Nihility Across North America – HOBLV

February 28. 2025 – I swear, I’ve literally grown up inside the House of Blues here in Las Vegas. This night took me back out to one of my most at home venues for the Nihility Across North America tour featuring DECAPITATED, INCANTATION, DARKEST HOUR, & EXMORTUS. On this tour, Incantation performed their 1994 album, Mortal Throne of Nazarene, and Decapitation performed their classic 2002 album, Nihility. With such a diverse display of metal, this one absolutely had a little bit of something for every metalhead.

EXMORTUS

Los Angeles’ own Exmortus opened up the night with a bang! I’ve been keeping up with this band since 2017 or so, though the guys have been active for much, much longer. Around 2002, to be exact. (Where the fuck was I back then? Jeez. Who knows. Anyway…) Since Exmortus is pretty much just next door, I’ve had the pleasure of photographing them on multiple occasions through the years on a number of different stages here in Vegas. I always love telling people about them, using the appropriate term, “neoclassical thrash metal” as a describing factor. It almost always provokes an interesting curiosity and I can’t help but giddily show off how absolutely fucking intense and amazing they are. Especially if you have any basic fandom of classical music, and even just a mild interest in metal.

This had to be one of the best times I’ve seen them play, though they only had about half of the stage to work with. (House of Blues does this a lot with these shows, assumingly to cut down on load in-out times.) Honestly, my only complaint is that their set was so short. Yeah, yeah. I know. They were the first band on the bill and this is normal. Otherwise I enjoyed listening to them shred through tracks from 2014’s Slave to the Sword & 2016’s Ride Forth, and of course keeping it up to date with their latest release, 2023’s Necrophony. It’s also not really an Exmortus set unless the two wielding axemen play their guitars on each other’s backs, also! That definitely was not left out and is always a fun touch. Their opening spot on the House of Blues stage was a shining example of their growth, and dedication to the SHRED!

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DARKEST HOUR

Next up we have DC’s Darkest Hour. This is another one of those bands that have climbed up there in regard to how many times I’ve seen them. I last saw them in November of 2023, and I am sitting here in disbelief because I swear it doesn’t feel like it’s been a year and a half. I digress, though. This time, just like all the last times they delivered a truly electric performance. They’re one of those bands that bridges the gaps between certain kinds of metal fans and I’ll always stand by that statement. Elements of metal and hardcore, blistering solos, and the type of energy that you just can’t help but bang your head to.

Darkest Hour released their TENTH studio album, Perpetual | Terminal early last year, so it’s safe to say they’re still hustling through the tour cycle in support of that record. So with that naturally we heard tracks from that record, but also noticeable favorites from 2007’s Deliver Us, 2005’s Undoing Ruin, and 2003’s Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation. If I’m being completely honest, those records are among my most favorites of theirs. I think the only records that this cycle didn’t pull songs from were the first two, but don’t quote me there. I definitely understand why a band of this nature wouldn’t include such deep cuts. Their overall evolution through the last two decades is palpable.

Darkest Hour are one of the hardest working bands of my generation, relentless with their touring, and releasing quality records one after the other. They’re definitely one of those bands you shouldn’t miss out on when they hit your city!

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INCANTATION

I’ll admit that I’m not nearly as versed in Incantation’s music as the two bands that played before them on this night. As I mentioned at the beginning, Incantation performed their 1994 record, Mortal Throne of Nazarene. I’ve mentioned in the past that when it comes to death metal, I’m not nearly as knowledgeable as I am in other genres, such as thrash, or other subgenres that come from death metal. So basically, you don’t have to take me too seriously here.

Incantation stuck to the tracklisting of their Mortal Throne of Nazarene album. I hadn’t listened to this record before, so I wasn’t too sure what I was walking into. There were some elements there that I wasn’t too crazy about. Doom elements aren’t really in my wheelhouse and a lot of this record had those elements. Again- this is one of those things that I am admittedly not versed very well in. At any rate, Incantation performed well, were charismatic, and the floor was still pretty active for the most part so that’s always a good sign.

I’d be willing to see these guys again in the future to see if they peak some more of my interests with a more varied setlist that showcases their catalogue, since I’m definitely into some of their thrash influences and such. But with Incantation’s clear longevity as a band, having formed in 1989, it’s obvious that they’re doing something right and fans are still coming out to the shows.

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DECAPITATED

And for the big finale!

Hailing all the way from Poland, Decapitated took the stage as the final band for the evening. As mentioned above, they performed their classic 2002 album, Nihility.

It wouldn’t feel right talking about this record without mentioning that guitarist/founder Wacław “Vogg” Kiełtyka formed Decapitated as a young teen alongside his younger brother and drummer, Witold “Vitek” Kiełtyka. Vitek ended up passing away in 2007, a result of injuries from a car accident. This terrible incident led to a temporary disbandment. But despite all of what had happened, Vogg moved on forward with like minded musicians to continue on the works of him and his brother- and I’d say they’ve very well paid off and done well for themselves. Upon my digging on the interwebs, it’s been said that Decapitated are “among death metal’s elites”, along with creating some of death metal’s most significant albums.

Decapitated stayed true to what was advertised and played Nihility in its entirety. That record is really fucking cool, and it also included an awesome cover of “Suffer the Children” by Napalm Death as a closer. After the main setlist, though, they threw in five additional songs; four of them being from their latest album – 2022’s Cancel Culture, and one from 2017’s Anticult. They performed exceptionally well, and they embody all of the elements I really do love about my particular tastes in death metal. It’s easy to see why they are and have been so impactful as a band.

I look forward to what the future holds for them, and I hope to see them rip up the stage again in the future!

Until next time…