The Tech Trek V Tour featuring Archspire, Entheos, Inferi & Vulvodynia** at The Masquerade in Atlanta, GA.

For a subgenre that depicts death in its moniker, it sure as hell is not dead. Technical death metal, in fact, is alive and well! Though “technical alive metal” does not roll off the tongue well. The fifth coming of Archspire’s annual Tech Trek has a more than brutal enough lineup that is relentlessly rolling through North America. With every date up until this point being either sold out or a frog hair shy of selling out; Archspire, Entheos, Inferi, and Vulvodynia have found a pulse. The masses are being resuscitated with the breath of tech death.

South Africa’s Vulvodynia successfully hyped up the hellacious Atlanta crowd with their slamming brand of tech death. Caveman stomps, vicious circle pits, and even a wall of death; this sinister sextet knew exactly how to incite the crowd to come alive. It is no surprise that Vulvodynia opened this tour. Their mascot, Bob the Butcher, put in some serious work as he wandered the vastlands of various death metal album covers over the last few months. Ultimately, he landed on tour flanking his boys on stage every night. By the way, if you missed the highly entertaining marketing Vulvodynia conducted for their latest album, Praenuntius Infiniti, with Bob the Butcher; go back and look it up on their social media pages. Absolutely worth it.

Inferi took the reins of Hell next as they unleashed an array of blackened tech death on to the limbered-up crowd. One of the more unholy offerings Nashville, TN has to offer; Inferi dominantly proved that the Music City can conjure up more than just country music and gospel. The Tech Trek veterans served up a sermon of blistering blasphemy worthy of the appropriately named venue space. From the razor-sharp instrumental precision to the cataclysmic vocal performance of Stevie Boiser; Inferi are the band to watch for a master class in tech death.

Entheos brought a different vibe with them as they entranced the crowd with their more progressive flavor of tech death. Fog machines and a light show with moody hues gave the quartet a more mysterious aura. Unlike the previous bands, Entheos had moments in their set where the audience could collectively catch their breath. These moments of respite were indeed welcomed. However, they were merely the proverbial calm before the storm. For the moments in between the calm were a thunderous rage of intensity. A most fierce performance that left Atlanta drenched in the wake of their sonic downpour.

Archspire are the epitome of tech death. One would think that a band like Archspire would have to take themselves overly serious in order to properly execute such mind-meltingly challenging music. Nope. Cracking corny jokes mid set, breaking the unwritten dress code by sporting swim trunks and a tye dye Bucc-ee’s tank top; Archspire know how to have fun while still being technical juggernauts. Several of those in attendance (myself included) would laugh in delight at how they could effortlessly pull off such ridiculous riffs and vocal patterns. Their music isn’t just fluffed up studio magic. They can actually play every bit of it FOR REAL. Heed this warning: do not sleep on this tour. You do not want to miss witnessing the resurrection of tech death in, arguably, its finest hour.

By- Amber Elkins

Smile Empty Soul

Smile Empty Soul at Amo's Southend in Charlotte, NC.