Goatwhore at Zanzabar in Louisville, KY 21-APR-23

April 27, 2023 Michael Deinlein Concert Reviews, US Comments Off

Goatwhore-Zanzabar-Louisville_KY-04212023-MichaelDeinlein (159)

Goatwhore unleashes their wrath to thirsty metal fans in Louisville with Artwork for the Blind and Bastard Sons of a Judas Goat.

The biggest and most significant event in Louisville each year is The Kentucky Derby. Leading up to The Derby” is a citywide celebration called “the Kentucky Derby Festival” and the annual kickoff event of the Kentucky Derby Festival, is an airshow and fireworks display named “Thunder Over Louisville”. Not far from the hallowed grounds of Churchill Downs a great crowd of enthusiastic metallers flocked to Zanzabar to experience their own type of “Thunder” as the Mighty Goatwhore rolled into town.

Goatwhore is currently on tour in support of Eyehategod’s “30 Years of Take As Needed For Pain” tour and managed to squeeze in 3 headlining dates during off days of the tour and Louisville fans sure didn’t miss the opportunity as It had been a little more than 6 years since the guys last toured through Louisville. Goatwhore is also touring in support of their 8^th and most recent studio album Angels Hung from the Arches of Heaven which was released in October last year and topped out at #9 on the US Billboard hard Music Albums.

With the more intimate setting of Zanzabar Louisville fans pushed to the stage as the guys were making their final sound adjustments. After a quick run through they immediately launched into their opening offerings for the evening “Chaos Arcane,” “The Bestowal of Abomination” the first song from the aforementioned album of the evening and “Baring Teeth for Revolt” and the night was off to a blazing start. The energy in the room was contagious as the rolling mosh pit was in full motion and demonstrative front man Ben Falgoust was fist bumping and high fiving everyone after every song. While the set focused on the new album with “Born of Satan’s Flesh,” the title track “Angels Hung From the Arches of Heaven” and “Nihil” blasting from the stage there was plenty of time for fan favorites “Apocalyptic Havoc” and “FBS”. Onstage the guys couldn’t have sounded or been better and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the energy that the Louisville fans wore pouring out all evening. After the final chords of “FBS” were played the guys were mingling, talking, signing autographs and taking pictures with the long line of fans patiently waiting for their opportunity – Something that is always awesome to see.

Goatwhore is guitarist/vocalist Sammy Duet, lead vocalist Ben Falgoust II, drummer Zack Simmons and bassist Robert “Trans Am” Coleman.

Opening the evening was a double header of Louisville’s best Death/Doom/Thrash bands with Artwork For the Blind providing primary support. Founding members Sean Coy Curry on vocals, bassist Michael Hoehn, drummer Larry Myers along with guitarist Sol. E. Williams, Artwork For the Blind scorched through a s fiery set of original songs including “Bring Out Your Dead”. Artwork For The Blind have a eagerly anticipated album coming out this August for Kingside records.

Starting the evening off with a great set of original songs was atmospheric/doom/sludge duo from Mount Sterling, KY, Bastard Sons of a Judas Goat.

All in all it was an epic evening of blackened Death Metal with the mighty Goatwhore and one that will be talked about for some time to come.