Faces Of Death sought to bring the best of metal in all its forms from Djent to Deathcore and this year’s tour delivered that and so much more…

Photos & words by Day Rutherford | Oct 27, 2024

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While noticeably, Veil Of Maya is no longer on the bill due to a sudden hiatus just over a month before this year’s Faces of Death was due to take place, it left a question mark as to whether the shows would proceed. However, rather than cancel, the show must go on—and in steps Denmark’s Cabal.

Starting things off this evening is Australian vegan deathcore five-piece To The Grave, with frontman Dane Evans taking to the stage, pig mask and all.

From the outset, it’s clear this band is tight, launching into DxEorDIE, then moving into Vegan Day Of Violence, and finally Burn Your Local Butcher. It’s a masterclass in deathcore, with Dane effortlessly flipping between guttural growls, pig squeals, and screams at a moment’s notice.

Their 30-minute set is packed with calls for everything from walls of death and circle pits to the crowd two-stepping, with the audience more than happy to oblige.

With just a short 20-minute changeover—enough to catch your breath and grab a beer—and with the crowd suitably warmed up, it’s time for Denmark’s Cabal.

Andreas Bjulver knows how to work a crowd. Within moments, he has the audience whipped into a frenzy of mosh pits and walls of death.

The band is on point tonight at the Engine Rooms, never missing a beat throughout their half-hour set. Transitioning between songs and sub-genres, their creativity leaves us wanting more. Cabal is clearly a band on the rise, blending metalcore with touches of djent, electronic, and even hints of hip-hop, showing that the deathcore scene is evolving beyond its roots.

Next up is the first of our two big hitters from the States tonight: Varials, a band going from strength to strength and establishing themselves among the best in the genre. From the moment they launch into The New Damnation, the crowd goes wild. With a Deftones vibe to their take on deathcore, they add a somber feel without losing any energy. Their set is pure, chaotic intensity, tearing through tracks like Empire Of Dirt and In Darkness, before ending with Stigmata.

Finally, closing out the night, are deathcore titans Signs Of The Swarm. They last played the Engine Rooms earlier this year, supporting Cattle Decapitation, and now take the reins as tonight’s headliners.

It’s brutal from the moment they step on stage. Frontman David Simonich’s stage presence is undeniable as he commands every inch of the stage, backed by a band that is note-perfect. Tracks like IWONTLETYOUDIE are made for a live setting, and the audience, relentless all night, finds enough energy for one last wall of death to close out the night in Southampton.

So, does the Faces Of Death tour showcase the best of deathcore? Absolutely. This stacked lineup is currently touring the UK before moving onto mainland Europe.

The only question left is: how do they top this? With a lineup fit for a single-day festival, the bar is set high for the next edition.

Signs Of The Swarm Setlist:

Amongst the Low & Empty
Tower of Torsos
Pray for Death
Borrowed Time
Between Fire & Stone
Shackles Like Talons
DREAMKILLER
The Witch Beckons
Echelon
Faces Without Names
Malady
IWONTLETYOUDIE