In October 2019 Belgium’s thrash speed blitzkrieg Evil Invaders released their live album and DVD Surge of Insanity – Live in Antwerp 2018. The DVD captured the 14 song hour plus show in their noise laden hometown annihilation. Filmed at Trix in September 2018, the performance captures the screaming adrenaline soaked set in its audio and visual brilliance.
The band showed off skills and aura playing with banshee shrieking speed that no crowd surfer or mosh pit could match. This is the next generation of live aggression done with steam, smoke, weapons and a light show that almost became the fifth member.
Napalm Records recently streamed the show under their #NapalmSofaSeries for those at home needing a virtual concert release.
Beside guitars the show is loud with the screams, screeches; howl’s and growls of vocalist/guitarist Joe V.A., akin to John Connelly’s nuclear-cleansed vocals. The show was filmed with constant rapid-fire cuts, almost strobe-like in motion trying to keep up with the band and Max Mayhem’s hyper-sonic speed, Senne Jacobs pounding thunder and the string bellowing of Joeri Van de Schoot.
There’s a vintage feel throughout, shadowing Sepultura’s Live in Barcelona as any song could’ve been used as a live video for the sacred Ball, back in the day. There are loud echoes of early ‘90s thrash, honoring the forefather’s w/bullet belts and studded arm bands along with a drum kit resembling Mindcrime era Queensryche.
It’s hometown havoc captured with multi-camera electric eyes with over 60 minutes of frenzied speed straight from a lighting storm.
The ritual weaponry adorning the mic stands gleamed sharp ready for violence as the crowd stood ready for V.A.’s command. However many thousand of notes played that night, there was an arena feel to the evening.
The stage was theirs to command, feet donning speakers like seasoned soldiers. Shredding solos and whiplashed hair were shrouded in bellowing steam and smoke.
Red lights and illumination invaded the stage as Slayer-like guitar shrieks pierced the speakers greeting the ready and waiting acolytes.
There was a bit of Maiden in certain tunes, in sound and complexity as the schizophrenic light show spiked the stage.
Camera angles captured the action, fury and pace while capturing the personality, atmosphere and mood of each song mixing a Molotov melee of sound, lights, smoke, steam, speed and adrenaline exploding on DVD.
A children’s nursery rhyme chime began with evil keyboards crushed by shredding, screaming guitars for the blistering opener as tribal shrieks and guitar peaks began “As Life Slowly Fades.”
“Pulses of Pleasure” followed with epic sound as “Mental Penitentiary” delivered the crimson glory.
Ghostly white light highlighted the strong warrior-like riff of “Broken Dreams in Isolation” as weapons rotated mechanical drawbridge style. With a slower, more deliberate pace, sparks flew, slamming reworked wrecked necks.
“Stairway to Insanity” took the dizzying climb to Maiden level heights and pace. Creepy blue light bounced off cold, melancholy chords of “Among the Depths of Insanity” hammering with some seriously sharp thrash.
They went back in time to Venom’s “Witching Hour” playing faster than Cronos and Slayer’s Live Intrusion providing one of the shows coolest visuals with guitar necks thrashing around in a sea of sparks.
The main set finished as the infection set in on “Fast, Loud ‘N’ Rude.”
By loud vocal request “Raising Hell” encored as V.A. ordered the venue destroyed.
For long-time fans this is the perfect live staple of what the band can do on stage. For newcomers, with two records and two EP’s this is speed metal played with heavy thrash, technical mastery and near nonstop shredding. From epic anthems to thrash-fueled riot starters, the invasion continues. .
