If you’re unfamiliar with Sunrot, you need to change that! Holy shit! This in-your-face, power sludge\crust band filled the stage and kicked off the three-band bill right with immediate and intense energy and the best kind of noise.

 

This was my first introduction to Ragana’s atmospheric and melodic blackened doom. The Oakland/Olympia duo has an incredible range and had been touring for ten years, so I for one, have been missing out. I definitely wanted more when the set ended.

Vile Creature slays, end of story. Vic’s tortured eerie vocals and KW’s heavy guitar moved through the room with a slow, creeping infection of gorgeous doom. This experimental duo, based out of Ontario, usually only comes out to play for the most exciting festivals like Roadburn and Amplifest.  They simply have too many cats to tour, so you have to love them for that. They don’t play New York often, and they won’t be touring any time soon, so keep your ear to the ground if you want to catch them live.

 

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY DANTE TORRIERI