Orbit Culture: Death Above Life Tour
Electric City in Buffalo, NY was the place to be on Saturday, March 7th. Swedish metal powerhouse Orbit Culture was bringing their Death Above Life Tour to the Buffalo, NY area in a big way. With support from acts Atlas and Ov Sulfur, there was no denying this night was going to be packed with some hard-hitting metal greatness. Located on Pearl Street in downtown Buffalo, the scene was packed with metalheads of all ages. This tour was going to prove to be a great example of the band’s latest material and expansion of their growing reputation. The intimate setting of the venue placed fans right in the middle of the action and provided a variety of places to experience this heavy and high-energy night. Buffalo is known for bringing the energy to the metal scene, and this night was no exception. Fans sporting Orbit Culture shirts littered the venue and lined the barricades well before the first act even went on. My favorite thing about this venue it its ability to deliver a solid presentation of any tour that rolls through. With lighting and sound on point and a raised floor plan, Electric City was just that, electric.
While many fans came for the headliner, Atlas immediately proved they were far from an “opening act.” The atmospheric elements of the band’s opening song already radiated throughout the venue. Their performance was raw and had an almost underground scene feel to it. Many members are sporting mesh articles of clothing along with a gothic type vibe. Atlas is a 5-piece modern metal band originating from Tampere, Finland. Their ‘Northcore’ sound, mixed with heavy riffs and atmospheric sound were mostly inspired by Finnish mythology. They were energetic the entire set, blending deathcore along with melodic elements into their set. Playing songs from their latest album, Sunder, they had the crowd hooked. “Salt and Sulfur” was clearly a crowd favorite among the fans.
Ov Sulfur was next up to take the stage. Having listened to them briefly, I had no idea what to expect from this band in terms of stage presence. I can honestly say that they immediately got and held my attention throughout their entire set. The vocal range of singer Ricky Hoover was absolutely insane. The most guttural and deep growls threatened to bring down the venue. The band’s brutal deathcore and symphonic black metal influences clearly shone throughout the night. Pushing anti-religious themes and pairing them with dark, haunting lyrics makes the band truly unique.
The lighting was dim, with powerful red lights that added to the sense of darkness. Hoover commanded the crowd the entire set with ease, along with the band’s laser-sharp instrumental delivery. Songs like “Behind the Hand the Hand of God” and “Stained in Rot” were incredible to witness firsthand. Each track they played led to the band's momentum of mixing tension and devastating heaviness. Of course, a wall of death was present to get the crowd even more hyped up for what was to come.
From their first song, “The Storm”, Orbit Culture immediately erupted into chaos onstage. With lead singer Niklas Karlsson sporting a Buffalo Sabres jersey, the band immediately won over the fans of Buffalo. The Swedish quartet wasted no time unleashing their signature blend of groove metal, melodic death metal, and crazy intense riffs. The stage was set with a cinematic creation of haunting lighting and lasers. Paired with their signature OC symbol, the mood throughout the set was nothing short of mesmerizing. This Buffalo crowd echoed back lyric after lyric as the band’s tight instrumentation and sound radiated among Electric City’s walls. Not one fan sat during the entirety of the set, and phones were scattered throughout the crowd, capturing video and pictures of what was to be a night to remember. The appeal of Orbit Culture seemed to be their polished sound of modern edge, along with an aggressively vast lyrical dynamic.
Between songs, Karlsson interacted with the audience, thanking the crowd for the warm reception and encouraging them to carry on the energy throughout the night. I enjoyed their more popular songs, “Ninja” and “Descent”. Both songs had the crowd hanging on every lyric. Mosh pits erupted in the center of the venue as fans two-stepped their way from one end of the venue to the other. The breakdowns were plentiful and intense, meshing well with the solid breakdown of drums. These guys were gaining momentum with their fan base, and the crowd that showed up Saturday proved just that.
As the night came to a close, the merch table that lined the back wall was packed. Members of the supporting bands stopped to chat and take pics with fans. Talking about music, life, and just creating some core memories all music fans crave. The lineup proved to be a triple threat of solid metal intensity, and not once was the floor of the venue empty. Buffalo was sure to give these guys a true Buffalonian welcome, and it’s safe to say we hope they will be back! The Death Above Life Tour runs through April 10th, 2026! Make sure to grab your tickets when they roll through your town! Also, make sure to follow ConcertHopper on all social media platforms for the latest in show reviews and all things music!
Orbit Culture setlist:
The Storm
Tales of War
North Star of Nija
Saw
From the Inside
Bloodhound
The Shadowing
Open Eye
While We Serve
Hydra
Vulture of North
