A Tuesday night show never deters die-hard metal lovers from enjoying the music and camaraderie they crave. The doors opened to The Observatory OC in Santa Ana, California (a stellar 1,200-person capacity venue to catch a show), and concert-goers filed inside to experience some intense metal. Many I spoke with shared that they have been listening to these bands for a long time. As someone who was more into rock and roll than metal growing up, I’m now also hooked on metal as an adult. Being that I had never seen live shows of any of the four bands performing that night, I didn’t know what to expect. But I do know that not much beats a live performance and I was eager to experience it.
This was the final show of the “Praise the Beast North American Tour 2026.” The tour culminated with 5 shows in California. The overall preparation of this tour was evident, with the three support bands establishing the atmosphere leading up to the headliner performance. From the get-go, it was full-tilt, loud and resonant sound at breakneck speed.
Death metal band Narcotic Wasteland kicked things off with a bang, unleashing a high-speed assault. The trio of musicians delivered a relentless set.
Hate, a Polish death black metal band, took the stage and did not hold back. The crowd was responsive to the intense performance, which was evident by the mosh pit that formed in the middle of the pit.
When death metal band Incantation launched into their set, all bets were off. They made it known they were there to play, and the headbanging and reactive response from the crowd intensified, as did the mosh pit. The band played with such ferocity that the music reverberated through every cell of my body down into the floor.
Belphegor
The headliner, Belphegor, delivered a full in-your-face assault. Before taking their places on the stage, the blackened death metal band with a loyal following started with an intro that entailed a minutes-long eery anticipation of music with bells, combined with intermittent fog and red spotlights. To heighten the menacing atmosphere, the stage was flanked by skulls on posts and skeletons. The anticipation grew with every bell toll, leading up to the band appearing and starting their set. Dark and atmospheric crimson lighting and precision strobe work highlighted and complemented the mood of the music. Belphegor sounded perfectly gritty yet sharp, while looking every bit the part of their genre. Their stage presence was second to none, and they bridged the gap between the stage and the audience with constant crowd engagement. The moshing and headbanging never let up and it was contagious. It may have been my first time experiencing Belphegor live, but you better believe it won’t be my last.
