A Memorable Sonic Journey with Bell Witch, Spirit Possesion and Aberration
Review & Photos by Ben McKone
Aberration
BAndcamp
The dark and chilling winds of October embraced the Twin Cities as metal enthusiasts gathered at the venerable Turf Club in St. Paul for a night of auditory assault. The lineup was diverse, featuring Minneapolis-based black/death metal band Aberration, the enigmatic black metal act Spirit Possession, and the mournful doom metal duo Bell Witch. As the night unfolded, it became clear that this would be a sonic journey to remember.
Opening the evening with a burst of aggression, Aberration took to the stage like a whirlwind. With relentless riffs, thunderous percussion, and a stage presence that exuded pure intensity, they immediately claimed the audience's attention. Unfortunately, for all their audial might, they were perhaps a photographer’s worst nightmare. Choosing to play shrouded almost completely in darkness and fog, the group refused to emerge from the shadows, which fit their music but made capturing them almost impossible. Not that the rest of the audience seemed to mind, however. Aberration is a bit of a Minneapolis metal supergroup, featuring vocalist/guitarist John Hancock (yes, that’s his real name) of the death-doom band Void Rot, as well as bassist Dylan Haseltine of Suffering Hour, who have emerged as perhaps the best-known Minnesota band in the current extreme metal scene.
Self-described as ‘light devouring abyssal death metal’, Aberration play a cavernous, highly aggressive form of death metal that should please fans of Altarage, Antediluvian, and other groups following in the footsteps of the mighty Incantation. Sharing vocal duties, both Hancock and Haseltine's guttural growls resonated with a force that sent shivers down the spine. Their set was a maelstrom of fury, punctuated by moments of eerie atmosphere, showcasing their blackened death metal prowess. The crowd moshed and headbanged with fervor, surrendering to the band's relentless energy. Having released just one EP so far, Aberration are scheduled to release their debut LP next spring on Sentient Ruin Laboratories, and no doubt it will make a splash in the scene.
Spirit Possession
Bandcamp
The atmosphere took a mystical turn as Spirit Possession emerged from the shadows. Veiled in darkness and adorned in minimalistic but striking makeup, the band created an aura of ritualistic eeriness. Mercifully, the Portland, Oregon-based duo brought a bit more light with them; but not much. The stage was bathed in dim red light, adding to the occult ambiance. Spirit Possession play a highly energetic, thrashy brand of black metal which calls back to early genre figures like Mortuary Drape and more modern groups like Negative Plane. With haunting melodies, grim vocal incantations, and a dissonant guitar sound, Spirit Possession channeled an otherworldly presence. Frontman Steve Peacock played his guitar fingerstyle - an extreme rarity in this genre- nimbly dancing across the fretboard. His complex guitar lines interrelated with the unorthodox time signatures of drummer Ashley Spungin, creating an off-kilter and chaotic atmosphere. Peacock’s vocals sat somewhere between a first-wave black metal snarl and a sort of deranged occult sermon. Both musicians stood out as highly talented and enthusiastic, making their technically demanding music seem easy to play. The enthusiasm from both was palpable and despite their sinister accouterments, the duo truly seemed delighted to be in their element and making music. Their set was a mesmerizing descent into black metal's abyss, casting a captivating spell over the audience.
Bell Witch
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As the night deepened, Bell Witch, known for their colossal doom metal, took the stage. To say the audience was excited was a bit of an understatement. When frontman Dylan Desmond let out the first rumbling note from his seven-string instrument, a voice from within the ground shouted out “IT BEGINS!”. With only a bassist/vocalist and a drummer, they met the audiences’ high expectations and delivered a seismic performance. The slow, resonant bass lines and ethereal vocals created a haunting, almost meditative experience. Each note reverberated through the venue, creating an oppressive yet strangely comforting atmosphere. Their minimalistic approach allowed every nuance of their music to shine. Like Steve Peacock of Spirit Possession, Desmond does not use a pick, instead almost exclusively using tapping to play his bass. This technique bridged all of his notes together, adding to the immersive feel of the music. His clean vocals sat delicately on top of the bed of heavy sounds, providing a counterpoint for all the noise. The audience stood in awe, swaying to the slow, crushing rhythms and mournful melodies.
If Desmond provided much of the band’s melodicism, drummer and backing vocalist Jesse Shreibman handled their harsher sounds, both with his earth-shaking percussive hits and ragged harsh vocals. Displaying prowess with all of his limbs, Shreibman even began the set by playing an organ intro with his feet.
Bell Witch’s music is all about the crescendo; the slow build from drone to climax. The volume of their set was incredible throughout, but at the peak moments the wall of sound took on a transcendent quality, completely encompassing the audience.
The show's sound quality was impressive, and the Turf Club's intimate setting allowed the music to envelop the audience completely. The lighting, though minimal, was effective in enhancing the overall atmosphere of the evening.
In the end, this concert was a testament to the diversity and creativity within the metal genre. Aberration, Spirit Possession, and Bell Witch each brought a unique and evocative experience to the stage, showcasing the multifaceted nature of metal music. The night was a dark, immersive journey that took the audience to the depths of despair and the heights of intensity. A celebration of the macabre and the mysterious, it left attendees with a profound sense of catharsis and a reminder of the power of live music in all its menacing beauty.
