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Whitechapel in Santa Ana
Santa Ana got a full dose of sonic devastation last night as Whitechapel stormed The Observatory with a set that reminded everyone why they’re still at the top of their game.
Whitechapel
The venue was packed wall to wall with a sea of black shirts, and you could feel the tension in the air before the band even stepped onstage. Once the lights dropped and the intro hit, the place erupted. Whitechapel launched into their set with precision, opening with “Prisoner 666,” and immediately had the pit swirling with chaos. The sound was dialed in, every blast beat, chug, and guttural growl came through with clarity but still hit like a sledgehammer.
Phil Bozeman’s vocals were unreal. The man has always been a powerhouse, but hearing that range live from those deep, demonic lows to surprisingly melodic cleans, it was something else. The crowd matched his intensity every step of the way, screaming every lyric back at him.
The setlist was well versed and made sure to cover all the hits while showcasing newer material, performing songs like “Brimstone” “Doom Woods”, and “Let Me Burn”. That said, they didn’t forget the diehards either, classics like “Possession” and “This Is Exile” hit with brutal nostalgia, igniting some of the wildest circle pits of the night.
The lighting and production weren’t over-the-top, but they didn’t need to be. The vibe was raw and intense with just the band, the music, and the madness of the crowd. There was a sense of connection in that room, like everyone knew they were witnessing something heavy, both sonically and emotionally. Crowd surfers were flooding into the photo pit left and right, to the point we were dodging and weaving while still taking photos of the set.
Whitechapel doesn’t just play shows, they command them and in Santa Ana, they reminded everyone that they’re not just a deathcore band, they’re a force to be reckoned with.
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