Feel the Evil Like a Knife Tour at Reggies (7/30/2024)

When the poster for this summer’s Feel the Evil Like the Knife Tour first started circulating on social media upon being spotted at Hell’s Heroes, I couldn’t have been more excited. Sure, I’ve seen all of these bands before (save for Hellwitch), but such a perfect mix of old school and new school that sounds like old school seldom happens on a bill these days. As far as I and many others were concerned, this was the must see underground metal bill of the summer, and what better place to catch it than the hallowed ground of Reggies in Chicago? Yours truly was on sight for the festivities, gladly reporting to you with riveting thoughts, exclusive photos, and perhaps a slight case of dehydration.

Hellwitch

The evening began with a punishing 30 minute set from none other than cult death metallers, Hellwitch. Despite hailing from the same scene that spawned Death, Morbid Angel, and countless other classic death metal acts, Hellwitch never got the same mass adoration as their peers, and that always pissed me off. After all, they’ve only been soldiering on for 40 years, and there’s no way Syzygial Miscreancy (1990) is any less of a masterpiece than Scream Bloody Gore (1987) or Altars of Madness (1989). And while many of their peers have since opted to rest on their laurels, Hellwitch continues to play with a vengeance. Their brief yet brutal set consisted of songs off their latest offering, Annihilational Intercention (2023), as well as devastating classics like “Nosferatu” and “Torture Chamber”. As the sole death metal band on the lineup, it was a ripping start to what was bound to be a heavy evening.

Wraith

Next up on the bill were blackened thrash barbarians Wraith performing what was for all purposes a homecoming show. And boy, what a homecoming it was. For the way the crowd reacted, you’d think this was a band who came around once maybe every other year, not every other month! Immediately, heads were banging, bodies were thrashing, and inflatable swords were thrusted into the air. Now whoever was responsible for that tomfoolery is beyond me, but I couldn’t help but watch in amazement as my dear Indianan brothers played what was easily their rowdiest set by far. As I predicted, the songs off their latest, Fueled by Fear, are even more ferocious live than on record, and fit in comfortably alongside thrasher shout-alongs like “Gatemaster” and “Devil’s Hour”.

Setlist

“Asylum”
“Fueled by Fear”
“Heathen’s Touch”
“Dominator”
“Gatemaster”
“Cloaked in Black”
“Eyes of the Sacred Ram”
“World War”
“Absolute Power”
“Devil’s Hour”

Midnight

Like many of you reading this, I’ve seen Midnight more times than I can count. Whether it be as an opening act, headliner, or part of a festival bill, the masked maniacs of the 21st century’s premiere black ‘n’ rollers tour like their lives depend on it. And every time they take the stage, they unleash complete and total hell. Last week’s set was no exception. By now, to say Midnight were playing to a capacity crowd would be an understatement. From the stairwells to the floor and everywhere in between, headbangers were packed like sardines, raging away to such classics as “Evil Like a Knife”, “You Can’t Stop Steel”, and “Lust, Filth and Sleaze”, as well as new cuts like “F.O.A.L.” and “Nuclear Savior”. It should also be noted that this was, by far, the loudest Midnight set I’ve ever caught. As Lemmy sang, “The only way to feel the noise is when it’s good and loud!”

Setlist

“Funeral Bell”
“Lust, Filth and Sleaze”
“Black Rock ‘n’ Roll”
“Expect Total Hell”
“Masked and Deadly”
“Dungeon Lust”
“Fucking Speed and Darkness”
“Szex Witchery”
“Evil Like a Knife”
“Nuclear Savior”
“Mercyless Slaughtor”
“F.O.A.L.”
“Satanic Royalty”
“You Can’t Stop Steel”
“Unholy and Rotten”

Exciter

Speaking of Motörhead, what better way to end the evening than with their old tour mates circa ’84, Exciter? Although the room had largely emptied out by now (I’m going to chalk up the mass exodus of teenagers and twenty-somethings after Midnight to pure ignorance), that didn’t stop the Canadian “Heavy Metal Maniacs” from delivering a metallic death blow of a greatest hits setlist. While the bulk of the set drew heavily from the band’s landmark debut, Heavy Metal Maniac (1983), Violence & Force (1984) and Long Live the Loud (1985) were shown some love as well. These high speed hymns are as fast and feral today as they were nearly 40 years ago, with founders Dan Beehler on drums and vocals and bassist Allan Johnson not missing a beat (no pun intended). Equipped with hotshot guitarist Daniel Dekay, one can’t help but hope we get at least one new album from this terrorizing trio. Perhaps in 2025, boys? The ball’s in your court!

Setlist