The Black Opera Across North America – Fleshgod Apocalypse & Shadow of Intent co headline HOBLV

October 12, 2024- Back to the House of Blues Las Vegas I go! This night brought us back to one of our favorite venues for The Black Opera Across North America tour featuring Disembodied Tyrant, The Zenith Passage, Ingested, and a dual headline with Shadow of Intent and Fleshgod Apocalypse. This tour is in support of Fleshgod Apocalypse’s album titled, Opera, which was released in August of this year. 

Disembodied Tyrant 

Our first band of five is Disembodied Tyrant. I couldn’t find too much information about these guys, other than the fact that the band is a symphonic progressive deathcore project put together by multi instrumentalist/vocalist, Blake Mullens. The band played a completely instrumental only set. I couldn’t find any reasoning as to why they just did instrumentals tonight, since it seems like in past shows they do showcase vocal capabilities, but that’s okay. I enjoy instrumental music and this was probably one of the most intense sets I’ve seen in a long time. 

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By this time, I found myself a little bummed at the lackluster crowd, but it was still pretty early at this point, and it did end up filling out a bit on the main floor as we progressed through the evening. 

The Zenith Passage

Onto the second band. Now… I’m not sure how this happened, but I have somehow missed The Zenith Passage through the years, they’re a tech death band from Los Angeles, they’re fucking signed to Metal Blade, and they play here quite a lot.. Again. I have literally zero idea how I have not been out to see these guys. I surely regret not seeing this band in the past. I’ll admit that I’m a little selective when it comes to the types of death metal that I fancy, but these guys got me going in all the right ways. Technical and brutal. I may be wrong here, but The Zenith Passage’s set seemed pretty short in comparison to the rest of the bill. But their energy filled the room, and they were really fun to watch. I’ll definitely be making sure I do not miss these guys again on the next run!

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Ingested

Just about halfway through the evening is when UK’s Ingested takes the stage. This band has to be one of the most brutally intense bands I’ve seen this year, or ever really. The Metal Encyclopedia included deathcore in their classification of this band, but I have to respectfully disagree with that after listening and seeing them perform live. I hear much more true death metal and slam like elements rather than anything else.

With that, it is not to be glossed over that Ingested are insanely heavy. And that’s kind of what you get with two 8 string guitar players and no bass. (If you want gear and guitar talk, I’m definitely not one to turn to. But I have had plenty of conversations with my guitarist husband about these sorts of things and how more “djent” style guitars can pretty much cut out the need for a bass player, I just think the shit sounds cool.)  

Despite the crowd being pretty small for this one, vocalist Jason Evans did his best to keep the crowd energy high by inciting a wall of death, and encouraging a crowd jump from all the fans on the floor and all around the venue. These commands were met with excitement, and I really wish there were more people in attendance to take part in this enjoyable piece of the evening.

On this run, Ingested is supporting their seventh studio album, The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams which was released on April 5th of this year on Metal Blade Records.(2024) Ingested ended their set with Impending Dominance, off of their 2020 record,  Where Only Gods May Thread. 

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Shadow of Intent

It’s been a few years since I’ve seen Connecticut’s Shadow of Intent. Looking back at my past review of these guys, I realize that I didn’t really take the time to properly express my likeness for Ben Duerr’s vocal talents. As I sit here and re-listen to one of their latest songs, Flying the Black Flag, I am transported back into the mental place that I was in when they performed in front of me. With that feeling, I am dialed in on these drastic vocal ups and downs and as I DID mention in my previous review, I still can’t believe I slept on them for so long. I have been doing my best to keep up with all their happenings, and I am really enjoying their growth within the deathcore niche. 

I really do think that Shadow of Intent is the future of where deathcore could and should be heading. This time around they had a very impressive light show and overall stage set up, and their energy is just undeniably contagious. 

I also just want to point out how happy drummer Bryce Butler looks at all times while he’s behind his kit. The music is so brutal and intense, and there he is back there happy as can be! 

Shadow of Intent are one of those bands that have self released all of their albums. In a brutal industry to get noticed in, to have gotten the attention they have, and the tours they’ve been able to land, that is just an incredible thing for a band of this caliber. I am thoroughly excited for the success of this band, and I cannot wait to see what they’ve got in the chamber. I will also be patiently awaiting their return so I can review and enjoy them a third time. 

I have not been able to find any substantial information about when their next album will drop. Just a release of Flying the Black Flag and a subreddit post that dates back about 9 months where Ben is speaking with fans and getting input. I guess I’ll just have to add myself to their email newsletter and make sure I’m keeping up with that. You should do the same! 

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Fleshgod Apocalypse

Our final act for the evening is Italian symphonic death metal band, Fleshgod Apocalypse. The band consists of Francesco Paoli on bass, Fabio Bartoletti on lead guitar/backing vocals, Francesco Ferrini on piano, Eugene Ryabchenko on drums, and Veronica Bordacchini on clean operatic vocals. What I found incredible and unique about this band upon reading about their history, is the pure talent and variety of instruments that founding member Francesco Paoli has seemed to play for this band through the years. (That’s not to discredit the other members of the band, the entire band is simply phenomenal.)

During the setup of the stage, classical music was played on the overhead system. Usually there’s a variety of music being played at any given time on that overhead, but classical music just seemed to help amp up the energy for this final set. 

Right out of the gate, the band took the stage and announced that their vocalist Veronica Bordacchini was unable to perform due to feeling so ill the evening before in Los Angeles that she left the stage halfway through the set. She is resting in hopes that they can continue this tour run as they had planned it. In her place, backing tracks from previous live shows were used to supplement the sound, since they didn’t want to cancel the show. Fans roared in excitement and approval. The show goes on! 

The overall stage set up was simple, yet dramatic. With the drummer on stage right, and a piano on stage left, and an intense backdrop that makes you feel like you’re actually in an opera house. I also have been to hundreds of concerts at the House of Blues, and I cannot ever recall anyone playing a piano on this stage! I thought that was interesting and cool. But also, I would expect nothing less than a legit symphonic death metal band. 

Through the entire set, the band was solid. They were loud, and each musician was on point. Occasionally the piano player would come to the center riser and throw his hands up to orchestrate the crowd, and further keep the energy high. This is really one of those bands that I think can potentially appeal to so many different types of metalheads. There’s so much metal that draws from the darker tones of classical music, so even if you’re more into classical stuff, I think Fleshgod Apocalypse could spruce up your playlists.

The main vocalist also spoke briefly about it being weird that they don’t have their extra vocalist. But relentlessly continued the set despite the missing piece. Fleshgod Apocalypse seemed to skip out on the encore song that is on their previous show setlists as well. I can only assume that this is because of the smaller crowd draw, and their missing fifth band member. 

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Concluding thoughts and rants

Overall, I really enjoyed this show. All of the bands were so good, and they all really shined within their respective genres and elements. What I am going to bitch about for a second though… is the lack of draw. On a SATURDAY NIGHT? Come on guys. There’s so much I could say here because I know Vegas is sometimes a strange market and we cater to a number of different scenes and shit, but at the end of the day, if you don’t come out to the shows, these bands won’t come to play here. And as a fan of all these genres, I want to see them come back. 

I will be coming out to see as many of these incredible heavy bands as I can, and if you’re into this stuff too, you should definitely be coming out also. 

Photo Credit: Live photos by Courtney Ware for ZrockR Magazine – (c) 2024 – All Rights Reserved.