Cattle Decapitation at Electric Brixton, London 2025

Vulvodynia

Vulvodynia greeted us with their slam death metal set, kicking off a night dedicated to the extremes. The South African representatives got straight to business. Though they had the shortest set of the night, they made every second count, bullying our ears and bodies with an arsenal of mid-tempo rhythms, crushing breakdowns, and that signature guttural growl delivering some of the filthiest lyrics imaginable. Let’s be honest, metalheads—you need to Google those because there’s no way you’re deciphering them just by listening. Their set incorporated some intriguing techniques—including a distorted guitar solo that sounded like it was played through an old Nintendo game which I am a bit obsessed about now. Vulvodynia might seem like a fresh new talent that recently emerged onto the scene, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. They’re already on their fifth studio album, Entabeni, which was released just last year and heading towards the top of the metal food chain. 

Revocation

Revocation provided a moment of rest amidst the violence, slotting into the lineup as a much-needed breather. While they operate within the death metal realm, their prog influences keep them on the more mellow side of the genre. On any other bill, they’d be considered heavy, but were sandwiched between three brutal acts. We didn’t see a raging pit—only because the crowd was too busy admiring the technical brilliance of their performance. The complexity of their music was undeniable, featuring seven-string guitar and techniques I cannot even describe but I can tell you however what I heard – solos were stunning, executed with effortless precision. The drummer didn’t miss a beat and rightfully had his moment in the spotlight towards the end of the set. Revocation celebrated each layer of their sound, letting every element shine bright.

Shadow of Intent

Shadow of Intent murdered everyone gathered at Electric Brixton. For the entire 55 minutes of their set, I had an out-of-body experience—my mind disassociated to a single, looping thought: what the fuck. The band went in hard, shaking the venue to its core. People standing in the pit moved violently in all directions, in sync with the music. The stage lighting was harsh, yet the space remained ominous. The band delivered a flawless performance. Ben’s vocals were unreal—his screams and growls reaching a range that many vocalists work hard to achieve.  And the drummer—let’s talk about the drummer. The unreal speed of the double pedals and the sheer angst with which every part of the kit was hit made me feel exhausted from just watching. It was relentless, but a true athlete keeps going, even during a drum solo to close out their 13-song set. By the end, the audience was left completely drained, every ounce of energy sucked from our bodies. Not the drummer – he was packing up his kit, job done. 

Cattle Decapitation

Then, at last, it was time for the headliner—Cattle Decapitation, the deathgrind superstars from California. This was my first time seeing them live, and they instantly shot to the top of my personal favourites list. Their message brings a unique and powerful angle—it’s not just about obliterating your enemies and stepping over their carcasses. No, theirs is the filthiest, most gruesome form of environmentalism, wrapped in a beautifully crafted package of crushing riffs and unhinged vocals. Cattle Decapitation are phenomenal on stage, and since their formation in 1996, they’ve built an impressive portfolio spanning eight albums, allowing for countless variations of setlists. For Brixton, they delivered a 12-song assault, including bangers like Bring Back the Plague, One Day Closer to the End of the World, and their crushing finisher, Death Atlas. One of the most unique aspects of their set are also the interludes. In between the chaos, they played recordings of David Attenborough’s soothing voice—a nostalgic sound we all grew up with, advocating for the same cause as the band: respect for nature and all its creatures. For my entertainment, can we please arrange for Cattle Decapitation to produce a new soundtrack for the Planet Earth series? Given the increasingly apocalyptic state of the world, it would fit right in. But beneath all that doomsday energy, there was a deep sense of love radiating from the stage. As the final riffs started to fade and the set wound down, frontman Travis Ryan stepped into the photo pit, embracing the fans at the front in a warming goodbye hugs.

Cattle Decapitation will be playing at major festivals this year, including the mighty Hellfest and Mystic Festival—so make sure to put them on your must-see list!

Artists: Cattle Decapitation, Shadow of Intent, Vulvodynia