A night of relentless extremity – Live report of Aborted at The Garage, London

We thought kicking off the week with this Tuesday evening was a refreshing way to break free from the everyday routine—even if it meant swapping a bit of calm for some chaos. It was an incredible night with four fierce bands from all over the world, each bringing their unique style of heaviness and nonstop energy.

Even though the show wasn’t completely sold out—maybe the midweek timing played a part—it didn’t stop the loyal crowd from diving headfirst into the excitement. Whether you were there to support just one of the bands or not, the early turnout was pretty good, considering that last time that Aborted was headlining a tour was in 2019, so it was definitely time for the band to make their mark in Europe and stop in by in London.

A big thanks to Anne-Catherine from Feat First Management for hosting us!

Organectomy

1. Concrete
2. The Third Mutation
3. Plague Mouth
4. Unending Regrowth
5. Tracheal Hanging
6. Entrapped Savagery
7. Terror Form

Organectomy, which is headquartered in New Zealand, has been active in the music industry for quite some time. They have established themselves as a prominent presence in the global slam and brutal death metal scene by maintaining a consistent level of intensity and technical ability. They have three albums and numerous singles published on 2024, so perhaps a glimpse of a new album coming.

Unfortunately after the show on May 7 in Lyon, France, the band was robbed of almost everything that they had on them, including passport and personal belongings. As they are working with the local authorities to retrieve their possessions, the band had a huge support from fans to help with costs.

As we hope that they will soon be able to recover from this unfortunate event, we would like to point out that their live performances underlined their commitment to providing unrelenting brutality despite the cruel timing. Alex Paul, the band’s leader, controlled the audience from the time they went onto the stage, motivating them to form mosh pits and circle pits, notably during the songs “Unending Regrowth” and “Tracheal Hanging.”

The band’s ability to keep up a high level of enthusiasm while simultaneously delivering such violent riffs plays a significant role in successfully setting the tone for the evening. Even those who are not acquainted with their set list like it, and I felt goosebumps all over my body as a consequence of the mix of instruments and the guttural tone of the music.

You might say that it was the most visceral sensation you could have.

Photo: Peterson Marti

The Zenith Passage

1. The Axiom of Error
2. Algorithmic Salvation
3. Lexicontagion
4. The Tenebrous Veil
5. Holographic Principle II: Convergence
6. Divinertia I
7. Divinertia II
8. Deus Deceptor

It was their first time playing in the UK, and The Zenith Passage has travelled all the way from Los Angeles to share their unique sound. The band mixes brutal death metal with some progressive and atmospheric vibes, and people often compare them to bands like The Faceless and Archspire. However, they really stood out with their detailed guitar work and precise sound.

They played a lot from their newest album, Datalysium, including songs like “Algorithmic Salvation”, “Divinertia I & II”, “Lexicontagion”, and “The Axiom of Error”. Those songs really highlighted the band’s complex arrangements and skilful playing. They went back to some earlier tracks too performing “Deus Deceptor” and “The Tenebrous Veil”, and it really struck a chord with the long-time fans.

Their live performances demonstrate their abilities and dynamic stage presence, keeping inexperienced individuals like me focused on the song’s technicalities, even if the strobe lights in the venue were so powerful that I had to wear sunglasses. The combination of the precise drumming and complicated riffs produced a ferocity that enthralled the London audience but, of course, is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Photo: Peterson Marti

Crypta

Conversely, Crypta may appear more melodic in comparison to the other acts in the lineup. Allow me to clarify my previous statement before it’s too late; I mentioned they are more melodic, but they should not be strictly defined as melodic, of course.

Following a recent performance where Fernanda was unable to be on stage due to health concerns and hospitalisation, we truly experienced an incredible display of talent at this London show. A formidable presence, indeed—her deep growls and powerful bass lines complemented by her passionate expressions and energetic movements. She captivated the audience with a strong presence; her energy was vibrant and infectious, expressing her excitement to return to London and feeling embraced by such encouraging fans.

During this European tour, we had the pleasure of seeing guest guitarist Helena Nagagata step in for Jéssica di Falchi, who left the band earlier this year. Whether it was the stage, the lighting, or some other factor, the band’s energy didn’t quite connect with Fernanda’s captivating energy. This was especially true for Helena, who maintained a front-stage stand, consistently engaging the crowd with her intense and severe expression. Tainá Bergamaschi, guitarist, remained at the back of the stage, adopting a low profile while consistently showcasing her exceptional riffs. She delivered blistering solos and harmonies that enriched the live performances of the songs. On the note of “The Other Side of Anger”, the crowd reacted by engaging in a mosh pit and headbanging. As always, drummer Luana Dametto showcased her incredible skills, her precision and strength propelling the band with swift double-bass patterns and intricate rhythms, although consistently avoiding engagement with the audience.

The sound, unfortunately, fell short as well; compared to the other bands that performed, the guitars seemed insufficiently loud, and only Fernanda’s bass line was clearly audible. The band’s setlist, largely featured songs from their latest album Shades of Sorrow, received enthusiastic approval from the crowd, as they delivered each tracks with unwavering energy, concluding with their debut single, “From the Ashes.”

Photo: Peterson Marti

Aborted

1. Dreadbringer
2. Retrogore
3. Brotherhood of Sleep
4. The Origin of Disease
5. Infinite Terror
6. Deep Red
7. From a Tepid Whiff
8. Death Cult
9. The Shape of Hate
10. Insect Politics
11. Threading on Vermillion Deception
12. The Saw and the Carnage Done
13. Hecatomb

As Crypta left the stage, the tone of the night took a curious turn. Fluorescent props began making their way through the venue, accompanied by light-hearted, quirky music—a humorous palate cleanser before the main event. Could you imagine a skeleton nestled within a neon-lit display case? Oh yes. At that point, we’d truly seen it all.

When Aborted hit the stage, it felt like pure deathgrind chaos. Sven de Caluwé, the band’s long-time frontman, instantly commanded the room with his charismatic stage presence and jokes. With a relentless set spanning their two-decade-plus career, the Belgian titans seamlessly blended new material like “Dreadbringer” with fan-favourites like “The Saw and the Carnage Done”.

If you’ve never seen Aborted live, buckle up. Their shows are anything but ordinary—and we honestly didn’t know what to expect. Musically, they were razor-sharp. The guitar work from Daníel Máni Konráðsson and Ian Jekelis was blistering, the drumming punishing, and Sven’s character and stage presence lifted the atmosphere even higher, building on the energy left behind by their tourmates. What really stood out, though, was the connection with the crowd. Sven kept the room engaged with a mix of banter and absurdity, including some delightfully foul-mouthed UK slang (we won’t repeat it, but if you know, you know). Right before launching into “The Origin of Disease”, Sven invited the crowd to “play sports”—prompting everyone to follow his shouted commands by jumping, moshing, or generally going wild. It was hilarious, chaotic, and weirdly wholesome. As he yelled “Sports!”, people started doing jumping jacks, sprinting around, and turning the venue into a metal fitness class gone wrong (or right?).

During “Death Cult” and “The Shape of Hate”, members from Organectomy and The Zenith Passage joined the stage as special guests, delivering collaborative performances that sent the crowd into overdrive. Despite the music’s unrelenting brutality, the atmosphere was electric and, surprisingly, joyful. This was a celebration of extremity—loud, fast, and fun. The pit rarely stopped spinning, and by the time the encore rolled around, sweat-drenched fans were still screaming for more. Aborted, of course, delivered—closing the night with one final blast of brutality that left no neck unbroken.

Photo: Peterson Marti