LIVE REVIEW: Cattle Decapitation & Shadow Of Intent @ The Marble Factory, Bristol

Death metal isn’t just mindless low end guitar chugging and lyrics full of horror movie cliches. Some death metal bands use the extreme foundations of that sound but find ways to elevate it into something as epic as they possibly can. Two of the prime examples of this, CATTLE DECAPITATION and SHADOW OF INTENT are jointly bringing their own flavours of monolithic death metal to Bristol.

Vulvodynia live @ The Marble Factory, Bristol. Photo Credit: Stu Rowles Photography

With an earlier than normal start it’s an impressive turnout for opening band VULVODYNIA. Hailing from South Africa their pounding take on deathcore was an immediate hit with the crowd kicking of the first of many pits only a matter of minutes into the night. Lwandile Prusent taking on vocal duties since 2023, after firing original vocalist Duncan Bentley, has clearly been the right move as his multiple vocal styles bring most of the fury in the music and his command of the crowd is admirable for the first band of the night. It’s fair to say VULVODYNIA would have left with a few more fans than when they came.

Rating: 7/10Revocation live @ The Marble Factory, Bristol. Photo Credit: Stu Rowles Photography

REVOCATION has managed to rattle Bristol before. This is even commented on by vocalist David Davidson as he reminisces with the crowd about their previous show at The Fleece the year before. The American tech death band return like they never left, bringing the audience a masterclass of frenetic music. In the rather short set they pull mostly from their newest effort Netherheaven but manage to sneak in 2012’s Teratogenesis in there as well and even treated fans to an early preview of their new track titled Confines OF Infinity to be released a week later.

A year on from REVOCATION’s last appearance in Bristol and they are once again potential show stealers tonight with a crowd that would clearly love to have them back as soon as possible.

Rating: 8/10Shadow Of Intent live @ The Marble Factory, Bristol. Photo Credit: Stu Rowles Photography

Often regarded as one of the originators of symphonic deathcore there is much anticipation for SHADOW OF INTENT tonight with their name being chanted before the band had set foot on the stage. However when the show begins proper some of that enthusiasm seems to lessen slightly. The sound for SHADOW OF INTENT was frustratingly lacking. The grand and epic orchestration, which is a key component of their music, is barely audible.

Only when the band themselves drop out can the additional elements be made out at all. The energy in the room does resurface slowly as the show continues owing to how ferociously the band perform with particular highlight to Ben Duerr and his monstrous low end vocal chops. There is minimal crowd interaction between songs but every guttural roar before every breakdown is met with equal reverence from the crowd. Shadow Of Intent live @ The Marble Factory, Bristol. Photo Credit: Stu Rowles Photography

While the symphonic element is missing the same cannot be said for the live music. The band, especially the rhythm section, sound crystal clear and every member is full of energy. Most of their career is represented all the way back to their debut album Primordial to their latest single Flying The black Flag so avid fans of SHADOW OF INTENT had much to enjoy.

So the set wasn’t a complete let down; rather it’s a game of two halves. Fortunately the aspect right in front of the audience, SHADOW OF INTENT themselves, are firing on all cylinders. However to have a core part of their sound be let down by the sound is admittedly disappointing. A well performed set with full commitment from the band, but the show as whole could have been more.

Rating: 6/10Cattle Decapitation live @ The Marble Factory, Bristol. Photo Credit: Stu Rowles Photography

There were no such issues for the clear winners of the night CATTLE DECAPITATION. Not having to rely on orchestras to achieve an epic sound, CATTLE DECAPITATION manages to sound huge just with the five of them. That’s all they had tonight and it’s all they needed. It has been made evident in recent years that CATTLE DECAPITATION are distancing themselves from their pre Monolith Of Inhumanity eras, at least in the live setting, playing exclusively from the last four albums. If there were any old CATTLE DECAPITATION fans that had any ire about this, they kept those opinions to themselves as every song tonight is met with carnage from the crowd.

They begin with the three song assault of The Carbon Stampede, The Prophets of Loss and We Eat Our Young, three strong statements of intent for a brutal set to come, and proceed to give each of their last four albums fairly even representation tonight. The new album Terrasite is the most featured one of course with the aforementioned We Eat Our Young being received as well as any of the band’s classics, such as the clear crowd favourite Forced Gender Reassignment.Cattle Decapitation live @ The Marble Factory, Bristol. Photo Credit: Stu Rowles Photography

With the audience in the palm of his hand Travis Ryan’s twisted demeanour pairs perfectly with his frenzied and sinister vocals, often twisting and convulsing as the music becomes more unhinged.

Any extreme metal band that chooses to conclude their set with an over nine minute song deserves some respect. But when CATTLE DECAPITATION has Death Atlas’ title track in their repertoire it’s hard to imagine them closing with anything else. The epic scope of the song changes the vibe of the room immediately. Instead of nonstop chaos there is now a crowd in complete awe.

You’d be hard pressed to find a show in this style ending with impact on this scale. It’s another win in Bristol for CATTLE DECAPITATION and no doubt will have fans counting down the days until they return once more.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Bristol from Stu Rowles Photography here:






























































Like CATTLE DECAPITATION and SHADOW OF INTENT on Facebook.

