Decapitated + Mindfield – 17.04.2015 @Krosno, Iron Klub, PL

I love intense weekends. The last one was definitely one of those. The Decapitated concert in their hometown was a perfect excuse to leave the house, although in reality I just wanted to return a lighter to a guy who lent it to me a week earlier at a party in Chełm.

The journey to Krosno went very smoothly – after a relatively short time of hitchhiking, I managed to hitch a ride to Rzeszów with a quirky lady doctor from the Medical University, and I got to hear her stories about adventures during her travels in South America, as well as more personal topics. Mainly about what a jerk her ex-husband is. Then in Rzeszów, as if on cue, a beat-up car picked me up at the stop, which miraculously made its way through all the mountains and hills before Krosno. After arriving, a quick „warm-up” with a good friend and off to the gig.

Iron Club was filled with fans – no wonder there was a great turnout among the local crowd, Decapitated is, after all, a musical pride of this city and it shows. Embarrassingly, up until Friday, they were a band I had never seen live before and the only Polish death metal band from the top tier that my bloodshot eyes had yet to witness. Besides, I must admit, I have a strong attachment to Krosno – I’ve met a lot of amazing people in this city, and every time I come back, I feel incredibly at home. This time was no different.

The concert was opened by the local band Mindfield, with whom I had a blast a few days earlier in my hometown, where they supported Acid Drinkers. They are a promising band, but could use a bit more exposure. Their music is heavily influenced by Pantera and Down. Dynamic, rocking riffs and a vocalist who experiments well with his parts, although some songs are a bit too drawn out for my taste. Mindfield’s set was varied, with energetic tracks interspersed with more mellow ballads and stoner vibes. In their last song „Public Killa,” Rasta, the vocalist of Ściętogłowe, joined them on stage as a guest, as the original track features his collaboration. Overall, the guys from Mindfield provided a solid opening act for the evening. It’s just a shame they were the only local band to play that day. I would have loved to see Garroter in the lineup as well.

I’m a fan of Decapitated, especially from the „The Negation” and „Organic Hallucinosis” era, though if I think about it, I actually love all their albums despite the significant differences between them. Currently, the band’s sound has evolved significantly, which doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worse. You can see and hear that the band has a lot of experience and a unique style built over the years, mainly based on specific rhythms and Vogga’s perfectionist approach to playing. Decapitated are less death metal now, with modern twists and jagged riffs that could be compared to Meshuggah. Some appreciate this direction, others less so, it’s a matter of taste. Their music is undoubtedly energetic live, with a good groove that gets the audience energized. Technically, they are top-notch, as expected from a band that has been exceptional since their early years. Despite the almost complete turnover in their lineup over the years, technical excellence has always been a priority for them. The concert sound quality was solid, despite the limitations of the relatively small Iron club. At times, the high volume was a bit overwhelming, and some people pointed that out. As expected, most of their setlist consisted of songs from their two latest albums, but they also played older hits like „Post(?)Organic” and „Spheres Of Madness”. As a fan of Decapitated’s earlier era, I consider the previous vocalists of the band to be more crushing than Rasta. Many people complained about the vocals after the band’s reunion, but time has changed the band, and he is a fitting frontman for their current style. He knows how to engage with the audience, often making eye contact and getting them in the mood for a good time. Without a doubt, the concert in Krosno was a very successful one, and I’m glad I caught them in a smaller venue instead of a massive festival.

After the concert, it was time for other various entertainments, and this incredibly rich evening was capped off by chaotic movie marathons that we organized at my friend’s place. The next day was marked by a mission to hitchhike halfway across Poland for my own band’s concert (barely made it), bizarre weather anomalies (snowstorms near Kielce, but that’s not surprising, it always snows there), and not entirely sober but absolutely engaging discussions into the early hours of the morning with people whose faces I would trust with my life. In short, a plague-ridden weekend. Cheers to everyone I met, and special thanks to Lipka, Marshall, and Tomek from Mindfield. Peace!