TONIGHT: Local Death Metal Giants at Club XS

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For more info on the event click the image!

If you grew up listening to Napalm Death, Skinless, Putrid Pile, or Mortician, then go to XS on Union Street this Friday, April 25th for a live local treat. Four metal local greats are hitting the stage: Lower the Casket, Necris, Possessed Entity and Goreality. I missed out on interviewing Lower the Casket for this article. For more info on each of the bands, we’ve made their names hyperlinks.

I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Goreality’s practice space at Wamsutta Mills and hang out with the guys in the band: Steve “Fishcakes” Diaz, Aaron Suprenant, Mark Gomes, and Josh Drolet. Dan Pevide, the singer, wasn’t present. Despite their name, Goreality is a group of down-to-Earth guys that get along well enough to throw digs at each other and nobody gets offended. This old school death metal band formed in 2004, and was finalized by adding Josh Drolet.

“We heard him yelling and screaming at the band he was in and said ‘Hey you might be happy playing with us’ and the rest is history,” Fishcakes said.

Goreality has not had the opportunity to play a show in New Bedford since October 2012 at Black Watch Pub. They previously played at the New Wave Café and moved their show to the Bullpen and Marshall’s Pub when business went sour for the New Wave.

New Bedford based Goreality

“We booked our own shows at the Bullpen and were able to make them all metal (Abnormality, Embalmer, and Beyond the Flesh) whereas when we had to play a show at New Wave, he would throw us on with a band that wasn’t death metal like we are,” Fishcakes said. They played at Bullpen right up until the venue was sold.

“XS has potential,” says Josh. “XS is huge; there is plenty of room for a lot of people.”

I asked what the best part is about being in a band and without missing a beat Fishcakes said, “The money, totally. All the money and chicks.” After a moment he said, “It’s stress relief. This is my release”

“It’s a good time,” said Mark. “I enjoy playing. When I was younger in my teens, the sky was the limit, but now it’s a hobby for me so I go as far as I can with it.”

“Plus all the money we make,” said Fishcakes.

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My husband was in a band rented a room in Wamsutta Mills that shared a wall with Necris Josh Murdock, Tom Brock, Jon Bernier, Tim Cabral and Joe Amaral) and the two bands practiced on the same night. We used to pause to listen to Necris play from our room and were impressed with their extremely heavy and creative sound.

“Transient announced he would start booking metal shows again in New Bedford, so I immediately contacted him to let him know that Necris MUST be on that show,” vocalist Josh Murdock said. “The metal scene back in the New Wave days was awesome, as there were tons of good bands and fun shows, plus after parties, but since its closing, we’ve been ‘homeless’. Thankfully, that all changed, thanks to Transient Authority. We hope that people realize just how good our local bands are around here and come on out and appreciate the talent at a great price.”

When asked where his singing style comes from, Josh said, “I pretty much delve into most styles of death/black metal, vocally: anything from Deicide to Dying Fetus, from Rotting Christ to Pantera. I dabble in some regular singing, but I’m no American Idol, so I don’t do too much,” he joked.

Event poster featuring Possessed Entity

I asked how he felt their first show at XS went. “The people who came out had a good time, heads were banging, good mood, and were excited to see metal back in New Bedford, as we all are. Now that word is spreading of the return of local music here, we can only expect the crowds to be larger and more receptive. XS is the only venue to adequately do these shows in the area, as they have a large bar, sound system, good size floor, and a stage. Prior to this, no venue had all of those things to be able to put on local shows, so it’s a great thing and we’re pumped to help with the revival.”

I also made my way to Possessed Entity’s band space to sit and chat with Joey, current front man and guitar player for the band. Possessed Entity (Joey Vieira, Sean Kelly, Danny Dimond and Master) began humbly in Joey’s basement in 1998, and like Goreality, are old school death metal. This is also their second time playing at XS; they debuted during the Valentine’s Day Massacre in February. They were invited by Necris and are excited to be playing again onstage with these other local giants. Possessed Entity began as Convulsion Sickness and featured Fishcakes as the guitar player, but he left the band and eventually formed Goreality, so Joey and Master (Possessed Entity’s drummer) renamed the band, found Danny Dimond to play bass, and finally Josh Casmiro on vocals. Josh died unexpectedly in the fall of 2012 and it was an emotional shock for the band. The band took a break to mourn and eventually regrouped. Joey is currently singing in addition to playing lead guitar.

“I like death metal because it is more challenging to me,” Joey said. “I was into Anthrax and Ozzy when I first started playing guitar, who wasn’t? But after playing it for a while, it became too easy and I got bored with it so I started listening to death metal. That was fun, brutal with the heavy parts.”

“I really don’t want to be the singer, but I have to be,” said Joey. “If I can find somebody by playing these shows that wants to sing for me, they’re going to take my spot. I don’t want to be the main singer forever. I like doing back-ups and adding on heavy parts but I like to step back.”

If you’re interested in singing old school death metal style, contact Possessed Entity on Facebook. Possessed Entity is finishing their first recording with Triad Records and will have CDs available this summer. For booking information, contact Transient Authority on Facebook or transientauthority@gmail.com.



About MetalBombshell

I used to write a LOT when I was in high school, but after becoming a mom, that part of me ceased to exist unless I was writing a personal letter to a friend. I want to re-awaken that creativity in me. I like to take photographs and ride on the back of my husband Shannon's Harley, go to live metal and hard core shows, and I hit the gym regularly and pretend I am a brontosaurus when I eat salad. I also love Antiques and live smack dab in Eastern central New Bedford!

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3 comments

  1. Great article! Badass bands!!

  2. This is alright, but a little too metal for my liking. Glad to see music with instruments getting some show time at any rate. I miss the old days of the late 90’s early 2000’s, shows at the Y, the Fisherman’s Club, punk, metal, hardcore shows. It was quite a scene.

  3. Bob, Transient Authority has many types of shows in this venue. This Friday will be a fashion show with acoustics by Korey Pirtle, and then bands go on; Elephants, Weld Square, and Seven Year Plane.
    On May 30th there will be a hardcore show featuring Dead Skies which is hardcore, Versythe; metal and The Fateful Hour.. and a new band called Social Call. I can’t vouch for their music yet but it isn’t death metal. Come enjoy!

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