REVIEW: Whitechapel, Bodysnatcher, AngelMaker, Disembodied Tyrant at Irving Plaza | 11.15.2025
Tennessee deathcore outfit Whitechapel are in the midst of their “Rituals of Hate” tour, which features a stacked supporting lineup of Bodysnatcher, AngelMaker, and Disembodied Tyrant. Whitechapel are giving their newest album, Hymns in Dissonance, the full playthrough treatment on this run, and given that the record is one of my favorite releases of 2025, I was more than excited to witness it live.
Disembodied Tyrant kicked off the evening with a killer set. Opening with their single "8.6 BLACKOUT" released earlier this year, the band got the crowd moving immediately.
With vocalist Blake Mullens currently sidelined due to injury, Trevor Teichert of Winter’s Gate stepped in and handled the role with precision and intensity. Disembodied Tyrant packed a hell of a show into a tight 30 minutes, setting the bar high for the remainder of the evening.
AngelMaker were up next to deliver guttural screams in stereo as their seven-person, dual-vocalist attack arrived in lockstep with the express purpose of absolute sonic devastation.
Most bands with two vocalists split the duties of clean singing and screaming; AngelMaker reject that formula entirely. Instead, they employ dueling deathcore destruction as Casey Tyson–Pearce and Ian Bearer unleash growls that could shake a room to its foundation.
AngelMaker’s set included tracks from their forthcoming album, This Used to Be Heaven, including the epic new single “Silken Hands.” Their closing song, “Leech,” sparked a brief singalong at the beginning that hit with a goosebumps-inducing intensity.
It was from goosebumps to goose-steps when Bodysnatcher took the stage and turned the entire room into a giant mosh pit. Crowd surfers were in no short supply, nor were the swinging arms and kicks of hardcore dancers, as vocalist Kyle Medina demanded that the sweat of his efforts be reciprocated in violence.
The band showcased their new single, “Blade Between the Teeth,” released just over a week prior, alongside a number of tracks spanning their discography. They left everything on the stage, sending much of the room rushing outside for fresh air to come down from the adrenaline surge. Fans returned in short order to secure their spots for Whitechapel.
Whitechapel walked on in darkness before ringing out the first notes of “Prisoner 666,” the song building with every instrument as vocalist Phil Bozeman made his way to center stage and led the crowd in a shout-along of the opening line before the crushing riffs of Ben Savage, Alex Wade, and Zach Householder set the circle pits in motion.
When that first drop hit and the lights stayed dark save for a faint purple glow, I wondered if they were going for the “no lights, no production” approach that’s common in metal, albeit challenging for a photographer. It became clear instead that the lighting rig was malfunctioning, and when it finally powered on, I felt like Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation when the house lights erupt in blinding holiday glory.
The power of Whitechapel’s performance was palpable, and the crowd’s reaction made it obvious just how deeply fans have connected with the new album. “We’re gonna play some old stuff too,” Bozeman noted mid-set, and their four-song encore dipped into material from their first three records.
While the return to their roots was more than appreciated by the sold-out room, I suspect the crowd would’ve been just as ecstatic to hear Hymns in Dissonance front to back a second time.
The “Rituals of Hate” tour continues through mid-December, culminating in a hometown show in Knoxville. The band will head to Europe early next year for another string of dates.
DISEMBODIED TYRANT
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ANGELMAKER
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BODYSNATCHER
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WHITECHAPEL
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