“Outstanding Technical Metal, ‘This Is How We’ll Survive’ – Allegaeon’s Remarkable Performance at The Doll Hut
June 4th, 2022
Performing their first night on the Terrestrial Takeover Tour, in Anaheim, Allegaeon would see familiar faces all around the Doll Hut. From numerous friends and fans from the area, to the NAMM attendees strolling through Orange County to find a wonderful show capping off the musical weekend, this outdoor setting provided a genuinely fascinating atmosphere, to be felt and scene.
The overwhelming amount of beautifully-picked notes, head-spinning musical concepts flying around the air sonically, and the jaw-dropping technique and teamwork that Allegaeon perform to, is something I could never tire from. Allegaeon’s most recent record, Damnum, demonstrates the stellar growth in their Technical Melodic Death Metal sound, “Into Embers” showing new wrinkles around the 2:30 mark, clean guitar with a ‘dark passenger’-like distortion, picked in this brewing matter, all with Riley McShane’s effervescent, well-versed lyrical and vocal approach, take turns with that riff, and exploding to a blasting fury of furious Technical Death Metal. Riley’s approach and journey with Allegaeon, have taken the already exceeding limits of how they play and write music, and able to turn those musical tides into bright, darker, sinister waves of Melodic brilliance that I didn’t even think was possible for them. Throw his story-woven, masterful range of singing, found in the band completely teasing all of the Doll Hut, by performing just the intro to “Subdivisions” from Rush, then going right to “Of Beasts and Worms.” The Progressive aspects of Allegaeon, have been opened from Pandora’s Box, and it’s leveled up the group especially live.
I believe one of the most clarifying details of Allegaeon, have not only been the stupendous musicians that occupy, but how full of easter egg spider-webs, detailed musical formulas, and potent strength in the riffing nature. Greg Burgess’s phenomenal solo work in the middle of “1.618”, creating memorable sequences of glistening melody notes, all picked with furfur, near flawless technique, and never sacrificing the impressive brutality still found in the style of play. Much like Archspire, Origin, and some of the fast players in our genre, Greg’s breathtaking guitar abilities leave you exhausted after watch. Michael Stancel matched many of the other lead counterparts, and was calmly providing backup growls with McShane. No matter where you looked, Allegaeon’s monstrous level of musicianship were seen at each stage of the night. Not moving much from his area, yet bassist Brandon Michael’s whirling riffs were felt in this roofless setting, giving the sonically heavy backdrop a booming thump, a strong ‘rhythm-guitar’, and layered extremely well with Burgess’s and Stancel’s melodies.
Some were moshing, and many were stunned and engaged, attempting to collect all of Allegaeon’s profound headlining set. Their near 70-minute performance could have gone on another, and it’d still be difficult to move away. Anaheim showed up to this NAMM-filled weekend, to appreciate and support Extreme Metal, and Allegaeon was the rightful cause for that celebration.
1. Bastards of the Earth
2. To Carry My Grief Through Torpor and Silence
3. Biomech - Vals No. 666
4. Extremophiles (B)
5. Proponent for Sentience III - The Extermination
6. Into Embers
7. Subdivisions (Intro) (Rush cover)/Of Beasts and Worms
8. Called Home
9. Gray Matter Mechanics - Apassionata Ex Machinea
10. Parthenogenesis
11. Roundabout (Intro) (Yes cover)/Behold (God I Am)
12. 1.618
