Three bands from different Metal styles have come together on an incendiary tour to take us into December, coming together from such far-ranging home turfs as California, Denmark, Texas, Hell, and darkest of all, New Jersey.
I caught the act near the end of the tour in Phoenix, AZ, on December 2, 2024. Night Demon have been on the rise for the past few years, and if there’s any justice, will find a massive audience and headline gigs in all the same venues where they’re opening. Led by Jarvis Leatherby on bass and vox, this 3-piece have distilled Metal to its essence, with songs that are simultaneously lean and muscular. They bring fierce energy. I’ve seen them twice in opening slots, and both times, you could hear the crowd enthusiasm increasing with each song, as their faithful got more inspired, and as fans of the headliner were won over by this scrappy, standout opening act.
Bobby Blitz and D.D. Verni have been with Overkill from the early 1980s beginning, but the Blitz-Verni-Linsk-Tailer lineup have driven the band for most of the 21st Century, backstopped by a number of different drummers. An Overkill show is always intense, raw, loud, fast, maximum Thrash, and Rotten to the Core. This show was the fastest I’ve ever seen from them. Is it due to newcomer drummer Jeramie Kling, or is this just where the band are now? It’s incredible to experience the classics and the new stuff at this hypercharged tempo. Especially “Elimination,” which already has some fast-paced sections. “Hello From the Gutter” finds a new, nasty, Punkish lease on life in this lane. You know what? It works. And if you have any doubts or questions about Blitz’s voice, set them aside. He was a buzzsaw through every song, every scream, every note.
I will say that it was great to see D.D. in top form, with his shoulder all taped up. No offence to Christan Olde Wolbers or David Ellefson, who’ve both filled in for him in the past, but it feels the most authentically Overkill with D.D. Verni on the bass.
And then you cap everything with headliner King Diamond, whose timeless, age-defying performances continue to get better and better. Abetted by his stalwart band of Andy La Rocque - guitar, Mike Wead - guitar, Pontus Egberg - bass, Matt Thompson - drums, and Myrkur - backing vocals, keyboards, with dancer Jodi Cachia returning to play various roles for select songs. The visuals are as incredible as ever - - especially impressive in a club setting - - but it’s just amazing how tight and fresh the songs sound. King Diamond’s voice is somehow as powerful as it’s ever been, but I think the addition of Myrkur has really added a lot. She remains out of the way, up the stairs at her keyboards, but her presence is felt throughout the night.
None of us are getting any younger. . . But all three of these bands have many years left in them. Don’t miss them the next time they steamroll through your town.
Night Demon setlist
Outsider
Screams in the Night
Dawn Rider
The Howling Man
Ritual
The Chalice
Night Demon
Overkill setlist
Scorched
Rotten to the Core
Bring Me the Night
Hello From the Gutter
The Surgeon
Ironbound
Elimination
Fuck You
King Diamond setlist
Arrival
A Mansion in Darkness
Halloween
Voodoo
Them
Spider Lilly
Two Little Girls
Sleepless Nights
Out From Asylum
Welcome Home
The Invisible Guests
The Candle
Masquerade of Madness
Electro Therapy
Eye of the Witch
Burn
Abigail
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