The masters of horror punk, Doyle, brought the Abominate The World As We Die Tour to QXT’s in Newark, NJ this past Friday April 8th. Whenever the opportunity to witness this mega-talented quartet arises, I make sure to attend without any hesitation. The Vegan Beast, Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, frontman Alex Wolfman Story, along with Wade Murff on drums and Brandon Strate on bass and backup vocals, never disappoint.
Opening metal band Salem’s Childe riled up the crowd and did not let up during their entire set. The group consists of Rob Salem and Aaron Crick on guitars, bassist James Gates, drummer Scott Earley, and vocalist Johnny Oravsky. Their songs were heavy both instrumentally and lyrically, not shying away from serious topics such as the mental health of war veterans. Salem’s Childe is a band full of passion, and it permeates from the stage and into the hearts of fans.
Anticipation clouded over QXT’s at the headliner, however. People everywhere plotting where to stand to witness the abomination about to befall the venue. As I encroached upon the front row, I threw caution to the wind and crammed right up against the monitors. I was up close and personal.
The Vegan Beast himself crossed the stage and overtook the immediate space. While frontman Story appeared in a gimp mask, breaking the silence with his notorious opening scream to Abominator. This clued in the masses to the fact that Doyle was about to shred us all to pieces.
From beginning to end, eyes, ears, and bodies were glued to this band. Doyle has this hypnotic flow that I’ll admit, makes it hard to focus on anything else. My job is to photograph and report back on the concert objectively. Impossible! I find myself singing along mesmerized by everyone on that stage. They are all magnificent musicians and truly do possess the ability to entertain a horde of people with their talent.
Murff behind the drum kit is a sight during the entire performance. The man seems to have at least two extra arms while playing because he turns into a beast and is so much fun to watch. A total powerhouse of a drummer. Though bassist Strate was difficult to see because of the less-than-ideal lighting, it was impossible not to feel his presence. He was producing the perfect baritone notes that balance the rest of the band. He is an obvious key to the sound that we have come to know and love from Doyle.
Is it possible that I may have a bias? Maybe. Did I get stuck right next to the pit and shoved into a fellow photographer? Yes. Did the Wolfman’s sweat spray me in the face mid-performance? I will neither confirm nor deny.
However, hese guys absolutely have their tunes down to a science and are worth the experience of fans in a frenzy. The Abominate The World As We Die Tour may have wrapped up for now, but when they come around again you’ll know where to find me. All their songs are love songs, and you can dance to them if you want to. You just have to be there.
Make sure to check out Doyle at the links below:
Doyle Homepage | Official Doyle Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
