2026 seems to be the year of midweek concerts and on Thursday, May 21, 2026 I was very lucky to be able to go see The Godless IV tour, which consisted of Behemoth, Deicide, Rotting Christ, and Immolation. Let’s take a look……….
I would say it’s been about four years since the last headline show from Behemoth and they played in the same place that I saw them last time that being the Hollywood Palladium. As I’ve said in other reviews, I don’t think I’ve ever really seen a bad show at the Palladium. With this tour being billed as The Godless IV Tour, you really couldn’t get a better package than this.
Up first was New York death metal band Immolation and it’s probably been about 16 years since I’ve seen these guys. The last time I saw them was when they were opening for Nile at the House Of Blues Sunset and they’re always a good time. Right from the start they opened “These Vengeful Winds” which is the first song off their latest album (released this year) Descent. Right after that they went right into another new song called “The Ephemeral Curse” and man talk about a one-two punch. One thing I really like Immolation is that as soon as they start playing, they really just go for it and vocalist Ross Dolan really does command the stage. Guitarist Robert Vigna really can shred and as far as death metal guitar players go I think he is vastly overlooked. Honestly, for a tour like this, these guys were the perfect openers and if you have not checked out their latest album, definitely give it a listen.
Next is Rotting Christ from Greece and this was the band that I was the most curious about. I have only really heard a few songs from them and I liked what I heard. Out of all the bands on this tour, they were definitely the most symphonic which is a nice contrast. Once the lights dimmed they launched right into “Dies Irae” off of the Heretics album and without pause, right into “Demonon Vrosis” off of the Aealo album. Sakis Tolis (vocals/guitar) definitely knows how to get the crowd going and he and the rest of the band had so much energy. This is definitely a band that I really want to see again.
Now we get to Deicide and this is also my first time seeing them. I don’t think I’ve been to a show where I’ve seen so many people wearing Deicide shirts. This band definitely has a hardcore fan base and once they hit the stage, the crowd went wild. They’re the only band that didn’t have a new album out in 2025 or 2026 so we basically got a greatest hits set. A bulk of their set was from the album Once Upon The Cross and they opened with “When Satan Rules His World” followed by “Bastard Of Christ” off of Serpents Of The Light. They just went into song after song and didn’t pause or say anything to the crowd. They played, kicked the crowds ass, and left.
Time for the main event……..Behemoth!!! First time seeing these guys was at the Sounds Of The Underground tour in 2006 and they’ve never put on a bad show. Kicking things off with “The Shadow Elite” off the new album The Shit Ov God then right into “Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer” off The Satanist is a great way to start the set!! Behemoth is one of those bands that definitely makes sure you get your moneys worth. The production and the stage set up that they have had for the last few times that I’ve seen them is just incredible even if they’re an opening band. Nergal is one of those frontmen that gets the crowd going and for a blackened death metal band, they really do move around quite a bit. They are definitely one of those bands that I wish could’ve played for another two hours because they have so many great albums and so many great songs that they could’ve easily made their set go all night. That’s the thing with seeing a band like Behemoth, they always leave you wanting more. For a band that’s been around for 35 years and still being able to do that is pretty impressive!!
This was definitely one of those times where I didn’t hesitate to buy a ticket and if you’re a fan of death metal, then this is a must see tour. All of the bands did such a great job and I wish that all of them could have played all night. I would definitely see all of these bands again but especially Behemoth. What’s great about a package tour like this is that all of the bands sound different from each other which (for death metal) can be hard to do. If you didn’t go then you absolutely missed out and the next time Behemoth or any of these bands are in your area definitely don’t miss them!!
Final Grade: A
Immolation is:
Ross Dolan: Bass, Voice
Robert Vigna: Guitar
Steve Shalaty: Drums
Alex Bouks: Guitar
Immolation Setlist:
- These Vengeful Winds
- The Ephemeral Curse
- Swarm Of Terror
- Attrition
- An Act Of God
- Adversary
- Immolation
- Bend Towards The Dark
Rotting Christ Is:
Sakis Tolis: Voice, Guitar
Themis Tolis: Drums
Kostas Heliotis: Bass
Kostis Foukarakis: Guitar
Rotting Christ Setlist:
- Dies Irae
- Demonon Vrosis
- Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy
- Like Father, Like Son
- Elthe Kyrie
- Dub-sag-ta-ke
- Societas Satanas (Thou Art Lord cover)
- Grandis Spiritus Diavolos
Deicide is:
Glen Benton: Bass, Voice
Steve Asheim: Drums
Taylor Nordberg: Guitar
Jadran Gonzalez- Guitar
Deicide Setlist:
- When Satan Rules His World
- Bastard Of Christ
- Behead The Prophet
- Once Upon The Cross
- Sacrificial Suicide
- Serpents Of The Light
- Forever Hate You
- They Are The Children Of The Underworld
- Scars Of The Crucifix
- Dead By Dawn
- Homage For Satan
Behemoth is:
Nergal: Voice, Guitar
Orion: Bass
Seth: Guitar
Inferno: Drums
Behemoth Setlist:
- The Shadow Elite
- Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer
- Thy Becoming Eternal
- Conquer All
- The Shit Ov God
- Ecclesia Diabolica Catholica
- Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel
- Nomen Barbarvm
- Bartzabel
- The Return Of Darkness And Evil (Bathory cover)
- Ov Fire And The Void
- The Deathless Sun
- Chant For Eschaton 2000
Encore:
- O Father O Satan O Sun
Sinister Reviews 