Review & Photos: GWAR annihilate Columbus

GWAR, CANCER BATS

FUMING MOUTH

AGE OF BEFUDDLEMENT TOUR

NEWPORT MUSIC HALL

COLUMBUS, OHIO

MARCH 28, 2024

By Neil Shumate, OOTB Publications

Last night a multicolored confection of various substances splattered white t-shirts and faces of metal and hard rock fans as fluid remnants from bloody, mutilating onstage decapitations and executions projected into the crowd, even spraying upward reaching a full balcony of fans. This being the traditional performance by the one and only Scumdogs Of The Universe: GWAR.

An experience like no other; well, similar instances could include ICP (Faygo being sprayed) or Aoki (Cakes to the face) or Ozzy (water hose sprayers); however at GWAR shows, concert goers never know which current event stars or politicians will end up victims--this stop included Biden and Netanyahu.

Although the-better-than-LORDI costumes and comedic horror, obscene theatrics of the legendary GWAR are at the forefront, the talent and musicianship underneath the monsterous wardrobes is undeniable. The human haters and planet Earth destroyers performed many classics going back to the ‘90s and mid-2000s—“Maggots,” “Sonderkommando,” “Let Us Slay,” “Hail, Genocide”—as well as newer tracks, including from their 15th studio album The New Dark Ages—“Berserker Mode,” “The Cutter,” “I, Bonesnapper,” “Fuck This Place,” all complete with stand out shredding duo guitar solos.

The band includes new guitarist Grodius Maximus, who once came off stage to perform directly in front of the overflowing pit of fans. Since the late 80s the band has original members Beefcake The Mighty (bass), Jizmak Da Gusha (drums) and Balsac The Jaws Of Death (guitars). Following the passing of Oderus Urungus in 2014, vocalist Blothar The Berserker now fronts the band along with co-vocalist Sawborg Destructo and backing vocalist Bonesnapper.

Regular fans and new fans alike left happily, looking like a paint ball fight gone wrong, drenched in reds, blues, greens and yellows—a production that Brockie once said has drawn influences from industrial music icons Skinny Puppy.

Fuming Mouth tore the venue up with heavy blast beats, sludge, thrash and vocal growls. The three piece woke the venue up by requesting a circle pit and wall of death. They finished their set with a cover of “For Whom The Bell Tolls.” The death metal band’s latest album Last Day Of Sun was recently released.

Canada’s Cancer Bats delivered a profusely energetic set with groovy metal and bits of punky hardcore thrash. Celebrating a birthday, the band which formed in 2004, welcomed guest vocalist Brooklyn to duet for the song “Hammering On,” the song had a slowed down Sabbath style. A heavy cover of Beastie Boys’ “Sabatoge” fired the crowd up before they closed with “Hail Destroyer.”

See Tour Dates Here

GWAR (click photos to enlarge)