Obscura, Atheist, Origin, Decrepit Birth, Fractal Universe
- Bleeding Priest
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
May 18, 2025
DNA Lounge
San Francisco, CA
Part I - Hectic's take
I would have liked to see opener Fractal Universe, a progressive death metal band from France. Or Decrepit Birth, a great death metal band from Santa Cruz, CA, locals who I’ve seen before. Those were the first 2 of 5 bands on the inaugural “Shred Fest” tour, featuring technical death metal from around the world (“or as we like to think of it, more notes less funny” according to the singer of Origin).
But given how incredibly hung over I was, I was quite surprised to find myself standing in the DNA Lounge at 7:45 PM on a Sunday night. So I did miss the first two bands.
But at least I made it out, and arrived in time for Origin. Originally from Kansas, but currently from “all over”, this was more of a homecoming for metalheads who spend time at the DNA Lounge. Because Origin guitarist Paul Ryan has been a bartender at the DNA for many years, a familiar face if not a friend to most who frequent metal shows at the club (and I’d imagine other live performances and goth dance parties they host weekly, though I can’t vouch for whether he works those). Paul was even wearing his “DNA Lounge Staff” t-shirt on stage, pretty cool. He looked psyched to be up on stage at “his” club, and was ready to deliver.
Origin played a blisteringly fast set of technical death metal, with the bass and Paul’s (single) guitar both flying. Interestingly, they have the same singer as Psycroptic from Tasmania, Australia, who came through with Nile and Six Feet Under earlier this year. Jason Keyser is an energetic death metal vocalist (he’d have to be fronting both Origin and Psycroptic), with a pretty good sense of humor. Origin is certainly a band you should check out if you are into technical death metal (and of course, this 5 band tour package is hard to beat if that is your thing).
Part II - Bleeding Priest's story
Sunday night at The DNA Lounge. Honestly, I barely made it to this gig. Death Angel played the Milwaukee Metal Fest the night before (review of that coming shortly) and it was a bit of a late night for me. Our flight on Sunday landed at SFO around 7:15. After getting my cymbals and pedals I was out of there and on my way to the DNA.
I fail to mention a dude from Vital Remains gave me a bunch of shroom gummies the night before which me and some of the guys decided to try out before getting on the plane. Needless to say it was an entertaining flight home. I haven’t laughed so hard at South Park in my life. The timid woman sitting next to me seemed horrified by my overjoyed demeanor. Certainly not the first time I’ve scared someone on a flight.
The gummy was on the downturn by the time I got to the gig but I was still feeling great. Since the show started at 6 (advertised 6:30) I unfortunately missed the first three bands including Origin …which bummed me out being that I’m a fan and wanted to support my buddy Paul Ryan. I heard they were great though. I literally walked in 5 minutes before Atheist, my favorite band on the bill, hit the stage.
Atheist are in my top 20 of all-time favorite Metal bands. I’ve been a fan since first seeing them at The Omni in Oakland on the Unquestionable Presence tour. INCREDIBLE! I love all four of their full lengths. Some more than others but they’re all great in their own right. Especially the last record they put out Jupiter. That one seems to be unfairly swept under the rug a bit by fans and the band themselves. Heck, they didn’t even play a song from it at this gig. But that would be my only complaint because Atheist DESTROYED The DNA!
It was a masterclass on how to be technically proficient with your instrument while at the same time raging on stage and having fun. The energy was palpable. The set focused mostly on the first two albums with one track from their third, Water I believe. It’s always fun hearing songs from 1993’s Elements. Musically that’s the odd album in the four. It’s definitely a departure from their normal tech-death/thrash sound but I enjoy it very much.
Atheist’s set was perfectly executed with power, passion and excitement with a special nod to drummer Dylan Marks who punished the kit all while playing these insanely intricate beats and fills. It’s always a joy watching him play. Sole original member Kelly Schaffer’s voice sounds pretty much the same it did back in the day which means he sounded fucking AWESOME! I love the man. Him and I keep talking about Death Angel and Atheist doing a tour together. If it were entirely up to me that tour would start tomorrow. I’m confident it will happen sooner than later though.
German technical death metal band Obscura closed out the night, but honestly I watched maybe 2 minutes of their set. After Atheist I just wasn’t interested in seeing anyone else plus I had some catching up to do with the guys in the band. I’m sure they were great.
–Bleeding Priest
