By Jason Bohn
Correspondent
It was a rainy evening on Nov. 1 when Clad In Darkness took the stage in front of a sold
out crowd at Los Cazos in Chicago.
Featuring COD’s own Chris Shive on bass, Clad In Darkness is black metal in a driving,
melodic form. A five piece, with two guitarists, a bass, drummer and a fierce vocalist
definitely kept its promise of an entertaining show.
Starting with a lengthy piece that builds in intensity, the band warmed to the mass of
people struggling to get to the front for a better look. They bantered freely after the first
tune and even performed some of “Trogdor the Burninator” from the Homestar Runner
cartoon website at www.homestarruner.com.
Then the lights went dark, save for a color changing spotlight, and the bar behind them.
This is when the show really began. Tearing into their next track, inspired by major
recording artists Opeth, the crowd returned in kind by dancing as well as moshing. Many
onlookers viewed the experience from the sidelines, while others struggled to take
pictures of the band for a memento.
After the next song was finished, one could almost feel the heat in the venue drop a few
degrees. Some fans screamed for “Shades Of Death,” the band’s most popular song.
They consented. The mass of people went even wilder and the temperature rose again.
Using a mix of melodic clean guitars, and driving, pounding heavy sieges, the energy from
the band was palpable. Heavy bass and tom drums punctuated by crashing cymbals
provided the rhythm, along with the crack of the snare. Vocals were combination of high
and low pitch growling. All of this had the undertone of a deep bass instrument that kept
the manic pace moving. The double guitar attack also proved to whip the standing crowd
into a frenzy. Dancing and smashing into each other, the mosh pit was a mass of chaos.
Breathless, the crowd expressed disappointment at the end of the lengthy five-song set.
None, however, were sorry they came as they definitely got their money’s worth.
Shive is a student of addiction counseling, with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from
North Central College. His dream is to perform music of many styles full time, but he also
wishes to help people.
The band’s website is www.cladindarkness.com