Obituary Get New Yorkers Excited About Death Metal Again

"F---ing Obituary, man!" yelled a fan next to me. The Floridian death metal veterans were bringing their set closer to the end, but everyone was still as excited as when they first stepped onto the tall Gramercy Theater stage.

It was Sept. 29 on East 23rd Street in New York City, an area filled with art and business-college students during the day. Obituary's performance conjured up a tireless old school death metal most pit. Along with them, a couple other bands prepped the crowd (Warbringer, the Berzerker, Krisiun and Goatwhore).

Frontman John Tardy sported his extra-long blond mane, a grey sweatshirt, worn-out white Starters and camo shorts. This is typical for Tardy. You have to admire the fashion of a death metal 'superstar' -- practicality and comfort over trend and style.

With two decades of creating a death metal legacy under their bullet belts, the band's debut album 'Slowly We Rot' is also part of Decibel magazine's Hall of Fame series. This also includes Decibel's recently released book, 'Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces.' And even though the band doesn't tour often, brutal death metal seekers all over the world can look forward to seeing them in Baltimore this summer, as they are already confirmed for Maryland Deathfest 2010.