RESURRECTING THE NIGHT: THE DEAD ANIMAL ASSEMBLY PLANT CONCERT REVIEW

Wearily, yet with a flicker of intrepid excitement, I crossed the urban wasteland that is Portland in the early nighttime. This was a much-needed respite following a satisfyingly long day at school, and I was eager to immerse myself in a bewildering night of music, indulge in cheap beer, and dive into sonic horror that would make most run in cowardice.

Tonight was Dead Animal Assembly Plant’s headlining show in their hometown. The opening acts promised a diverse array of genres – heavy guitars, loud vocals, and a unique aesthetic to each, but every one would offer their own shade of darkness upon the evening.

I arrive at Dante’s nightclub around 8:30, fashionably late as the doors had opened at 8 sharp and roadies were already clearing out the stage after the first opening act. The patrons, a macabre menagerie of punks, goths, and metalheads, were already nestling into secluded barstools, sequestered in shadows and their $5 beers. Luckily, I made it in time to say hi to Zach Wager, singer of Dead Animal Assembly Plant, hit the sticker-covered restroom, and treat myself to a Tecate as the next band set up, preparing to take to the stage.

Unsure of what to expect, the crowd kept a watchful eye on the unfolding spectacle. After a brief introduction, the band Dying In Shadows unleashed their fury of wailing guitars and guttural howling. David Kerr on vocals, Jake Hammon on guitar, Jordon Osborne on bass, and Michael Shaffer on drums make up the lineup in this Portland-based metal band. This night marked my first encounter with them, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the sheer brilliance of their

performance. Along with every other soul inside, I couldn’t help but respond to the electrifying energy they channeled into their instruments and their stage presence.

After a short break and another cerveza in hand, I was primed in both spirit and body for the forthcoming onslaught of ear-splitting sonic mayhem.

A veiled and painted demonic woman crawled out of the smoke and mist. From the shadows, the band 2 Shadows appeared, clad in black denim dusted in corn starch like acolytes of the 90s prince of darkness himself, Trent Reznor. Their goth rocker apparel clung to them like a second skin forged in leather, chains, and studs. The performance conjured vivid recollections of goth industrial deities, their haunting wails reverberating through my TV late into the night, reminiscent of glimpse from bootleg tapes of Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, and Stabbing Westward. Singer Glen Bridden and guitarist Tryst Germaine make up the core of 2 Shadows, a goth duo based out of Vancouver, Canada, and have been collaborating since 2015.

The headline act was ready to take stage, and the crowd was now dense, and packed tight. Saturated with the intoxicating fumes of alcohol, Dante’s was about to combust into a real inferno. I grabbed another tallboy Tecate from the bar and a slice of pepperoni from Pizza Slut, (an adjoining pizza kitchen in the corner of Dantes making some of the city’s best pizza, in my opinion). I caught up with my buddy, Krist, as we hunkered down center-stage in preparation for the evening’s finale.

Emerging from an abyss of murky shadows and swirling fog, the ‘Dead’ assemblage – Zach and Rebecca Wager, Jason Moore, and Nick Snyder – materialized like macabre apparitions of shock rock horror, clad in leather, black denim, and grease paint. The leader of the pack, the Twisted Flesh of The Rat King, was a striking figure clad in improvised, gore-soaked armor plates, a weaponized microphone with dual blades gleamed menacingly and a crucifix hilt, symbolizing the unique fusion of industrial metal and chaotic spirituality.

Like tormented souls, their instruments unleashed wailing screams and deafeningly thunderous cacophony of otherworldly industrial melody. Wager completely owned the stage as soon as his towering boots stepped on it. His energy exploded through the roof as he belted out his spells and incantations of justice, sorrow, and liberation. RebeccaWager, with raven-black hair and a toxic waste-green, flying V guitar, kept flawless rhythm as Moore and Snyder delivered the sacrament of sonic destruction, hurtling the energy of the crowd into the stratosphere and beyond.

The many faces of our frontman were on full display: the undead brides veil, a grotesque mask resembling the face of a fallen ghoul, the Rat Kings steampunk helm, and the visored helmet of a riot cop. The final chapter of the battlescape was a display of utter terror as Zach unleashed his battle axe, a brutal weapon carved from an old STOP sign.

Despite the visions of beguiling fear and abject horror, D.A.A.P.’s lyrics and message are one of anti-fascism and anti-hate. (In a world that is bright and colorful, some of us enjoy our entertainment extra-spicy!).

From the bowels of Portland’s urban chaos, the night proved not only a respite from the norm, but brought me along for a ride into the realms of dark musical exploration and sonic attrition. From the relentless energy of Dying In Salem to 2 Shadows’s haunting presence, what emerged was a testament to the diverse and captivating world of alternative music – it was more than just a show, it was an experience, a testament to the enduring power of live music to captivate.

I left Dante’s not only with ringing ears and 1,600 photos on my camera, but with a rejuvenated spirit and renewed appreciation for the unapologetic creativity and passion of the bands I witnessed. When magic unfolds before you it leaves an impression, and tonight my soul left The Inferno happily satiated and a little more liberated.