REVIEW: Cianide, Johnny Vomit, Cardiac Arrest and Bones

WHEN:  November 26, 2011
WHERE:  The Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago

Cianide

I don’t think you could possibly fit any more people into The Empty Bottle than there were at Saturday night’s show, which had arguably the best line-up of any death metal gig I’ve ever been to.  Here’s what you need to know:

• Chicago death metal veterans Cianide, who are currently waiting for Macabre to split up so they can be the reigning kings of Chicago death metal, played a career-spanning set of skull-crushing death metal, including personal favorite “Forsaken Doom” from this year’s Gods of Death.  Why these guys aren’t better known in the world of death metal is beyond me (Well, I actually have an idea of why that is, but you’ll have to hunt down my A.V. Club piece on Chicago metal for more on that).  They’re at least as good as anything that ever came out of Florida.

My Hand Is Killing Me.  I need to find something better to do than pounding the stage with my fist when I’m up front during a band like this.

• Johnny Vomit were highly entertaining, to say the least, as they enlightened the crowd on the virtues of eating, drinking, fucking and sleeping — and using Butternut bread bags for condoms.  Every band on this bill moved a ton of air during this show, but when these guys were on stage, you could literally feel the sound hitting you the entire time.

Next Time, Bring Enough For Everyone.  The bread fight that followed the theatrical Mr. Vomit’s throwing of a loaf of bread into the crowd was fun, but it would have been even better with more bread.

• Cardiac Arrest are highly-regarded in the realm of Midwest death metal, as well.  On a line-up that covered pretty much every stylistic base of death metal, these guys had the horror and gore themes covered.  Opening act Bones, the latest band to feature former Usurper madman Jon Necromancer, covered the crusty, Motörhead-influenced base, throwing in a Devastation cover for good measure.

Cred in Question.  With this many local legends on one bill, where were you?  You should have been there instead of having to read this.

November 27, 2011 | Categories: Bones, Cardiac Arrest, Cianide, Johnny Vomit | Tags: Bones, bread fights, Cardiac Arrest, Cianide, crust, death metal, Empty Bottle, Johnny Vomit, Jon Necromancer, Mike Perun, Scott Carroll, show with the most songs including '666', the art of using Butternut bread bags as prophylactics | Leave a comment