Cobalt

Cobalt, touring as a four-piece, took the rickety stage just after 11:30pm. Fell’s guttural howls filled the small space as they worked out some last minute sound issues. Wunder was situated behind the kit, while the touring guitarist and bassist were working on their own sound. “Thanks for coming out everybody,” Fell addressed the crowd in his best human voice, before the set exploded with “Hunt the Buffalo”.

“I am not a man I am not a man I am not a man!!!”

“Arsonry” was up next, putting to rest any concerns that the pre-Fell material would be absent from the setlist. The lighting rig at Hi-Dive is almost non-existent, so the band was plagued by darkness the entire performance. Fell’s shadow writhed in convulsion as his mic chord became a plaything in his hand; acting as a prop to reinforce “Beast Whip” and turning into a noose for much of the set. His shirt came off during the Eater of Birds selections, and a fan in the front row was able to unleash his best McSorley impression into the mic during “Blood Eagle Sacrifice”.

It was during “Witherer” when things got a little strange. Fell doused himself in a dark liquid and continued to rub it all over his torso during that track. Something happened before I could figure out what the substance was though. Fell spoke about how Cobalt has been “one of my favorite bands for a long fucking time,” before bringing a guy up from the audience. Wunder came around from the kit to hug the new addition, before Fell handed him the mic. “I used to be in this band,” McSorley announced, before taking over lead vocals for Gin.

As a fan of extreme metal, sometimes I have to be able to separate the musician from the music. So, as much as I don’t agree with a lot of things McSorley has said, “Gin” is one awesome song…and it was something special to see it performed in its original form.

see more at http://ilistensoyoudonthaveto.com/2016/09/27/cobalt-hi-dive-09-24-16/