ORBIT CULTURE'S Death Above Life Tour Makes a Stop at the Legendary Toad’s Place

Photos By: Holly Roy Photography
Review By: Kat Gullage

Swedish death metal outfit Orbit Culture tore through New Haven CT (a city that left a lasting impression on our publisher) with Ov Sulfur and Atlas as support. Ya know why I wanted to catch this gig? Cuz when I interviewed Nonpoint last year, I asked the question “What are you listening to right now?” and drummer Robb Rivera answered Orbit Culture without hesitation. Good enough recommendation for me!
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Finnish metalcore band Atlas (Atlas Northcore on the web and socials) was the opener. Their seven song set pulled from two of their studio albums UKKO (2021) and Sunder (2026). The five piece group came out swinging, launching straight into four tracks from their latest release: “Tower”, “Coven Of Two”, “Anodyne” and “I Whisper Your Name Like A Curse”. Atlas is: frontman and lead vocalist Patrik Nuorteva, Leevi Luoto on bass and vocals, guitarists Tuomas Kurikka and Kevin Apostol and drummer Aku Karjalainen. They kept it rolling with the same enthusiasm as they belted out “Uni” and title track “UKKO”, where they got a “Hey, Hey, Hey” chant going with the crowd. I didn’t expect a big turnout but the place was brimming with metalheads and they kept streaming in. Patrik greeted New Haven and gave props to all of the bands on the bill. They closed with “Salt And Sulfur” where Patrik egged the crowd on to respond to his final scream. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Leevi, he was a standout. His impressive vocal range added a dynamic contrast to the guttural growls that dominated the night. He also jumped around a lot while he played guitar. You can’t go wrong with Finnish metalcore, so put Atlas (Northcore) on your radar.


Next up was a dose of deathcore courtesy of a band from Las Vegas, Ov Sulfur. They unleashed a crushing  nine song set that pulled from their two studio albums The Burden Ov Faith (2023) and Endless (2026). This five piece outfit kicked it off with two from their latest LP: “Endless//Godless” and “Seed”. The formidable frontman and lead singer, Ricky Hoover, took command and addressed the filled room. “How the fuck we feeling tonight? We are Ov Sulfur from Las Vegas, Nevada!” “Stained In Rot” followed. Hoover’s relentless vocal barrage made many of the lyrics indecipherable, but that’s part of the sonic assault. The intensity was balanced by guitarist Chase Wilson’s “clean” vocals on occasion. Drummer Ryan “Leviathvn” Rivard, guitarist Christian Becker and bassist Josh Bearden rounded out the group. Ricky asked the audience “How we doin Connecticut?” Chase added “It’s our first time in Connecticut, thank you for the warmest welcome!” before they launched into “Befouler”. Chase urged the crowd: “Keep that energy up!”. Ricky, who sported an OZZY Diary Of A Madman shirt with the sleeves cut off Jersey shore style, barked “I wanna hear your mother fuckers!” Chase: “Some old shit”. Ricky followed with “Let’s keep it moving! This is “Death Ov Circumstance”. The fans ate that shit up. The Ov Sulfur set wrapped with: “Wither”, “Forlorn”, “Vast Eternal” and the crushing closer, “Evermore”. Is a brutal assault of your senses via deathcore your thing? Ov Sulfur is ready to deliver.


I got a chance to speak with Hoover at the merch table. I would describe his look as powerful and intimidating but his personality was the opposite, friendly, welcoming and kind. I mentioned his shirt and we bonded over music like Black Sabbath, “We wouldn’t be here without them”, and OZZY’s solo stuff. I told him I was there to review the show and he threw up prayer hands and said “I hope it’s good!”. I posed the question to him, “What are you listening to right now?”. He quickly pulled up his spotify and the answer folks was, Alexisonfire (pronounced Alexis On Fire). Hoover, like myself, is polyjamorous.


The headliner, Swedish melodic death metal band Orbit Culture, took the stage in front of a packed house. I don’t know why I envisioned a smaller turnout, the band has five studio albums and four EPs under their belt. Their blistering twelve song set pulled from three albums and two EPs, as they delivered a relentless barrage from start to finish. They opened with title track “Death Above Life” and the sound was dialed in. It was the frontman, lead singer and rhythm guitarist Niklas Karlsson that stepped up to greet the robust gathering of fans. “How the fuck are we doing New Haven? We are Orbit Culture from Sweden!”. The near capacity filled room responded with a roar as the band rolled into two more from Death Above Life. First came “The Storm”, followed by “The Tales Of War” which Niklas intro’d with the command “New Haven, it’s time to get in the fucking air! Start jumping!” which triggered the crowd surfing to commence. Lead guitarist Richard Hansson delivered a nice guitar solo during the song, while bassist Fredrik Lennartsson (whose lean and long silhouette is Slender Man-ish) added clean vocal harmonies that balanced the heaviness. Drummer Christopher Wallerstedt brought the thunder and rounded out the group. “Thank you New Haven! Wow. It’s our first time here in New Haven and what a warm welcome we got. Holy Shit.” My sentiments exactly Niklas. I hope you’re reading all of his quotes with a Swedish accent. “New Haven we’re gunna roll back to 2020 our album Nija. If you know the words New Haven please sing it with me now alright?” They delivered one of my faves, “North Star Of Nija” and the audience did in fact sing along with him. Orbit Culture dipped into their EP Redfog for “Saw” followed by “From The Inside” off of Descent. “Are you having fun New Haven? Raise those arms to the fucking ceiling!” Niklas shouted and the whole room complied. “Thank you so fucking much New Haven. Wow.” “Back in the fall we released Death Above Life. We wrote a song meant for crazy people like yourself. We’d like to play it if you’re up to it.” The crowd cheered. “What?” He teased. A louder cheer erupted. “What?” Niklas was finally satisfied with the response and they unleashed a blistering spot on rendition of “Bloodhound”. Two more tracks from Nija were next up, “The Shadowing” and my favorite song from the set “Open Eye”. To me it’s a mash up of old school Metallica, Motorhead and death metal. “Thank you so much New Haven! I have one question New Haven, and don’t disappoint me. Are you ready to serve?” The loyals proved they were as they went off during “While We Serve”, a track off The Forgotten EP. After another cut off their latest release, “Hydra”, the band exited the stage. But the crowd wasn’t done yet. The fans expressed their wanting of more and Niklas returned to the stage. “I heard people in here. A lot of fucking metalheads. New Haven, are you ready to turn it up?!” Orbit Culture closed with another cut from Descent, “Vultures Of North”. “Thank you so fucking much. We fucking love New Haven. Thank you so much. Hope to come back soon and hope to see all of you.” I have no doubt that will happen. If this genre is your style, Orbit Culture comes highly recommended by fans and fellow musicians alike, and they deliver a crushing live show. It’s time to enter their orbit.

ATLAS

OV SULFUR

ORBIT CULTURE