Live Review: Chelsea Grin, Shadow of Intent, Signs of the Swarm, & Disembodied Tyrant @ The Palladium

Live Review: Disembodied Tyrant, Signs of the Swarm, Shadow of Intent, & Chelsea Grin – April 11th @ The Palladium, Worcester, MA 

Worcester’s legendary Palladium played host to one of the most crushing lineups of 2025 so far. Four bands, each a heavy hitter in their own right, delivered performances that blurred the line between chaos and craftsmanship. From symphonic savagery to guttural grit, the night was a full-body experience—and if you weren’t there, you missed one of the tightest deathcore shows in recent memory. 

Disembodied Tyrant – Cinematic Carnage 

Disembodied Tyrant opened the night with a bang—literally. From the very first song, it was clear the band wasn’t here to warm up the room—they were here to burn it down. Based out of Missouri and recently signed to Nuclear Blast Records, they’ve carved out a unique sound that combines the grandiosity of symphonic black metal with the precision and aggression of deathcore. 

Frontman Blake Mullens, who now also handles guitar and production, led the charge with a fierce, commanding presence. His vocals soared and shredded in equal measure, backed by sweeping orchestral layers that gave their set a dark, epic atmosphere. One of the most memorable moments came during a perfectly timed Wall of Death, proving this crowd was ready to go from minute one. 

With releases like The Poetic Edda and 8.6 BLACKOUT, Disembodied Tyrant is one of the most exciting new forces in the genre. This show only cemented that. 

Signs of the Swarm – Violent Catharsis 

Signs of the Swarm came out next and delivered what can only be described as pure violence through sound. Hailing from Pittsburgh and led by the juggernaut that is David Simonich, this band has only grown more brutal and refined since their 2014 inception. 

Simonich’s gutturals were unreal—deep, visceral, and sustained with effortless control. He doesn’t just bark lyrics—he summons them from some cavernous void beneath the Earth. Backed by a relentless rhythm section and Bobby Crow’s blast beat wizardry on drums, every track hit like a freight train. 

Security had their hands full; waves of crowd surfers surged over the barricade every 10-15 seconds, with 4 or 5 people airborne at a time. The pit was a sea of flailing limbs and sweat-soaked bodies. This wasn’t a passive crowd—this was a war zone, and the band thrived in it. 

Their 2023 album Amongst the Low & Empty was on full display, and the fans knew every word. This was more than a set—it was a cathartic purge. 

Shadow of Intent – Majesty in Mayhem 

Connecticut’s Shadow of Intent brought the night to a fever pitch. With Ben Duerr at the helm, their performance was a dark, swirling storm of melodic orchestration and devastating heaviness. Duerr’s vocals are a spectacle on their own—his range is inhuman, seamlessly jumping from throat-ripping highs to abyssal lows. 

Musically, Shadow of Intent are operating on a different level. Guitarist Chris Wiseman crafts intricately layered riffs that dance between deathcore brutality and symphonic elegance, while the band’s overall tone is cinematic and massive. 

The crowd’s reaction? Utter madness. It felt like a scene from World War Z—bodies were practically climbing over each other. There was no “cooldown” in this set, no resting moment. Just aggression, precision, and performance at an elite level. Shadow of Intent doesn’t just play shows—they orchestrate chaos. 

Chelsea Grin – Legends Doing Legend Things 

Finally, Chelsea Grin hit the stage—and from the moment the lights went dark, the energy shifted. The lighting and production were next-level: dramatic spotlights, synchronized strobes, and eerie atmospherics that turned the venue into a cathedral of destruction. 

And then there’s Tom Barber. What can be said that hasn’t already? He’s an absolute icon, and this show only reinforced that. Barber held the stage like a general surveying the battlefield, oozing the kind of confidence that comes from knowing you’re on the Mount Rushmore of deathcore frontmen. His vocal performance was flawless—vicious lows, demonic highs, and charisma for days. 

They crushed through a set packed with fan favorites and newer bangers from Suffer in Hell and Suffer in Heaven. Guitarist Stephen Rutishauser and bassist David Flinn kept the riffs tight and menacing, while Josh Miller’s drumming was the backbone of the chaos. Chelsea Grin doesn’t just play live—they put on a clinic in heaviness, and tonight was no different.

Final Thoughts 

This wasn’t just a deathcore show—it was a celebration of how far the genre has come. Each band brought something different to the table: 

• Disembodied Tyrant brought the atmosphere and a fresh, cinematic sound. 
• Signs of the Swarm gave us sheer brutality and pit madness. 
• Shadow of Intent delivered artistry through aggression. 
• Chelsea Grin reminded everyone why they’re still untouchable at the top. 

April 11th at The Palladium will go down as one of those shows where everyone walked out that night a little worse for wear, but knowing that it was all worth it. If you get the chance to catch this tour, don’t hesitate. You won’t regret it! 

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