On the winter solstice 2019 at St Vitus in Brooklyn, we had no better introduction to this cold ass winter that awaits us than this one. With the holidays upon us, Silvertomb managed to bring every person in NYC who wasn’t away for the holidays into this venue. Actually, they didn’t bring us into a venue, they brought us into another reality with the ultimate soundtrack to support it. Silvertomb, which features Kenny and Johnny of Type O Negative and Seventh Void, Joe and Henry from Inhuman and Aaron of Awaken the Shadow, they brought the ultimate Doom and gloom sound with a great classic rock vibe that delivered emotion, intensity soul and all out fun.

When these 5 New Yorkers took the stage, they wasted no time. Silvertomb was playing their entire new album, Edge of Existence in its entirety. The album in itself is very diverse having many different sounds and many different vibes to support it, so in turn, every song they played brought a whole new vibe into St Vitus. Insomnia/Sunrise opened up with a very eerie and atmospheric intro that instantly sets the tone, but after all that, Kenny, Aaron and Joe delivered a dirty and classic doom riff, all while Henry and Johnny delivered the ultimate rhythm to support it which varied in tempo and leaving a constant element of suspense. Kenny’s vocal style went full range and did not hold back. Love you without No Lies would kick in which would carry the mystery and emotion even further. It is dirty, raw and sludgy but also very powerful in the vocal range that leads you through the whole composition. The guitar soloing that was incorporated is also a force to be reckon with, having the ability to shred and deliver just as much emotional melody as the vocal style. This momentum of powerful doom and emotion is further carried with songs such as so true as tempo picks up a little bit.

We get the ultimate dedication before the next track Not your Savior hits in. Quoted by Kenny, dedicating this track to both his wife and his drinking. This track showcases the cleanest and dirtiest sides of Silvertomb having both acoustic elements but also its down and dirty rock riffs. Even though this song is a slower tempo, it makes you headbang as Kenny sings “Your on your own tonight”. The eeriness is further picked up when One of You kicks in. With Johnny Kelly sustaining the ride symbol further embellishing us into this realm of darkness and fog, Kenny’s vocals sustaining and the Riffs of Aaron, Kenny and Joe echoing from the stage to the merch, you were fully cemented in the Silvertomb. You were now ready for the longest track on Edge of Existence to pull you further, Right of Passage/Crossing Over. The word, Suicide was repeated for a good portion, and in turn the audience would be chanting it back, almost making a positive vibe out of one of the darkest aspects of reality. This track would inflict you with a dark cloud over your head and you want to keep it there. The horrifying sound effects we would be getting louder and continue the momentum with Eulogy/Requiem. At this point, there would be as much darkness in you as there would be around you.

After this, Johnny would get up from behind the kit, and would share a mic with Aaron, as Henry and Joe would share another. Kenny brought out the acoustic guitar once more, and we dedicate this song, to the green vampire himself, Peter Steele. In Sleeping on Nails and Wine, Kenny dedicates this song to Peter and as his very clean and calm melodic vocals would sing over these nice and tame acoustic chords, you had Aaron, Johnny, Henry and Joe harmonize around it. It was a short and very powerful dedication to their friend Peter. His spirit was in the room the entire time, but with this track you almost felt the shadows of the green giant himself walk in the room. 

As we get the final track from this album, Waiting, we get the ultimate send off with a very catchy acoustic intro with a down and dirty traditional rock sound. It is groovy, catchy and fun. Even though they played the album in full, they still left the audience wanting more, and with the night still young, we get exactly that.

The Party moves from St Vitus to the one and one and only Duff’s Alcohol Abuse Center in Williamsburg. We had the whole band come by and we get Type O Negative classics playing as we all chug down beer and celebrate the rise of Silvertomb. Last year, we catch them with Life of Agony, which was just the tip of the iceberg, and this night we get the ultimate celebration that these 5 New York brothers are here to stay and deliver us true rock of doom and gloom.

In the end, Silvertomb is able to create a sound of darkness that delivers emotion, intensity, soul and beauty. With each song on the album playing by its own rules, and every member brining in their own contributions, when executed live, the room changed around us. Kenny’s voice and guitars deliver pure emotion, Aaron’s riffs and guitar playing brings atmosphere, Joe and Henry bring a real hardcore grit while Johnny’s drumming holds all the elements together. Silvertomb live is not just a live musical performance, it is an alternate reality that creates every beautiful aspect of Darkness. This was the ultimate start to the winter.

Edge of Existence out now\m/