If you ever needed an excuse to see some of the finest death metal the UK has to offer, then January’s Death to Cancer fest 2016 would be it. With 11 bands hailing from all four corners of the United Kingdom, Death to Cancer Fest will be taking over Camden’s infamous Black Heart on Saturday 30th January 2016, with the sole aim of kicking Testicular Cancer square in the face.
First set to kick start the proceedings are two man slamming deathcore act Chainsaw Castration. Keeping it nice and brutal with plenty of breakdowns, gnarly pig squeals and some furious fretwork thrown in too, Chainsaw Castration are certain to warm up the crowd nicely with their signature brand of Northern gore groove.
For those who prefer their death metal a little more technical, look no further than Chelmsford quintet Fallen Apollo. If you can imagine the ferocity and technicality of Whitechapel circa This is Exile with some extra thunderous breakdowns, then you pretty much have Fallen Apollo. A key player on the Essex metal scene since 2009, Fallen Apollo’s unique breed of heaviness is sure to be a guaranteed winner at Death to Cancer fest.
Due to appear next on the bill are Yorkshire death metalers Masochist. Having shared stages with some of death and grinds finest Defeated Sanity, Iniquity and Leng Tch’e, Masochist will be a hit with fans of more traditional, sinister death metal. This is a band whose brand of noise is seriously menacing, with fantastic, chugging riffs and a distinct old school feel to it. Combined with Danny Heaton’s dynamic switch in vocal styles, Masochist are an impressive addition to the days line up.
After destroying the crowd earlier this year at Slamfest, Midlands based death metalers Spawned From Hate are set to create some monstrous pits once again at Death to Cancer Fest. Influenced by the greats Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel and Suffocation, these four lads are the band to listen to if you like your death packed full of brutality and old school vibes. With sinister, intense grooves and a fantastic raw quality, Spawned From Hate are definitely not to be missed!
If you’re a fan of the likes of Putrid Pile, Defeated Sanity and Gorgasm then you’re bound to enjoy the one man tour de force that is Atonement. Having toured both the UK and across Europe in 2015, Atonement’s delightful technical gore is sure to make a welcome appearance at the fest. Combining both the technical and brutal elements of death metal well, Atonement are a must for anyone with a passion for fiddly fretwork.
Proud Manchester Slammers Visions of Disfigurement are next up to invade the Black Heart, complete with their signature gang vocals, inaudible growls and thunderous deathcore breakdowns. Visions of Disfigurement are a band for those who like their slam fast as hell and with a strong deathcore presence. Not for the faint hearted, Visions of Disfigurement offer uncompromisingly commanding noise from start to finish.
No UK Death Metal all dayer would be complete without the fast and uncompromising duo welsh duo Sodomized Cadaver. After sharing stages with some of death metals elite such as Malevolent Creation, Exhumed and Hour of Penance, Sodomized Cadaver (who are tying with Chainsaw Castration in the most charming band name at the festival contest) are no strangers to delivering a killer show.
Keeping things suitably eerie as well as brutal at Death to Cancer Fest are the blasting four piece Omnipotent Hysteria. Coming from all across the UK,(Bedford, Dorking and Liverpool specifically) Omnipotent Hysteria contain very intense guttural vocals backed with commanding breakdowns, an instant joy for anyone who loves both death and grind. With plenty of dynamic changes throughout their tracks, Omnipotent Hysteria are a captivating band and one that shouldn’t be missed.
Taking things up a notch on the aggression scale now are Essex brutality trio Bludgeon. As well as being obviously a very speedy and 
technical band, Bludgeon deliver several knock out riffs with distinct strong Crowbar undertones as well as death metal. Bludgeon’s relentless energy and no frills death metal is awesome to listen to and undoubtedly just as awesome to see live.
The first of tonight’s co headliners are the infamous West Country slammers Amputated. After the success of 2014’s Dissect Molest Ingest, Amputated have been very busy both on the tour circuit and working on the follow up album. This band really do need no introduction, they’re loud, vulgar and filled to the brim with slams, gore and entrails. After a brilliant performance at Damnation’s ten year reunion show in 2014, Amputated are unquestionably worthy of co headlining tonight.
Last but by no means least come the five crazy mischief addicts that are Party Cannon. Hailing from Dunfermline, Scotland these lads specialise in wonderfully fast death metal with a refreshingly comic twist, swapping samples from horror films to those from Ali G In Da House instead. After the absolute brilliance that was 2015’s Partied in Half and some extensive American tours, Party Cannon are becoming quite the triumphant force to be reckoned with and are sure to bring down the house at Cancer fest.
(Eilish Foxen)
Tickets available at : http://www.deathtocancerfest.bigcartel.com
Listen to the noise in shape of a sampler here http://deathtocancer.bandcamp.com/releases
19/11/2015 at 3:42 pm
since this was written Amputated have called it a day and a replacement will be announced in the future.