Live Review: Crypta - Birmingham

Live Review: Crypta – The Asylum, Birmingham

14th August 2026
Support: Exorcism
Words & Photos: Tim Finch

The Asylum in Birmingham was set for an evening of uncompromising extreme metal as Brazilian death metal force Crypta brought their current tour to town, with Exorcism opening proceedings. With a room hotter than hell, the walls dripping in sweat, the anticipation of a healthy dose of old-school aggression, the night promised plenty for fans of the heavier end of the metal spectrum

Exorcism wasted little time in setting the tone for the evening. Opening with ‘Slaughtered Faith’ before launching into ‘Strike The Match’ and ‘Lost In the Dark’, they delivered a direct and aggressive attack that immediately got the room moving. ‘Lobotomiser’, ‘Spectral Aggression’ and ‘Godless’ kept the intensity high, with the band pulling off a clear affection for the thrashier side of extreme metal.

The second half of Exorcism’s set was every bit as forceful, with ‘Tomb of the Ancients’, ‘Secrets of the Past’ and the classic ‘Bonded By Blood’ bringing their appearance to a suitably destructive conclusion.

When Crypta finally took to the stage, the change in atmosphere was immediate. ‘The Outsider’ opened the set with a vicious burst of death metal before’ Lullaby for the Forsaken’ and ‘Death Arcana’ pushed the intensity even further. Fernanda Lira’s vocals and intense stare cut through the crowd as the rhythm section maintained a relentless pace. ‘I Resign’ and ‘The Other Side of Anger’ followed, with the crowd responding enthusiastically.

There was barely a moment to catch your breath as ‘Poisonous Apathy’, ‘Stronghold’, ‘Under the Black Wings’ and ‘Dark Clouds’ kept the momentum firmly in place. Crypta’s live performance has a physicality that makes the material feel even more imposing than it does on record. ‘Trial of Traitors’ and ‘Lord of Ruins’ were particularly effective, giving the crowd two more opportunities to throw themselves into the chaos unfolding in front of them.

By the time ‘From the Ashes’ brought the evening to a close, Crypta had delivered a performance that left little doubt about their status as one of modern death metal’s most compelling live acts. The set was and the band produced an atmosphere to keep the fans engaged to the end.