Septicflesh at the Gramercy Theatre

Spiros "Seth" Antoniou

Septicflesh (formerly known as Septic Flesh) is a symphonic death metal band founded in 1990 in Athens, Greece. The band recorded its first full-length album in April 1994. The group split up in October 2003, and its members moved on to different or existing projects, but reunited in 2007. Shortly thereafter, the band altered its name from Septic Flesh to Septicflesh to indicate a new beginning. The band remained mostly intact with original members vocalist/bassist Spiros "Seth" Antoniou (a.k.a. Seth Siro Anton), guitarist Sotiris Vayenas, guitarist Christos Antoniou and newer drummer Fotis Benardo. The band's ninth studio album, Titan, was released today.

Headlining the Gramercy Theatre tonight, Septicflesh followed Fleshgod Apocalypse, which played a similar brand of symphonic-infused death metal. Septicflesh's performance was more varied, however, with slower and darker songs and a performance more dependent on pre-recorded symphonic pieces. Wearing charcoal-grey, reptilian-looking faux body armor shirts, the band appeared ready for battle. Sound imbalances plagued the first songs, but the band lunged on with its guttural vocals, atonal guitar leads and complex neoclassical arrangements. Later in the set, Septicflesh diminished the aggression with a slower-tempo and more melodic interlude, though the howling vocals maintained the dark and doom-inspired cinematic mood. Overall, however, Septicflesh's performance might have been more effective if there had been a live musician performing the symphonic touches.

Visit Septicflesh at www.septicflesh.com.