LIVE: Deveria/Last Pharaoh/Verbatim/Reprise/Axe to Grind @ Empire Underground, 05/07/2022

If you were in Downtown Albany on Saturday night, you might have heard some loud heavy beats pulsating the scene. Perhaps you were one of the smart ones that followed that sound down the alley behind Empire Live and into the dungeon known as Empire Underground. If you were brave enough to do just that, then you laid witness to one hell of a show. 

Local metal titans, Deveria, were headlining a stacked show with Last Pharaoh playing direct support, along with local metal bands Verbatim, Reprise, and Axe to Grind.  

Axe to Grind started the show with a heavy set followed by local youngbloods Reprise they started the night with some of their originals but then eventually a cover of Gojira’s “Toxic Garbage Island”. 

Verbatim came to the stage and I was taken aback by the fact I hadn’t heard them before. They have a great sound and they haven’t had a chance to play live in two years. The band ended their set with a cover of the song ” Your Betrayal” by Bullet for My Valentine. The band also gave the mic to the crowd to sing along. The lead vocalist Brian from Axe To Grind stepped up to the plate and also the drummer Riley from Reprise both did their style of the song.  

Then the time came for Last Pharaoh. A hard-hitting power metal group from the Westchester Region of New York made their way to Empire Underground to destroy with their friends from Deveria. Last Pharaoh drew the crowd in as concertgoers began to pack closer to the front. The explosive set was led by Tommy Santangelo, vocalist of Last Pharaoh. With each song, the energy of Empire Underground grew higher and higher. Tommy made his way into the crowd at a point for a song as guitarist Ron Toth played above him standing on a speaker. They definitely got the fans hyped for the headliner Deveria. 

I had spoken to Deveria’s guitarist, Christian Bivona, before the show and he said they are currently working hard on their new album and it is going to be some of their heaviest stuff yet. Also, some songs that are on the lighter side but a good mix of both. Deveria started their set with a song off their latest album “Suicide Forest” and a crowd favorite “Silent Cries”. One of my personal favorites as well. They also gave Empire Underground a sneak preview from their new album with a song from it called “War That Never Ends” which is also a new personal favorite of mine. They also played “Reign of Fire” which the opening for that song is very melodic so they had their fans turn on their cell phone camera lights and lighters for the beginning of the song. From the stage, it was a sight to see. All of Empire Underground was lit up.  The Deveria fan base is definitely growing more at every show. People wearing Deveria T-shirts were all over the Underground. This group of guys really care for their fans and It’s hard to even believe sometimes that they are a local band. Deveria is a serious force to be reckoned with.

Photo Gallery by Nick Dicocco