Facebook Instagram X-twitter

Extreme is the way

Firenze Metal 2023

Liive report of the fourth edition of Firenze Metal

FIRENZE, Viper Theatre - 11/18/2023

Florence has become a hotspot for metal in recent years, with venues like Cycle in Calenzano and Circus Club in Scandicci hosting major acts. The Viper Theatre is no exception—countless key events have taken place here, including Firenze Metal, now a fixed fixture at the venue.
Held four times a year, the festival brings together top local and national bands in one night, celebrating metal in all its forms.
 
The first editions in 2022 featured Subhuman in April and Destrage with Forgotten Tomb in October, while the 2023 opener featured Necrodeath and Deathless Legacy as headliners. With fans consistently turning out in force, the organizers decided to step things up.
 
For November, eight bands were scheduled—four local acts (Adrenaline, Speed Kills, DRVN, Inner Code) opening the night, followed by four national heavyweights (Game Over, Slug Gore, Frozen Crown, Mortuary Drape). The lineup was built dynamically from local to headliners, culminating in Mortuary Drape’s performance fresh off Black Mirror, with a mix of power metal, deathgrind, and thrash keeping the energy relentless from start to finish.

ADRENALINE

The event was supposed to start at 7:30 PM, but even before then, the Viper was already packed. The atmosphere was electric; everyone was eager for the music to begin. A quarter past seven, Adrenaline took the stage, immediately showing the energy of a band armed like an assault rifle. Their set drew from their debut EP Reckless, blending power and melody in a dynamic hard-and-heavy style. Frontman Francesco Terranova never stopped hyping the crowd. Every member of the band poured energy into the performance, achieving their goal of giving the audience the perfect kick-off for what would be a long evening.

SETLIST ADRENALINE:

Livin’ a Lie
This Is War
Bound To Me
Bomb
Reckless

SPEED KILLS

Within the first hour, the crowd was primed, but Speed Kills truly set things off. The Florentine band, sporting a refreshed lineup, brought high-energy thrash to Firenze Metal. Songs from their self-titled album and Devastation Unleashed EP fueled chaos, as the band’s enthusiasm matched the crowd. Their set was a thrash spectacle—flawlessly executed.

SETLIST SPEED KILLS:

Gothic Line
We Suck!
Marasma
Velociraptor
Devastation Comes from the Past
Graffiti

DRVN

Following Speed Kills, the stage was taken by the youngest band of the night: DRVN (full name Draven). Their alternative metal/post-grunge style was lighter than that of the earlier acts, but that didn’t stop them from leaving a strong impression. Stage experience matters, and though they are newer to the scene, they gave it all. Frontwoman Virginia’s charisma and vocal performance captivated the audience from start to finish. She earned every applause, proving herself one of the night’s standout performers. DRVN delivered a show full of energy, passion, and dedication, leaving a memorable mark on the crowd.

SETLIST DRVN:

DRILL
Through Your Light
 Blurred Memory
Unnamed
 All The Eyes Above
ENDLESS

INNER CODE

The Viper was packed, energy high. Around 9:30 PM, Inner Code brought a versatile blend of electronic, industrial, nu, and metalcore, with Italian lyrics. Florence fans welcomed them back as they promoted Desidera Distruggi Dimentica. Three new tracks began the set, quickly igniting mosh pits. Frontman Jago Balistreri alternated between growls and clean vocals, keeping command. Stage lights and projections enhanced the show’s electronic elements. Hits from Nuovi Incubi and Bu(io) closed the set flawlessly. Inner Code showed cohesion, enjoying their set as much as the crowd did.

SETLIST INNER CODE:

Distruggi
Dimentica
Desidera
Brucerà Roma
Anxia
Supernova
Bu(io)

GAME OVER

At the exact midpoint of the festival, the crowd was ready for the first high-profile act. Game Over, one of Italy’s most renowned thrash bands, appeared with a fiery red stage backdrop and their logo projected behind. To promote their new album Hell Frames, the Ferrara band delivered a high-energy set. Bassist Renato Chiccoli, wearing a backward cap, a bullet-studded strap, and a black vest, unleashed his voice as guitarists Alessandro Sansone and Luca Zironi delivered precise thrash riffs and intense stage presence. Drummer Anthony “Vender” Dantone contributed with tight, relentless rhythms. Songs like Another Dose of Thrash, Visions, and Neon Maniacs had the crowd moshing and headbanging in pure thrash fashion. The show was energetic, engaging, and an impeccable demonstration of thrash metal at its finest.

