Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse, and Carcass Dominate The Fillmore

On March 30th, Meshuggah, with special guests Cannibal Corpse and Carcass, paid a visit to The Fillmore in Detroit to host an INSANE night of metal. This lineup promised an unforgettable night and certainly delivered on every front. 

 

 

CARCASS

 

 

 

 

First up we had Carcass, an English death metal band from Liverpool that I, admittedly, didn’t have too much knowledge of going into the show. For over three decades and first formed in 1985, this group has been bringing their beautiful dissection of death metal to stages worldwide. Despite breaking up suddenly in 1996, the band’s reformation in 2007 with original frontman Jeff Walker breathed new life into this English band. 

 

 

With top hits such as “Black Star,” “Heartwork,” and most notably “1985” which has earned them over fifteen million streams on Spotify alone, Carcass has truly made a name for themselves in the death metal scene. Carcass opened their set with a bang, performing the well-loved “Unfit for Human Consumption” off of their 2013 album ‘Surgical Steel.’ With a hard, driving beat, and the unique vocals of frontman Jeff Walker, this song got the crowd amped up for the rest of their set. 

 

 

After ample applause, next up was “Buried Dreams” from the 1993 album ‘Heartwork,’ which was undoubtedly a crowd-pleaser. The audience was a blur of head-banging metal lovers and bodies moving as the thumping bass of the song rang out. Although a bit slower in tempo than the opening song, it was no less intense, lyrically or mechanically! 

 

 

The third song I had the pleasure of photographing was a true Carcass original, coming from their 1981 album ‘Necroticism’ called ‘Incarnated Solvent Abuse.’ This song was a throwback to the band’s grindcore roots, with a heavy, driving guitar riff and guttural vocals from Walker. The crowd was going wild, fans old and new moving to the pulsing beat. Overall, the band’s music ranges from fast-paced, head-banging jams to intricately dissected riffs with melodic undertones, making them an absolute must-see!

 

 

CANNIBAL CORPSE

 

 

 

 

Next, we had Cannibal Corpse, another band that I was already familiar with thanks to TikTok and the reactions to their viral song “I Cum Blood.” Originating in Buffalo, New York, and first formed in 1988, Cannibal Corpse has made waves in the death metal scene. While in the early years, Cannibal Corpse did not receive much radio or television exposure, it quickly gained a cult following during the release of their first few albums, such as 1991’s ‘Butchered at Birth.’ 

 

 

In 2015, the band achieved worldwide sales, and in 2021, Cannibal Corpse received their first Top 10 on the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart. While the band has had multiple lineup changes over the years, with the only two remaining original members being bassist Alex Webster and drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz, the fans never stopped loving this hardcore death metal band. 

 

 

Cannibal Corpse has become a well-known name in the death metal scene, outlasting the ebb and flow of modern trends, all while creating those guttural, visceral tracks that fans know and love. Opening with the fast-paced track Scourge of Iron from the band’s 2012 album Torture, the crowd was cheering and singing along to frontman George Fisher’s, better known as his stage name Corpsegrinder, deep growls and full screams. Everything from the lyrical prowess to the stage presence of this band had the audience yearning for more, and the night was just getting started. 

 

 

Next up was the band’s latest release, “Blood Blind,” from their 2023 album ‘Chaos Horrific.’ Fisher’s tones were gut-wrenching in all the right ways, ranging from low, duo-toned growls to long vocal fries. The song was a wave of fast-paced sections and melodic guitar solos that had fans screaming for an encore. 

 

 

For the third song, we watched Rob Barrett’s fingers fly along frets at nearly impossible speeds during the opening of “Inhumane Harvest” off of the band’s 2021 album, ‘Violence Unimagined.’ This one was a true fan favorite with a beat that encouraged the pit to go crazy, moshing left and right to the beat of the song. 

 

 

Cannibal Corpse had truly become a cult classic in the death metal scene with their killer stage performance and hard-hitting tracks. Their sound is timeless– no matter what album you listen to and no matter what show you go to, they always promise to deliver!

 

 

 

 

 

 

MESHUGGAH

 

 

 

 

Finally, Meshuggah. These metal architects have been redefining the boundaries of the genre since the early 90s, and their show at The Fillmore was a testament to their influence and artistry. Coming from way of Sweden and first formed in 1987, Meshuggah broke onto the scene with a kind of diversity the death metal community had never seen before. The band is well-known for their polymetred song structures and polyrhythms, showcasing a truly complex understanding of both songwriting and artistry, leading them to be one of the most innovative death metal bands of their time.

 

 

The group quickly rose to stardom, being labelled as one of the ten most important hard rock and heavy metal bands by ‘Rolling Stone.’ In both 2006 and 2009, Meshuggah was nominated for two Swedish GRAMMY Awards, and a third time in 2018 for their song “Clockworks.” The band has performed in multiple nationwide music festivals, including the well-loved Ozzfest, showcasing just how much of a name this Swedish group has made for themselves. 

 

 

 

Though they’ve had a number of member changes throughout the years, the band solidified themselves in 2004, and have been going strong ever since with frontman Jens Kidman on vocals. For their first song of the night, they performed an absolute banger: “Broken Cog” from their 2022 album ‘Immutable.’ As the lights went down, the complex rhythms were beaten out, with Kidman’s vocals providing elegant, ritualistic storytelling along the way. This five-minute piece felt like the beginning of what was sure to be an intricate, musically genius set, offering fans a true taste of the night to come. 

 

 

Next up was “Violent Sleep of Reason” from the band’s 2016 album, rightfully of the same name. The perfectly executed beats made this song feel almost like a beautiful nightmare, providing an eclectic mix of intentionally unsynchronized rhythms, guttural growls, and haunting guitar riffs. 

 

 

For the band’s third song, they performed the wildly popular “Rational Gaze,” which has earned them over thirteen million streams on Spotify. The beat was bone-rattling, backed by legato screams from Kidman and a crowd who was absolutely eating it up. 

 

 

Every hit of the drums, every slide of the guitars, and every thump of the bass sent the audience into a crowd-surfing, mosh-pitting frenzy, making this song truly unforgettable for all fans alike. Over the years, Meshuggah has curated and created something truly special, earning them a spot under the category of cult classics. Their music was unlike anything I have ever experienced– needless to say, if you ever have the chance to experience their musical genius firsthand, snag that ticket immediately.

 

 

All in all, it was an incredible night from start to finish. Each band brought their own unique flair, creating an exhilarating experience that resonated with fans in attendance. From the fast-paced beats of both Carcass and Cannibal Corpse to the intricately woven beats of Meshuggah, it was an unforgettable performance, all three bands complementing each other with some of the most well-rounded sets I’ve heard to date.