To say I was ecstatic walking into St. Vitus Bar for the first time in four years would be a massive understatement. As I approached the familiar corner of Manhattan Avenue and Clay Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and the ominous black door with a bunch of metal heads already gathered outside, I could feel a rush of happiness through my entire body and brain. Not very grim or troo sounding, I know. Saint Vitus Bar is just not another place to me, it was like a second home to me for the second life that I had living in New York from 2016 to 2021. Nostalgia is a powerful drug, but the reality is that I deeply and truly love this venue and everybody associated with running it. The fact that it survived the worst of times in the music industry is a testament to the power that it built and the fans that continue to support this place. Unsurprisingly, the show was a sellout tonight.
Wending my way through the building for the first time in a while after checking in at the door, I noticed some changes to the old place. In addition to a new second entrance that helps bands load in and out much easier, the entire place received a slight makeover. The altar between the bathrooms was gone, and the entire stage area was refreshed slightly. It was really cool to see the care that had been done to preserve the main bones of the room, but still make some needed changes. It was also really great to see a lot of friends and see people including some I hadn’t seen before in person here, but I had met in other places like California and Las Vegas that shows and festivals. It’s kind of nice hearing good things about you and imagining what it would be like to be an anonymous guest at your own funeral. Good stuff all around.
The first band of the night was Funeral Leech and they were terrific. I had never seen them live before and they are even better in person than they are on record. Drummer and vocalist Lucas Anderson has been a fixture in the underground scene in New York City, and really brought his a-game with his performance and artistry. The entire band was very strong live. A great example of some crusty New York Black Metal and Death Doom in particular. I made sure to pick up a vinyl of their last full-length album Death Meditation, and you should too!
Ottawa’s Unreqvited was next and they also did not disappoint. They put on a tremendous set full of atmosphere and sadness, typical – given their tremendous output since 2016 and their post-Black Metal and Shoegaze tendencies. More than a mere solo project, this group makes statement-style music. Every movement, riff, and scream has a place. Surely, this is one of the more consistent groups in the genre. The live band is also quite inspiring to hear in person. Another group that has not had a new full-length album in a while, I am looking forward to their next release with great anticipation. And of course, I also picked up an older album on vinyl: the compilation of their EPs. Stunning!
Finally, it was time for Mizmor to take the stage. Smoke continued to fill the room and the space between people became smaller. Anybody who has followed the career of ALN knows that we are discussing truly one of the more creative people ever to grace our metal-hungry ears.
Having just released one of the best albums of all of 2023 in Prozaic (Profound Lore). Their live concerts are not so much a retelling of recorded work: they are a spiritual experience among the very best in all of music. The entire sold-out crowd was feeling it as there was little chatter, and all business of music making and expressing art. Anguished screams carried over the top torrential riffs and oppressive drums slammed our brains, offset by lighter moments too. There are very few artists in extreme music who are as talented and consistent as Mizmor. We are lucky we lived in this time of this band.
WORDS BY KEEFY
PHOTOS BY DANTE TORRIERI of USELESS REBEL IMAGING