Gig Review: Crypta Destroys London
Venue: The Underworld
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Date: Aug 9, 2024
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Location: London, UK
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Venue: The Underworld | Date: Aug 9, 2024 | Location: London, UK |
Hails, putrid readers of the Heavy Metal Citadel! Crawling out of our own crypts, myself and Chort were lucky enough to witness the sonic beatdown of Brazilian death metal quartet Crypta. My mom asked if I’m going to stop putting my child’s school fund into Bitcoin, but I told her NO! THIS IS CRYPT-A! Not CRYPT-O! AND ALSO NO!
To really set the scene we had a quick coffee with our friends at Raven Records (check’em out!) and a pint on the pavement with a recently un-homeless man. He talked about his new TV and hanging out with Marduk (or Murdoch, according to Chort) and we also met a woman who claimed her boyfriend was Jesus Christ and at the Olympics, although she declined to say what event. How topical! Gotta love Camden. And what is more Camden than The Underworld?
Now imagine a dungeon that serves up pints and live riffs instead of torture—although depending on how close you are to the speakers, your eardrums might disagree! Tucked beneath The World’s End pub, it’s like the basement of your metal-loving friend’s house, only with a way better sound system and a bar stocked with more than just questionable home-brew. The Underworld has this magical ability to make every gig feel like it’s the most important show on the planet, and when you’re there, it is. If you haven’t been, get yourself down there—just remember to watch your head and those load-bearing pillars!
Crypta Storms the Stage!
Having wormed my way up to the front in our signature HMC mask (someone asked if I was a celebrity, I said ‘Yes I’m Igor Cavalera’), I was ready to get my cranium amputated. The setlist was a well-curated mix, heavily leaning into their latest album, Shades of Sorrow. They kicked off with “The Other Side of Anger,” setting the tone for what would be a relentless assault on the senses.
Fernanda Lira, the band’s fearsome front-woman, commanded the stage with her guttural growls and roaring bass lines. If you’ve ever wondered whether a death metal band can maintain the intensity of their recordings live, Crypta answered with a resounding, bone-rattling “FUCK YOU”. Her voice was as ferocious as it is on the album, and she didn’t miss a beat, even when she asked the crowd if they were ready for a “fast one” before tearing into “Dark Clouds.”
Speaking of which, let’s talk about the rest of the band. Luana Dametto on drums was nothing short of a beast—precision and power wrapped into one dynamic package. Her double bass work on tracks like “Under the Black Wings” and “Stronghold” was so fast and tight, you’d think she had extra limbs. All in a pair of shoe store socks!
Guitarists Jéssica di Falchi and Tainá Bergamaschi were a lethal duo, trading off solos that were both technically complex and dripping with dark atmosphere. Jéssica, in particular, stood out with her razor-sharp solos during “Agents of Chaos” and “Lord of Ruins,” and the crowd was absolutely eating it up. And on the latter, I gotta say it is straight up one of Chern’s Top Riffs of 2023. That’s basically the equivalent of a Grammy.
Setlist
1. The Other Side of Anger
2. Poisonous Apathy
3. Lift the Blindfold
4. The Outsider
Chernoglav and Chort
5. Lullaby for the Forsaken
6. Stronghold
7. Trial of Traitors
8. Under the Black Wings
9. Dark Clouds
10. Agents of Chaos
11. Lord of Ruins
12. From the Ashes
Shades of Sorrow, More Like Rainbow of Rage!
The night closed with “From the Ashes,” leaving the crowd in a state of euphoric exhaustion, and your effervescent duo astounded. If the set hadn’t already knocked us sideways, this final barrage surely did. As the last notes faded, Chort and I exchanged that knowing look who had just witnessed something truly special. Crypta didn’t just play; they conquered, leaving a sea of stunned and satisfied fans in their wake. It was nothing short of a death metal clinic, and let me tell you, the walls of this iconic venue may never recover. We got more than just the shades of sorrow, but a whole rainbow of rage! TOTAL SUPPORT!
Written by: Chernoglav The Hero With The Silver Moustache
“Sporting more than just a moustache under his hood, Chernoglav loves underground Metal, but also listens to a dynamic range of other sub-genres like Power. He’s also never had a moustache.”
