Alluvial was, 200 Stab Wounds took that energy and amplified it about 200% as they played some of the most demonic and evil-sounding metal that I've ever heard. The venue, which looked like a sea of people moshing as if their lives depended on it, exploded into mayhem throughout the entire set the band played. The only people that I think that were going heavier than the fans in attendance was the band themselves as they head-banged the night away!
While Brand of Sacrifice may be relatively "young" in the deathcore scene, there is no denying the impact they have had to the city of Dallas as the crowd screamed with deafening applause. While this isn't my first time getting to experience Brand of Sacrifice live, hearing "Demon King" live is something that never gets old, especially with bone-shaking bass lines and gutturals so low that they would wake the dead. Seeing the band is always a treat, but getting to hear them unveil a new and unreleased single as well? What could be better?!
After much moshing and circle-pitting, it was finally time for Whitechapel to take the stage. I think it has been about 10 or 11 years or so since I've gotten to experience the brilliance of the band, and my God, they've done nothing but improve since then. Before I dive into the show, let's be honest, deathcore fans. You've got to be lying if you say you haven’t tried to mimic the iconic sound of vocalist Phil Bozeman and his one-of-a-kind technique, at least once.
Seeing and experiencing the chaos that Whitechapel brought to Dallas was nothing short of amazing. Their set included a wonderful blend of classics, some recent releases, and a wonderful mix of songs from their nine past releases. Fans old and young were all making it a point to make Dallas the most insane stop of the tour. To be honest, I think we did it, and I am already waiting for the band's return to see them on a bigger stage with an even more chaotic lineup.
