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Driving to Albuquerque, I wasn’t looking to fight a crowd in a small club, but sometimes you have to do what it takes to catch some of the best bands traveling through New Mexico. It turned out to be a very special performance—an evening with the legends of death metal. The Death to All Spiritual Healing Tour came to Sister’s Bar, a Death tribute band, and they brought out their friends Phobophilic and Gorguts. 

Phobophilic, a band I had never heard of until a few days before the performance, came to the stage with so much energy and fresh death metal. The band comes from Fargo, North Dakota, and has been together since 2016. They released their debut album in 2022, Enveloping Absurdity. The band’s members include Aaron Dudgeon (vocals/guitars), Josh Poer (guitars), Christian Alm (bass), and Vincent Tweten (drums).

After jumping on stage, they performed “The Illusion of Self,” followed by “Nauseating Despair,” and then “Cathedral of Blood (Twilight of the Idols),” all songs from their debut album, Enveloping Absurdity. I must agree with my fellow writers: their music is pure death metal, with killer riffs, creative basslines, and strong lyrics. I am looking forward to what this band releases in the future.

If you want more information on Phobophilic visit to the following links: 

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Gorguts, a Canadian-based band that formed in 1989, was one of the bands that influenced what we know as death metal. They have been friends with Death to All since the beginning. They have released five albums, with a new album announced for 2026. They are considered a technical death metal band, known for experimenting with the genre and creating their own style. Gorguts has influenced bands like Ulcerate, Spawn of Possession, and Obscura.

The band consists of Luc Lemay on rhythm guitar and vocals, lead guitarist Kevin Hufnagel, bassist Colin Marston, and drummer Michel Bélanger. Lemay is the only original member of the band and has a great voice for the classic death metal style. The band has really embraced the new resurgence of death metal. They opened their set with “Considered Dead,” “Subtle Body,” and “Earthly Love.” They also introduced a couple of new songs, and that’s when they announced that a new album is in the works.

I now consider myself a new fan of Gorguts; I really enjoyed the form of death metal they were slinging on stage. If you want to know more about this band, check out these links:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Death to All is a tribute band for Death, which disbanded in 2001 when their leader, vocalist and visionary Chuck Schuldiner passed away after a battle with brain cancer. Members of the band have come together to carry on the legacy of Chuck Schuldiner’s dream: bringing death metal to everyone. Steve DiGiorgio and Gene Hoglan, who were part of the band when Schuldiner passed, have continued sharing the songs that started the death metal scene with a new generation.

Sister’s Bar was packed from front to back as the band entered the stage; they were welcomed by cheers, shouting, and fans jumping up and down. The crowd was a mix of young and old all throwing horns with every song. They opened the show with “Living Monstrosity” from Death album Spiritual Healing, and then they performed “Defensive Personalities” from the same Death album. Followed by “Lack of Comprehension” from the Death album Human. All the songs performed were closely listened to and were met with a roar of cheers and clapping at the end. It sure shows that the core death metal songs are still popular and welcomed by all there. 

Death to All’s dedication to keeping Death and Chuck Schuldiner alive in fans’ hearts seems to be working, and let’s hope we hear a lot more from this band. If you want to know more about Death to All, follow these links:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM