It started out as a quiet Monday evening in Midtown Detroit last week, but the show happening at The Magic Stick was going to change all that. The snug, swanky second-floor spot is a former bowling alley that provides an intimate space to catch some of the best, up-and-coming bands out there. So having Swedish stars, Orbit Culture headline at this cozy hall made a lot of sense. The Extreme, Modern Metal darlings are currently opening on a few dates for the “Here Comes the Pain” tour with the legendary Slipknot. When they are not crushing it in arenas playing for maggots, they are making their own headlining appearances. They brought along Chicago’s Repentance with them to Detroit and the night was about to get very loud.
The openers got the party started by bursting onto the stage with exuberant eagerness and verve. Vocalist Adam Gilley twirled his well-manicured mustache as he introduced who they were and shared their excitement about playing with such an exceptional act as Orbit Culture. Their New Wave of American Metal sound carried a lot of weight with their textured riffs and substantial grooves. The clamor of clangs and crashes gave their aggressive sound an industrial edge. They automatically got extra points because their very capable lead guitarist was wearing a University of Michigan hat. Their energy was infectious and the small, but hearty Monday night crowd warmed up to the band quickly. Everyone seemed to nod in approval at the quintet’s spunk and explosiveness.
The evening shifted gears when the lights turned a frosty white and some hauntingly ominous, yet elegant music poured through the speakers. You felt the Scandinavian chill through the cool, almost ethereal pieces that brought a total vibe. Then Sweden’s hottest Melodic Death Metal actt confidently strode out onto the stage and unleashed the fervently fierce song, “Black Mountain”. The room erupted into a joyous frenzy as thick and thunderous riffs blasted. The onslaught of undiluted intensity and unrelenting aggression shook the entire music hall. This group found the perfect balance of extreme and melody. They reached the heights of hard-hitting chaos while then having potent refrains full of intentional sentiment. The powerfully precise and unhinged vocals from frontman Niklas Karlsson magnified this perfectly particular sound. His calculated cleans and manic growls are one-of-a-kind. The vast range of movements on each number showcased the band’s versatility, competence, and uncommon craft.
Their eleven-song set was packed with fan favorites. The circle pit opened up when they played the popular pieces “Strangler” and “From the Inside”. Richard Hansson got off the stage and stood in the middle of the pit during these epic numbers. The magic moment of his guitar wailing as enamored fans ran around him was something truly special. They also banged out some jams from their most recent album Descent, (Seek & Strike Records) including the title track, and ending the night with the acclaimed song, “Vultures of North”. Each member carried a vital role in the substantiality of their sound. The bulky bottom end partnered well with the synths and the depth and crunch of the guitars made everything dynamically extreme. Their beefy grooves were addictive, and every number had heads banging along. Everyone got lost in the bombasticness of it all and before the audience knew it, the evening had come to an end. The band made their bows and graciously thanked their adoring onlookers. It was an exceptional evening of skill, showmanship, and spirit. We all hope they will be headlining again soon.
Buy Orbit Culture music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/3TnhNme
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY RAGIN ROSIE