The third night of Heavy Chicago II was once again a trip through a wide variety of styles from the metal underground. There were some obvious bands the audience wanted to see, but also groups that took everyone by surprise. That was the beauty of the festival. It wasn’t overbooked, it was easy to follow and easy to focus on. Could this be the best night?
Exegesis opened the third and final day of Heavy Chicago II. This band came all the way from Bogota, Columbia to play for the Chicago audience. They very driven from the start. You could see a very strong image, coordination, and joy of being on stage. Their style could be described as a progressive gothic thrash metal with a very strong emphasis on musicianship. Those boys had the chops, and they were not afraid to make them shine. Exegesis had a very exciting showcase in Chicago with a bombastic set!
Lurid was the first band of the evening to represent local Chicago scene. They came from the darkest depths of the Windy City, and played a very solid black metal set. The band was tight, and quite inventive in their arrangements. All of it translated into songs that channeled a very dark intensity, but possessed a level of musical intelligence. Even the live presentation was a bit unusual in places, but never the less thought provoking. Lurid certainly left the stage with a very good impression, and they certainly will be going places in time to come.
Putrid Pile showed how one man can do it all. Yes, Shaun LaCanne, is completely responsible for every instrument you hear on the records. In a live situation, it's just him with a guitar, microphone, and programmed back up tracks. It was a feast of brutal black metal from Wisconsin. LaCanne played like he was a man on a mission. While doing so, he’s managed to paralyze the audience with his ruthless and savage music. Putrid Pile reduced everything to dust, not even Chicago wind could touch it.
The Skull brought back the mood from the last evening when Legions of Doom occupied the stage. Karl Agell handled all of the vocals this evening. Agell did a wonderful job trying to keep the spirit of Eric Wagner alive. He gave the songs a slightly different dynamic, while maintaining the original feel. The band took quite a few chances improvising and jamming on some of the tracks. All of it turned this performance into an event that will certainly stay for a while with the audience. Great to see The Skull still being a band, and moving beyond the established norms. Fantastic set with a very special Chicago touch!
Profanatica represented classic American black metal at Heavy Chicago. It was an extreme power-trio, with legendary, Paul Ledney, on drums and vocals. This show was very image driven, but it was a commanding presentation. Broken bones and all. Musically, it was loud, dirty, and above all mysterious! The audience was definitely captivated and shocked by the onslaught this trio had bestowed upon them. Profanatica branded Chicago with a pentagram from the darkest side of metal!
Pissing Razors was like a rollercoaster ride, this band was tight, heavy, wild, and unstoppable. It’s been a while since Pissing Razors were seen in this area, so there were quite a few die-hard fans awaiting their return. The band did not disappoint, they were flying from one song to the next. Big riffs, heavy groove, and a lot of space for the vocalist, Joe Rodriguez, to do his magic. Pissing Razors maintained a high level of aggression, and their set flew by very quickly.
Cynic concluded the festival with a very special performance. Not only was it musical, but extremely visual. Cynic was trying to channel and express their music on multiple levels. In many ways, the visual aspect of the show helps to carry the sounds through one’s soul. Cynic evolves continuously, and they are focusing more on feelings than let’s say simple heaviness. It’s a different kind of solidity that might not be easy to decipher, but it’s worth the effort to do so. Such was the show at Heavy Chicago. The band was flying through a variety of moods with a very gentle touch of musical mechanics. Cynic showed fantastic musicianship on stage, and a way to contain that talent by giving each song exactly what it needed. Paul Masvidal is certainly a visionary and he continues to excel in his field. Vocalist, Brian DeNeffe, of Viogression joined Cynic on stage for the conclusion of their set. Cynic’s set felt like a therapy after three long festival days. It was a perfect mood to exit the euphoria.
Heavy Chicago II is now a history. It was a very well put together festival. It ran very smoothly, no shows were delayed, and the technical problems were quickly solved. Every band that stepped onto that stage delivered 100%. It was great to see everyone trying to be at their best. There were some good, great, and amazing performances, and everyone had their own personal favorites. As a musical event, Heavy Chicago was simply splendid, and those of you who were these know it too. Great effort, great job, great music, and now great memories!
Mark Kadzielawa
CYNIC
PISSING RAZORS
PROFANATICA
THE SKULL
PUTRID PILE
LURID
EXEGESIS