SETLIST GAME OVER:

Another Dose Of Thrash
33 Park Street
The Cult
Masters of Control
Call of the Siren
Visions
Path of Pain
Seven Doors to Hell
Synthetic Dreams
Last Before the End
Neon Maniacs

SLUG GORE

After nearly three hours of relentless energy, some attendees took a short break. Then came Slug Gore, a band that has grown immensely in just a year. Having performed alongside extreme acts like Cripple Bastards and Hierophant, they brought their brutal deathgrind to Florence for the first time. Inspired by Insect Warfare, Napalm Death, and Exhumed, their set immediately ignited the crowd. Visuals from Metal Slug and Tomb Raider played on screens as they tore through tracks from their debut EP, Extraterrestrial Gastropod Mollusc. Poldo’s growls and Danny Metal’s machine-gun blast beats created a wall of sound. Guitarists Alessandro Fuoco and Pietro Gessaroli delivered precise, aggressive riffs. Their finale, featuring Poldo waving a chainsaw, left the crowd exhausted yet exhilarated. Slug Gore’s set was among the most intense of the night.

SETLIST SLUG GORE:

Intro
Infestation
Hungry Parasitic Beast
Grounded by Slugs
Salt
Necrophiliatitude
Wake up Dead
Parasite Murder
The Dust Says You’re Fucked
Underground Giant Death Machines
50K
Demented Cricket
Primal Rules
Unsilent Death (Nails cover)
Mucus Chainsaw

FROZEN CROWN

The final stretch of the night began with Frozen Crown, fresh from a long European tour and a Japanese date promoting Call of the North. Following Slug Gore’s brutal set, one might have expected a drop in energy—but the band quickly proved otherwise. Giada Etro led the stage with commanding presence, supported by core members Federico Mondelli and Francesco Zof, and newer additions Niso Tomasini, Fabiola “Sheena” Bellomo, and Alessia Lanzone. Despite being the youngest in the lineup, they played with the confidence of seasoned performers. Niso’s drumming was precise and effortless, while the guitarists stayed composed and sharp. Giada repeatedly engaged the crowd, and the set spanned their full repertoire with high-energy tracks like Netherstorm and Far Beyond, finishing flawlessly with The Shieldmaiden. A strong, tight performance overall, with Giada, Fabiola, and Alessia standing out as the night’s clear MVPs.

SETLIST FROZEN CROWN:

Arctic Gales/Neverending
Call of the North
Kings
Netherstorm
Crown Eternal
Far Beyond
I Am the Tyrant
Blood on the Snow
The Shieldmaiden

MORTUARY DRAPE

Closing the night were the legendary Mortuary Drape, cult icons of the Italian black metal scene since 1986. Their entrance set the perfect mood: hooded in black robes, shrouded in incense and flickering candlelight projected on screen. They focused on material from their latest Black Mirror, while also revisiting classics from All The Witches Dance and Secret Sudaria. Frontman Walter Maini, the sole original member, led a tight, ritualistic performance, supported by an equally skilled lineup. The set featured fan favorites like Rattle Breath, Tregenda, and Primordial, closing the festival with a dark, intense finale that left the audience exhausted but ecstatic. Mortuary Drape delivered a fitting, majestic end to a night of relentless metal.

SETLIST MORTUARY DRAPE:

Restless Death
The Secret Lost
Liar Jubileum
Dance of Spirits
Ectoplasm
1600 Gnostic Year
Into the Oblivion
Tregenda
Necromaniac
Vengeance from Beyond
Mortuary Drape
Abbot
Rattle Breath
Fading Flower Spell
Primordial

WRAPPING UP

By 2:15 AM, the festival ended. The venue emptied quickly, yet many attendees surely wished the night had lasted longer. Firenze Metal’s fourth edition was a success: diverse bands, unique sets, seamless organization, and vibrant energy from start to finish. Selling out with 700 mostly young metalheads proved the genre’s future is strong. Organizers will remember this night, and, if momentum holds, it won’t be the last.

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share