Crypta

First time in a long time I’ve come home from a show covered in fake blood! I knew Ghoul’s schtick borrowed liberally from Gwar’s, but I didn’t realize just how far they took it until one of their elaborately costumed characters came out with hoses attached to himself. Sure enough, his face was soon ripped off to get the fluids flowing. Not nearly as messy as a Gwar show (which these days suits me just fine), but almost as much fun.

Crypta has the distinction of being the first band I’ve randomly discovered via YouTube algorithm that actually turned me into a proper fan. Watching their live videos over the last year and a half seems to have had some kind of old-school MTV effect on me, because I was legit star-struck when they took the stage. And man, what a great live band. The founding rhythm section’s dichotomy works really well: The stoic, workmanlike delivery of Luana Dametto’s busy drumming doesn’t overshadow its creativity, and it’s an effective foil to bassist/frontwoman Fernanda Lira’s charismatic, wide-eyed hamminess. Lira is also a hell of a screamer, and somehow pretty intelligibly so, a refreshing death metal rarity. The guitarists kept up, playing their complex parts flawlessly with energy and enthusiasm, though I’m bummed I never got to see Jéssica di Falchi play with them before she split from the band back in the spring. Her replacement, yet to be confirmed as a permanent member, did a fine job, but she and the remaining guitarist, Tainá Bergamaschi, didn’t make quite as cohesive a unit.

I should also mention that I’ve since found a variety of reasons to regret not getting there early to see Spiter open the show, not least of which is that their frontman/guitarist was previously in a band unselfconscious enough to name itself Shitfucker. Luckily, Spiter is based in Philly, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for future opportunities to experience whatever depravity they unfurl.