REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY NADINE SWIGER

The Palladium in Worcester, MA was the perfect setting for a night of pure intensity, featuring Behemoth, Rotting Christ, and Immolation.

Immolation kicked off the night with a powerful and commanding set. From the first note, they set a dark, heavy tone that immediately pulled the crowd in and established the energy for everything that followed.

Rotting Christ brought a different kind of intensity. Their set had a strong, almost ritualistic feel, with moments that invited the crowd to raise their fists and chant along. There was a real sense of unity in the room during their performance, and the audience fully leaned into it.

Then came Behemoth, who sounded as tight as ever. Their stage presence was professional, precise, fast paced, and packed with theatrical elements, including multiple costume changes that added to the overall spectacle. They leaned heavily into newer material spanning their 30 plus year career, while still giving fans a taste of the classics.

Tracks like “Ov Fire and the Void” and “Conqueror All” hit with full force, reminding everyone why they have remained such a dominant presence in the genre. Partway through the set, they paid tribute to the roots of extreme metal with a cover of “The Return of Darkness” and “Evil by Bathory,” bringing things back to the earliest days of the genre.

They closed the main set with “Chant for Eschaton 2000” before returning to the stage for an encore performance of “O Father O Satan O Sun!,” ending the night on a powerful and iconic note.

It was a night that showcased technical precision and performance and the full spectrum of extreme metal, from crushing heaviness to immersive, almost ceremonial energy.

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