The Feel the Evil Like a Knife 2024 summer North American tour featuring Exciter and Midnight with support from Wraith and Hellwitch stormed into the Echo Lounge in Dallas on Saturday.
The 16-date tour kicked off on the west coast in mid July, and will conclude on Sunday, August 4 in Toronto. What each band brings to the stage musically makes the roster one of the best tours for the summer. Needless to say, there’s plentiful doses of speed, thrash, death and blackened metal topped off with heavy metal grit.
Even though Hellwitch had a brief set, they made it work. The Florida based trio delivered a devilish, heavy set pulling material from Annihilational Intercention, the band’s 2023 release. Vocalist and guitarist Patrick Ranieri even made mention of the often talked about iconic but now closed, underground heavy metal venue Joe’s Garage in west Fort Worth. Along with drummer Brian Wilson (Night Demon) and bassist Jason Flippo (Quinta Essentia), Hellwitch made their presence known.
Wraith followed the path from the stage that Hellwitch carved out for the night. The Indiana thrash band was allotted a bit more stage time. They took advantage and delivered on it. Wraith utilized material from their latest release, Fueled by Fear to set the tone and pace for their time on stage. The classic metal sounding instrumental “Asylum” followed by the title track and “Heathen’s Touch” is all it took. The heart of thrashers in the audience were quickly pumping Wraith’s set.
Once Midnight hit the stage, a beast of blackened metal in the vein of Venom and Motorhead was unleashed. Cloaked in black face coverings, bullet belts, studs, leather wristbands and black straight leg jeans, Athenar and his two stage mates laid waste with blackened destruction. There seemed to be not one stationary moment once the band threw the throttle down.
Midnight’s set was a nonstop presentation of blasphemous metal. The best part, it was tight, loud and furious. It’s easy to see how the band has refined their stage presence from just a few years back. Midnight’s constant touring has now paid dividends.
There’s a motto that says Cleveland Rocks but after Midnight’s set, Cleveland Slays.
As standard, between sets music is played. These tunes normally fall in line with the bands on the roster. These tunes at times may have been influential in the formative days of bands hoping to make their mark one day.
For Exciter, there’s only one song that fits to announce the time is near. That’s “Exciter” from Judas Priest’s classic 1978 album Stained Class.
With lights out, the sound of blowing wind swirls throughout the Echo Lounge. It’s the beginning of “The Holocaust,” the instrumental that announces Exciter has arrived as they stepped foot onto the stage.
The Ottawa trio quickly set the pace “Stand Up and Fight” and “Heavy Metal Maniac,” both from their 1983 album of the same name.
Along with their debut album, Exciter relied on material from 1984’s Violence and Force with “Evil Sinner,” the title track and “Pounding Metal.” As for the band’s third release, Long Live the Loud, Exciter brought out “Beyond the Gates of Doom” and the title track.
Not wanting to rely just on the classic lineup and the first three albums, Exciter pulled “Breakdown the Walls” from their fourth release, Unveiling the Wicked.
Closing the night out, Exciter paid homage to Motorhead with a cover of “Iron Fist.”
When Exciter is in town, anticipate a healthy circulation of pit action. Beware of body surfers making their way to the stage. These things help keep the blood of the old school flowing and it’s a great great to see.
Exciter has reached the point of four decades with their albums Heavy Metal Maniac and Violence and Force which turns forty this year. It’s nice seeing younger generations at the shows. That’s a positive for the new school experiencing the old school.
A handful of dates remain in Cincinnati, New York, Boston, Montreal and will wrap up in Toronto. The Feel the Evil Like a Knife tour is a must do summer experience. It’s not a recommendation, it’s a suggestion.
