Septicflesh Brings Symphonic Metal to Tempe on the Wrath Across North America Tour

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On a hot Tuesday night in Tempe, Arizona, Septicflesh took the stage at the Marquee Theatre as the third of five bands on the Wrath Across North America 2026 tour, featuring co-headliners Arch Enemy and The Black Dahlia Murder, along with fellow opening acts Crypta and Thrown Into Exile. Performing on October 6, the second night of the tour, the Greek symphonic death metal band played a dynamic set for an energetic crowd. The Marquee is a great venue for a metal show, with a spacious GA floor and an elevated balcony that provides a clear view of both the stage and the action below. Fists and horns were raised, heads banged, hair flew, and a circle pit formed in the middle of the floor.

Septicflesh’s music is heavy and aggressive, blending death metal with classical orchestration and an emotional quality that creates a unique sound. On this night, Septicflesh performed as a trio, with Spiros Antoniou (Seth Siro Anton) on vocals and bass, Kerim Lechner (Krimh) on drums, and Dinos Prassas (Psychon) on guitar. Guitarist Christos Antoniou was absent while recovering from broken ribs sustained in a fall before the tour began. Spiros addressed his brother and bandmate’s absence during the set, explaining the temporary lineup change. Despite this hurdle, the band delivered a powerful performance.

The songs shifted between fast-paced and slower, heavier sections, with orchestral textures adding layers of tension and drama to the music. The combination of the raw energy of live metal and the orchestral arrangements is one of the things that makes Septicflesh stand out. The audience responded instinctively, moving with the faster sections and locking into the heavier rhythms. It was impressive to see the three musicians bring such a full sound to the room without the complete touring lineup.

During “Anubis,” Spiros invited everyone to join in, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s sing together.” The crowd enthusiastically joined in, and continued with the “Hey, hey…” chants toward the end of the song. It’s always fun to experience moments like this, when it feels like everyone is sharing the excitement.

Before closing with “Dark Art,” Spiros took another opportunity to acknowledge Christos’s absence, explaining that Septicflesh normally performs with four people but was playing as a trio that night. He described his brother as “the guitar player and the composer of the orchestra of Septicflesh,” reminding everyone just how important Christos is to the band. “Dark Art” was an excellent choice to close the set, with its slow and heavy sections giving the music room to breathe before the intensity built again.

One of the things I appreciate about Septicflesh is how they bring together the intensity of death metal and powerful orchestral music. The symphonic elements add depth and drama. Even without a live orchestra or choir on stage, the orchestral arrangements make their sound feel so much bigger. I hope I can see Septicflesh perform with a full orchestra and choir someday. 

Oct. 5 Riverside, California

Oct. 6 Tempe, Arizona

Oct. 8 Salt Lake City, Utah

Oct. 9 Denver, Colorado

Oct. 11 Dallas, Texas

Oct. 12 Houston, Texas

Oct. 13 San Antonio, Texas

Oct. 15 Orlando, Florida

Oct. 16 Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Oct. 18 St Petersburg, Florida

Oct. 20 Atlanta, Georgia

Oct. 21 Charlotte, North Carolina

Oct. 22 Raleigh, North Carolina

Oct. 24 New York, New York

Oct. 25 Silver Spring, Maryland

Oct. 26 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Oct. 28 Worcester, Massachusetts

Oct. 30 Quebec City, Quebec

Oct. 31 Montreal, Quebec

Nov. 1 Toronto, Ontario

Nov. 3 Chicago, Illinois

Nov. 4 Royal Oak, Michigan

Nov. 5 Cleveland, Ohio

Nov. 7 Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nov. 8 Winnipeg, Manitoba

Nov. 9 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Nov. 11 Calgary, Alberta

Nov. 12 Edmonton, Alberta

Nov. 14 Vancouver, British Columbia

Nov. 16 Seattle, Washington