PROFANATICA, MORBOSIDAD, PARASITICIDE-Austin, Texas

The Lost Well, August 4, 2026

One of the founders of American Black Metal, PROFANATICA, arrived in Austin, Texas on one of the group’s longest tours. The three-piece embarked on a tour that would see them joining forces on separate dates with CLOAK, ONE MASTER, CANCERSLUG and MORBOSIDAD. Tonight, they played one of several shows scheduled with MORBOSIDAD at Austin’s favorite dive bar, The Lost Well.

Masked and smeared with grease, PARASITICIDE opened the event. The local-based group have been around for a few years, but this was the first time I’ve seen or even heard about them. Bassist Trans Am has played in a long list of bands in the area but Is internationally known as the bassist for GOATWHORE. If I hadn’t known beforehand that he’s in the band then I would not have known because he wore a ski mask. The group played fast and barbaric War Metal which contains a mix of Black Metal, Grind and Death Metal.  Vocalist Hera Lopez performed on the floor with the crowd. Her microphone cable was wrapped in chains and spikes. I can’t say what her voice sounds like since I couldn’t hear it in the mix.  In true grinding style, their sound totally betrayed melody, a fitting opener for the night’s bestial Black/Death Metal assault.

MORBOSIDAD has gone through many lineup changes with vocalist Thomas Stentch being the only original member. I saw them in 2019 with a different lineup. Now the group features members from the Michigan Death Metal band, The Black Temple. MORBOSIDAD has been creating evil Black/Death Metal for over thirty years. Even though their lyrics and song titles are in Spanish, Stench’s cavernous voice clearly shows he has a pact with The Devil. Some of the stop-start rhythms reminded me of MORBID ANGEL, which is somewhat to be expected from an evil Death Metal band. The new lineup sounded tight. MORBOSIDAD is a beast that can’t be tamed!

PROFANATICA is one of the most blasphemous bands on the planet! Drummer/vocalist Paul Ledney cut his teeth on INCANTATION but left the band to create something blacker and more vulgar. The group was dressed in robes and wore face paint. PROFANATICA started in 1990 making them one of the earliest Black Metal bands in the States. Their bestial style is a mix of Black and Death Metal with crusty D-beats. They could be compared to Finnish acts like ARCH GOAT and BEHERIT. It’s always interesting seeing the vocalist also play drums. He drummed with a constant war beat. His playing sometimes reminded me of ENTOMBED, something that wasn’t lost on their ultra fuzzy guitar and bass sound.  I first noticed their gritty sound during the bassist’s sound check. One fan thought they were using HM2 pedals. The guitar and bass churned with abysmal magma. Their nefarious sound elicited a pit, which eventually turned into a fight. This was the first time in over ten years that I saw a fight break out in The Lost Well.  I guess the evilness of the band was not lost upon the crowd.

PROFANATICA Bandcamp

Morbosidad Instagram

PARASITICIDE Bandcamp