The Gutter Demons – Showdown At Katacombes

Back in 2008, Montreal psychobilly act The Gutter Demons were duly responsible for my greatest excitement and most crushing disappointment.  They released the genre masterpiece, Misery, Madness & Murder Lullabies, and then promptly broke up in the following months.  After seven years and a global reputation as one of Canada’s premiere psychobilly acts, the Demons went out at the top of their game.  But before calling it a day the trio announced a handful of farewell shows at Montreal venue Katacombes.  But unless you lived in the vicinity, it’s unlikely you were able to take part in the festivities, and had to wave farewell from the sidelines.

Thankfully the band had the foresight to record those final late night sessions and sit on them in the event of resurrection.  After a long six years of dormancy, The Gutter Demons have risen from the grave and unearthed that legendary night in the form of the band’s first recorded live offering, Showdown At Katacombes.  The seventeen song set spans the band’s three studio albums, bookending the show with the same eerie carnival soundtrack that opens Misery, Madness & Murder Lullabies.

The band lives up to their reputation as a rowdy stage act, in many cases pumping out fan favourites with even more energy than on their studio equivalents.  From opener “Guilty,” frontman Johnny Toxic’s seething distorted guitar bares its teeth, sounding louder and meaner than ever before.  Coupled his trademark deep throaty bellow, The Gutter Demons pummel listeners with track after track of hard hitting blows as only psychobilly can offer.  Johnny’s effortless undead growl has always been a rallying point worth forming a band around, and as the live recording makes clear, there really is no substitute for his gut bursting howls.  As perhaps best exemplified by fan favourites “Sunday” and “Playground Horror Peepshow,” Johnny absolutely nails the contrast between orderly and much rawer vocals behind The Demons’ dark, brooding atmosphere.

And then there’s Flipper.  One of the most well-known upright bassists in the Montreal scene (having played in The Hypnophonics and Matchless during The Gutter Demons’ hiatus), his legendary bass slapping thumps are second to none in the studio, and resonate to soul pulsing levels on stage.  Look no further than the deep chaotic rumble of menacing “Psycho-Rama” for the absolute finger fury that Flipper brings to The Gutter Demons.  Likewise, he matches the dampened atmosphere of “Children Of The Damned” and dark, crypt lounger “Out Of Sight” with bone chilling, otherworldly precision.  

While the band mostly plays it safe by preserving the memory of the original songs, a certain level of audience participation creeps in.  Whether it’s an audience driven chorus, or cheers to a big “thank you for these seven years” from Toxic, the recording captures the sense from both band and audience that this was their final chapter and was worth savoring every minute.

The demon kings of Canadian psychobilly are back.  While Showdown At Katacombes may have taken place six years ago, the performance captures the excitement of The Gutter Demons at the top of their game.  Whether you missed The Gutter Demons the first time around or have been patiently awaiting their resurrection since their initial demise, Showdown At Katacombes is a worthy tease as to The Demons imminent studio return.