ALBUM REVIEW: My Apologies To The Chef – Winona Fighter

After a smattering of singles and EPs over the last few years, the Nashville punk trio WINONA FIGHTER have finally graced our ears with their debut album, My Apologies To The Chef. It comes at a perfect time amidst a resurgent punk scene that has packed a punch in recent years. Whilst the sound overall on this album isn’t anything new or breath taking, it’s a fun album that feels a little nostalgic for the mid 2000s with similar styles to that of NEW FOUND GLORY and SUM 41.



Opening the album is JUMPERCABLES which could easily fit onto soundtracks for films like American Pie and Wet Hot American Summer. It has a simple yet punchy riff that has a distorted sound effect on it as it holds up the song throughout listening as it chugs its way through and serves as a great little earworm. A lot of the heavy lifting on this record goes to vocalist Coco Kinnan as she effortlessly weaves her way through a combination of singing and shouting, displaying the perfect amount of attitude that keeps you hooked and eager to hear the rest of the record.

You Look Like A Drunk Phoebe Bridgers follows on from this and continues the momentum built up from its predecessor. The attitude remains and the music hits you like a punch that keeps going once it starts and never looks back. The chorus itself is the highlight of the song and makes you desperate to see it performed live. Subaru comes next with a rough around the edges sound that bands like SUM 41 and early BLINK-182 built their names on. It’s a quick and frenetic track that keeps your attention from start to finish.

HAMMS IN A GLASS is one of the album’s more interesting tracks as it still keeps the rough around the edges feel to it, whilst opting for a much heavier track that allows WINONA FIGHTER to showcase their musical skills in a way that doesn’t just focus on punk/pop-punk by having an almost heavy feel to it, as by the time you reach the song’s crescendo, we are treated to a great little guitar solo. It’s a song that is sure to conjure huge mosh pits live. In the build up this album, almost all of its songs have been released, so when you get to songs such as Talk and Swimmer’s Ear, it’s a cool little treat as you’re traversing unheard territory.

Thankfully, both songs show they belong on the album as Talk is a punk anthem full to the brim with a snarling attitude with its vocals and musicality that makes you want to hear it again as soon as it’s over, going hand in hand with Swimmer’s Ear. R U FAMOUS is a damning indictment of those who pursue an interest with others purely because of their status which unfortunately happens to many up and coming bands and works as a great “fuck you” to those who are desperate to be in this position despite not wanting to put in the work for it.


Whilst the album itself is fourteen songs long, there are many other bands where this would feel a little too long. Where the strengths lie in this record is that each song is concise, punchy, effective and lasts just long enough for you to keep wanting more. Tracks such as I Think You Should Leave and I’m In the Market To Please No One keep you entertained as they take their turn to scratch that pop-punk itch that remains whilst listening to this entire album. ATTENTION once again throws a curveball on the album that keeps its sound fresh instead of going stale. A great driving riff combined with an incredible shredding guitar solo hype the song up as Kinnan snarls her way through a track that will leave any listener feeling empowered by the time it reaches its end. Wlbrn St Tvrn is yet another twist to the record and truly ups the ante, focusing on a much harder sound that ever so slightly dips its toes into a hardcore vibe that conjures glorious of sweaty circle pits in a small venue that will surely be a highlight when performed live.

As we get ever closer to the My Apologies To The Chef‘s end, Swear To God That I’m (FINE) and Johnny’s Dead are another pairing of songs that go hand in hand which brings us back round to the pop-punk centric songs that are embedded in this album, they have you begging for warmer weather as they truly feel like they need to be played out loud during a summer’s day with mates. DON’T WALLOW brings the album to a close and for the first time in nearly forty five minutes slows down, giving us a little breather right at the end. It’s a great anthemic ending to a great album that makes you want more from WINONA FIGHTER as soon as it’s over.

My Apologies To The Chef is a great debut album from WINONA FIGHTER. You just wish you hadn’t been exposed to so many of the songs in the build up as it would have been an even better listen to hear a lot of these songs for the first time, but the exposure of all these tracks will surely earn them a great fan base that they can build upon over the years. The album is fun, packed full of heart and reminds you of a much simpler and enjoyable time that gives you a wonderful piece of escapism from the world through its music. It’s great to see how strong all these songs are currently and makes you excited for what’s to come next from the band as they build on the foundations of their debut for a future that will surely see them become bigger and better!

Rating: 7/10



My Apologies To The Chef is out now via Rise Records.

Like WINONA FIGHTER on Facebook.

Cytotoxin announce new album ‘Biographyte’

CYTOTOXIN have announced a new album!



Titled Biographyte, the upcoming album from the German death metal band is the follow-up to 2020’s Nuklearth, and is scheduled to be released in April this year, via Unique Leader Records.

Biographyte was recorded by Kohle and Daniel at Kohlekeller Studios, with mixing and mastering handled by Mendel bij de Leij at Mendel Audio. The album’s striking artwork was created by German Latorres of Hostile Tattoos, capturing the haunting and intense themes of the record.

The news of the new album comes on the back of recent singles Condemnesia and Hope Terminator, both of which will appear on the new album.

Alongside the announcement of the new album, you can view both the track list and artwork for the upcoming new album below:

Track List:

1. Hope Terminator
2. Condemnesia
3. Behind Armored Doors
4. Biographyte
5. Deadzone Desert
6. The Everslave
7. Eventless Horizon
8. Bulloverdozed
9. Transition Of The Staring Dead
10. Revelation
11. From Bitter Rivers



Biographyte is set for release on date via self-release. Pre-orders are available now and can be purchased here.

For more information on CYTOTOXIN like their official page on Facebook.