Egyptian-born and New York-based artist Nader Sadek is famed for his elaborate masks and stage art for metal outfits such as Mayhem and Sunn O))), and Sadek’s new project, In The Living Flesh, is no less
intricate and perfectly constructed than his former works. Through compiling top international musicians, including ex-Morbid Angel vocalist Steve Tucker (whose voice remains heavy enough to shake the ground beneath you), Sadek has orchestrated a supergroup that enthralled the audience, free of charge, at Manhattan’s Santos Party House. In The Living Flesh comprises notable black metal dignitary Rune Eriksen (Ava Inferi, Aura Noir, ex-Mayhem) on guitar, Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy) on drums, bassist Novy Nowak (ex-Behemoth, ex-Vader), Carmen Simoes on vocals (Ava Inferi and Rune’s girlfriend), and new young talent Sean Frey on guitar.
Theatrics should be incorporated into the mix of any good death metal performance, and on that front, Sadek delivered. The atmosphere was certainly foreboding: Between the hellish props displayed on stage –
an oversized throne blanketed by a camouflaged army net, chunky pieces of rubber resembling body parts smothered in black paint sprawled about, long tubes hanging from the ceiling accompanied by large,
glittering white sacs resembling crystals – and the brutally heavy songs (which were reminiscent of the consistent thuds you would hear marching straight into war or working in an iron factory), Sadek’s
intention of painting a dismal portrait of a society drenched with the insistent demand and consumption of petroleum was a success.
To top the night off, right as the performance was on its last few notes and the sounds began to slowly fade, a fight broke out toward the front of the crowd. In the dimming lights of Santos Party House, the show came to a finish with the loud, distressed shrieks of the young girlfriend of one of the assailants. It was chilling and absolutely brilliant.
Killer photos; looks like a fun show.
I really don’t know how anyone plays a 6 string bass for non-fusion music, but more power to those that can wrangle the damn thing.
You’ll be surprised with bassists that uses extended range basses for metal. Hell, I use a 6-string fretless for my band! Not all the time of course but it does bring taste to some songs better than a standard 4-string would.
I guess I’m used to seeing 5 strings at death metal shows, but I haven’t noticed too many 6ers (or beyond) at metal gigs. I can rock a 5 string passably, but a 4 string just feels right. String spacing starts to become an issue for me once you start adding strings — given, I’m not a technical player by any means. More power to you dudes with the balls to go there.
Proud to say I was there! Everything about this show left me speechless! SADEK IS A GENIUS!
It was a phenomenal show! Steve, Novy, Flo, Rune, Sean and Carmen were outstanding. Of course, Nader did an excellent job putting the whole thing together. Had I paid to see this performance, it would have been more than worth the price of admission.
I’ve never listened to this band but I will. I’m a sucker for bands that actually have a stage show and theatrics (if the music is good). I will check these guys out when I get home. Nice photos and review!!!
Call me crazy, but I was totally underwhelmed by the performance. I thought the band was tight as hell, but that Tucker never really clicked with them. Sitting up on the throne in the back certainly didn’t help him feel like he was part of the band, nor did his super cheesey stage antics. The sets looked like shitty haunted house constructs. The plastic tubes hanging from the stage and the silly net covered throne? Just as bad as Tucker’s wig he kept adjusting and his sparkly shirt. The few moments that he actually came to the front and rocked out with the band, he felt like part of it, but the rest of the time he felt like a LARPer in the background sending out orders to his styrofoam-wielding minions.
Nevertheless it WAS my first death metal drum solo and that was amazing. The drummer KILLED.
You may have some points there, Joe. Still, you should consider that it was a free performance. In my opinion, it was definitely worth the subway fare I spent to get there.
Pardon my totally irrelevant reply to the gratuity of the concept, because this saying suddenly came to my mind:
“there is free cheese only in the mouse trap”.
I am glad it was a free performance. If I had paid for it, I would have been pissed. As it stands, it was an ok way to spend a Sunday night even if we did wait way too long outside for a show billed to start at 7.