On May 2, I departed on the Metro North Train bound for Manhattan to witness Behemoth’s Godless IV Tour. Graciously granted with a photo pass by the Deicide camp, I was set to capture the show with my trusty Nikon. At the venue, I obtained my pass and entered, securing a spot up near the photo pit awaiting Immolation who were first to take the stage.

Immolation hit the stage with a pure, unrelenting heaviness. Their performance was as tight as a machine, wrapping the room in a wall of riffs. The band was raw with no unnecessary theatrics - just a masterclass in crushing death metal delivered with pure precision. Veterans of death metal hailing from Yonkers, they put on a true master class!

Rotting Christ shifted the atmosphere without sacrificing an ounce of power. Their performance had a more ritualistic feel, pulling the packed house into their massive grooves. Epic in every sense of the word, they proved why they’ve maintained one of the most respected names in extreme and black metal for decades.

Death metal legends Deicide were up next and as usual, they did not disappoint! Pounding through their set of classics, punishing from start to finish, pounding the crowd into the ground. A truly relentless set - every long landed harder than the last, and the band never let the intensity dip for a second. Glen Benton delivered his iconic vocals with force and Steve Asheim continues to be one of the top drummers in all of metal.

Then came Behemoth. The crowd at the Palladium Times Square was buzzing after the pounding of the three openers. From the first note, the band was locked in - Nergel leading the charge as they delivered a crushingly tight performance that never lost momentum. Shooting from the pit gave a front-row view of the intensity. Nergel commanded the stage and every riff landed with incredible weight. Behemoth proved why they’re one of the metal’s greatest contemporary acts. A set with power and discipline, leaving no doubt why they’ve earned their rabid following.