It was an event nearly eleven/twelve years in the making. Maybe ten. I’ve lost count. But it has been a very long time since I was able to see Hypocrisy live. Visa issues and the likes. Facing more disappointment as each time I bought tickets for a possible US tour, bad luck would strike.

Well, not this time.

On March 31st, Hypocrisy rocked the stage at New York City’s Gramercy Theatre. With support by Aenimus and Fleshgod Apocalypse, they played to a full house.

So full that I joked that we were trapped like sardines in the place. Perhaps a larger venue would be in the works for them? Well, one could hope, should Hypocrisy return to the States. Which I hope will be sooner than later. I’d rather not want to wait another ten years.

Due to travel constraints, I missed the first two bands, so I cannot give a review on either band, but every time I have seen Fleshgod Apocalypse, they’ve been very good. Aenimus, I am not familiar with, but I am sure that they were an excellent opener.

Hypocrisy has long been one of my favorite bands starting from when I first heard of them in 2001. A funny story, I had come across the song “Destroyed” through a Dragonball Z AMV (animated music video), a very odd way of being introduced to a band, but it worked to my benefit. I was not immersed in the metal scene then, so I missed the local shows that they would play a few years later.

However, I was curious and decided once I learned how to navigate online musical media better, I discovered their entire discography, falling in love with their music. Finally, I would be able to see them live in 2008-I believe it was, a tour that would also feature Fear Factory, Suffocation and Decapitated. A great show with some pretty cool memories; one of the last shows to feature Vitek, for example, RIP.

March 31 of 2019 would be the next time I would get to see Hypocrisy and what a thrill it was. Playing to a sold-out crowd, as soon as their banner came on to the stage, we all screamed, ready for what would be a wonderful show.

Excitement was all over the venue, electric was the vibe.

Hypocrisy opened their set with Fractured Millennium off the Abducted album. Not even ten seconds in, we were swept away in the moshpit. Always an enjoyable experience. If I could wish for anything, it would be more people used deodorant, but that’s to their discretion…and I suppose my pain. But nonetheless, like most pits, very courteous and friendly. If you fell, you got picked up. If you hit someone, you picked them up. No drama, no worries.

Hypocrisy would continue their thunderous pace through a setlist consisting of songs throughout their entire discography. Valley Of The Damned, End of Disclosure, Adjusting The Sun, to arguably one of their most famous songs, Fire In The Sky.

Yeah, I’ve heard complaints that the setlist wasn’t to everyone’s standards, but I ignored those. All my favorite songs were in it, and that’s all that mattered.

To saw the show was simply amazing wouldn’t do it enough justice. It was a show nearly a decade (or more) in the making, great vibes, excitement all around. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face with each song, each riff that made my head bang to the walls, to the floors, and everything in between. Not even that the diner around the corner was closed would kill my mood. Peter and the rest of the band even came out to greet the fans after the show. A wonderful, kind gesture that he didn’t even have to do. However, I’m grateful. One of my favorite musicians, and to discover he’s as cool as I knew he’d be.

With the tour winding down, there’s one a few left, go see them when they come to your city! You will not be disappointed!

Setlist:
Fractured Millennium
Valley of the Damned
End of Disclosure
Adjusting the Sun
Eraser
Pleasure of Molestation / Osculum Obscenum / Penetralia
Fire in the Sky
Killing Art
Buried
War-Path
The Final Chapter
Roswell 47