By: Ashley Parrish
Photos by: Bre Sheridan
Seeing one of your favorite bands live for the first time is something you don’t forget. There’s no excuse for why I hadn’t caught Psyclon Nine before—they make it to Denver often, sometimes twice a year. So when the Devil's Work Tour was announced, I figured it was finally time to fix that.
The lineup was originally set for three bands, but a last-minute vehicle mishap forced Ventana to drop out, leaving just Antania and Psyclon Nine. A stripped-down bill on a Tuesday night might seem like a drawback, but in this case, it only amplified the intensity. From the first song to the last, the energy never let up.
Antania, a two-piece band from Joshua Tree, California, delivered a performance that was as eerie as it was distinct. Doc Luna, the architect of their sound, took the stage in a goat-horned mask, surrounded by thick fog and glowing purple stage lights. Vocalist Kali Mortem stood with her face obscured by black lace, gripping a skull-shaped mic as she delivered her seductive and venom-laced vocals. Their minimalist setup, accented with green and purple rope lights, created a moody atmosphere that balanced terror with a hint of reverie.
They played tracks from their 2024 release, The God Complex, along with two unreleased songs—"Sewn" and "Pigs." Antania describes their sound as "doom bass," a fitting term for their fusion of heavy bass, industrial grit, and death metal elements. The result is a sound that feels both violent and hypnotic—dark, textured, and uniquely their own.
And then finally, the venue fell into near-total darkness as red lights flickered and fog poured out from the back of the stage. Foreboding piano chords filled the space as Psyclon Nine emerged, opening with "Devil’s Work," a recent single from their upcoming album, And Then Oblivion, set for release on March 21, 2025, via Metropolis Records. The anticipation for new material was well-earned—what followed was a relentless, hour-plus set that immediately justified why I should have seen them sooner.
The current lineup for the Devil’s Work Tour featured Todd Buller on guitar, Jon Siren on drums, and founding member and creative force Nero Bellum—on vocals. Though their sound defies easy categorization, it’s a crushing mix of industrial, black metal, with touches of EBM. Nero’s tortured vocal delivery ties it all together, and his raw, unflinching lyrics don’t shy away from the darker corners of the human experience—a big part of why their music resonates so deeply with fans.
From my spot off to the side, I had a clear view of the band’s connection with the crowd—there wasn’t a moment when Nero didn’t command the room. Every movement he made on stage seemed to stir something in the audience, and watching that dynamic—how the energy bounced back and forth—made the performance feel even more powerful. Their set pulled from across their catalog, including "Money Sex and Death," "Use Once and Destroy," "Crown of the Worm," and "Behind a Serrated Grin," along with some new tracks like, "I Choose Violence" from And Then Oblivion.
By the end of the night, it was easy to see why Psyclon Nine has maintained such a loyal following. Their intensity isn’t just about heaviness—it’s how they shape their sound into something brutal, compelling, and cinematic, all while refusing to be boxed into any one genre. As far as first-time live experiences go, this one more than delivered.