Aborted Unleased a Pure Death Metal Chaos in London – The Slashing Europe Tour

Last week, London was raided by brutal death metal blastbeats from all corners of the world. Headliners Aborted, supported by Organectomy, The Zenith Passage, and Crypta, set foot in Highbury and Islington’s The Garage to make our ears ring and heads spin—from excessive, violent headbanging. Metal Junkbox was there to report from the photo pit front lines.

Organectomy

The opening act, Organectomy, joined the tour all the way from New Zealand. I think my tiredness, still lingering after the Desertfest weekend, abandoned me the second it heard their terrifying, brutal slamming beats. Sure, when you hear a vocalist pulling the “Arf Arf”, you know it’s going to be intense but that is for beginners. What do you do when you hear “Gurgling Gurgles” hiding savage lyrics? You either hide, or die proudly in the pit. To untrained ears, slam might sound like shallow, violent noise—but with Organectomy and their 8-string guitar in the mix, it’s packed with insanely complex riffs, perfectly blended with tight bass rhythms and relentless drumming. Instrumentally, these Kiwis are geniuses, and they showed us exactly how it’s done on their side of the world.

The Zenith Passage

The Zenith Passage are for the technical freaks flipping through sound sheets. Riding high off the wild 2023 release Datalysium, which shook the extreme metal scene with its frantic and algorithmic writing, they came in hot. Is it bad that, in a weird and tangled way, I identify as a 45-minute piece of musical work? There are just too many parallels. Live, they’re intense yet oddly stoic—the sound does most of the damage. Calm and collected on stage, they ticked off one twisted riff after another, giving us a real A-level exam in music science fiction. The only way to pass was to headbang in sync with their tempo. I think most of us graduated. It was tough to come down from that cosmic voyage, one that surely would made the giants Meshuggah proud.

Crypta

Crypta drew many women into the crowd that Tuesday, and I want to focus on that perspective—leaving the male gaze aside for a moment. The excitement they stir in us girlies in the metal scene is unmatched. It can only be compared to seeing dozens of puppies and kittens on a playdate. It’s that kind of feeling. To be more serious: wherever I moved in the venue—by the bar or even in the women’s bathroom—all I heard from fellow ladies was how important this band is to us in a space so overwhelmingly dominated by men. This Brazilian project means a lot to us. We all wish bands like them were the norm. If you’re raising young women, I encourage you to help spark a love for music strong enough that they feel empowered to pick up an instrument. It’s the only way to close the gap.

Preachings aside, Crypta are phenomenal on stage—playful in aura, but brutally intense in their death metal. They bring a completely different energy than the dudes. Opening with Death Arcana from their debut Echoes of the Soul, they hooked us with aggressive, mid-tempo thrashy riffs. It was classic, old-school death metal that shone brightly throughout their 8-song set. Fernanda Lira’s gaze alone could kill—she locked eyes with such ferocity that carried the lyrics with power. I thought of Caravaggio’s Medusa—but flipped: there was no fear in her eyes. It was as if anyone objectifying her would turn to stone. That angst would switch back and forth with the brightest smiles from everyone in the band. By the time they hit Stronghold, their grip on the crowd was unshakable. With its dynamic drumming and meticulous guitar work, they made it clear: this band is no gimmick. To anyone who dares say they’re only popular because they’re female-fronted, my words are: shut up, sit down, and stay humble. Possessed was, in my opinion, the strongest and most moshpit-inducing track of their set, stirring the crowd into a furious march. I only wish we had more time with them—my post-gig depression kicked in as soon as their closer From the Ashes began. In June, they’re set to tour Brazil, followed by a North American tour in September.

Aborted

We applaud men who hold other men accountable for appalling, inexcusable behavior—and Aborted set a fine example, completing their UK tour with new drummer Kevin Paradis, who stepped in on short notice and absolutely crushed it. Big shoutout to the band for their swift and decisive action—it deserves recognition.

As for their performance at The Garage: it was powerful. These Belgian behemoths are known for their mix of aggressive grindcore and technical death metal, and they absolutely obliterated the crowd on that random Tuesday. I bet a few people struggled to get to work the next day. Shooting from the photo pit, I was up against a wall of violent sound—like standing next to a jet engine. Chaotic and overwhelming, their set felt like a battlefield filled with metaphorical blood (sweat) and flying limbs—mostly from the crowdsurfers and moshers hurling themselves across the room. The vibes were gory from the first note, including the hard stares from the eye-bulging, flesh-laden skeletons locked in glass coffins standing on stage. Opening with Dreadbringer set the tone. The first few songs were a blur—it felt like being shellshocked. At one point, the entire crowd started doing what felt like jumping jacks, as if we were in some twisted 1980s exercise video. A bizarre dream after too much spicy food? Maybe. But it was fun.

The setlist spanned much of their discography, with a standout moment being just before the closer The Saw and the Carnage Done, blending in the intro of Threading on Vermillion Deception. That was fan service done right. We even saw vocalists from Organectomy and The Zenith Passage join in for guest spots on Death Cult and The Shape of Hate, respectively. Closer Hecatomb left no crumbs. We got everything Aborted is known for: aggressive, fast-paced riffs, relentless blast beats, deep guttural (almost choked) vocals, and pure chaos—with a touch of old-school groove. It was a ferocious and thrilling hour.

The tour is now complete, and we hope to see Aborted and their tourmates return to UK stages very soon. In the meantime, make sure to follow their socials for the latest updates on upcoming concerts.