Concert review: Lorna Shore w/ the Black Dahlia Murder, Shadow of Intent, & Peeling Flesh | 09.28.25, The Factory (with photo gallery)

Photo of Will Ramos of Lorna Shore by Jen Ruff

I recall a friend texting me the photo of a black billboard near The Factory. He just was driving in Chesterfield, probably speeding and risking life and limb to get this blurry photo. He texted me “dude, Lorna Shore,” and I was so excited. The last time they were through here AND the time before that, I’d sadly missed them. But no, not this time. 

Peeling Flesh kicked it off with zero nerves and the kind of continued interest that most openers don’t get. Metal crowds tend to be either all in or at the bar or merch table, but not for any act this particular set. Peeling Flesh are Midwest boys from Oklahoma and knew exactly how to get this crowd pumped up and going. They’re fronted by Damonteal Harris, Jason Parrish and Mychal Soto are dual guitarists, with Joe Pelletier on drums. They only have one studio album out (The G Code, which dropped last year) but have a good handful of EPs released over the last few years. They’re putting the work in and open for world class metal acts—they’ll only grow as they go forward. Most of the songs were indeed off that studio release, like “Shoot 2 Kill” and “Perc 3000,” but a fair amount from their previous recordings mixed in as well, like “Midnight” and the closer “F.F.W.A.B.” I know they’ll return and they’ll have some Midwest love waiting for them when they get back here. 

Shadow of Intent followed and it wouldn’t surprise me if they headlined a gigantic metal tour of their own soon. The crowd was the roughest of the night for them, which was a super surprise but their energy and solid raw metal was tight. They’ve been around since 2013, and slow and steady touring has built a substantial base of devotees. Band lineup: Ben Duerr – vocals, Chris Wiseman – guitar and clean vocals (also in the band Currents), Andrew Monias – bassist and both backing and shared lead vocal duties, and Bryce Butler on drums. They hail from various parts of Connecticut and really got some local love from the packed Factory. Starting off their set with “Prepare to Die,” hitting the middle with “Vehement Draconian Vengeance,” and rounding out the evening with “The Heretic Prevails,” they delivered probably the second-best set of the evening. I’m likely completely biased to the headliner though. 

Black Dahlia Murder have earned their metal badges, having formed in 2001 and performed with a laundry list of metal who’s who from Cannibal Corpse to Whitechapel to Children of Bodom and then some. They’ve also had more lineup changes over the years than I have time to name, the most tragic being the death of frontman Trevor Strnad who took his own life. Guitarist Brian Eschbach switched from guitarist to vocalist, ensuring that the band continued on in Trevor’s memory, and last year released their tenth studio album, Servitude. Kicking off with “What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse,” cruising through “Warborn,” and ending at “Deathmask Devine,” they showed the crowd that having tenacity despite challenges always pays off. 

Lorna fucking Shore really slayed from start to all three Pain Remains tracks to close. They bring this theatrical symphonic element to deathcore/metal and vocalist Will Ramos can’t fail no matter what vocal style he dabbles in. Backed by Adam De Micco on lead guitar, Austin Archey on drums, Andrew O’Connor on rhythm guitar, and Michael Yager on bass, the band nicely complement each other’s styles. Ramos took over from previous frontman Tom Barber as he went on to lead Chelsea Grin with the departure of their vocalist; for most current fans, what Ramos does sets them apart in the genre. This power metal band from New Jersey in 2021 released a song called “To the Hellfire” in which Ramos sounded like himself on clean vocals, as well as a goblin, a bat, a sewer rat and famously a squealing pig. It has become THE Lorna Shore song everyone knows and it was Revolver magazine’s Best Song that year. Called a “vehicle of destruction,” Lorna Shore really brought the Factory along to see all of the Festering the Everblack has been doing. This was a completely solid show from the lights down until the walk to the car. One I wish to relive mentally for quite some time. | Diane Ruff