Live Review: Worm, Ancient Death, The Oracle (2026)

CONCERT REVIEW WORM + ANCIENT DEATH + THE ORACLE Photos and review by Will Quigley

On June 18, I embarked on a nearly three-hour journey to the Palladium Upstairs in Worcester, MA, for an evening of black metal-inspired darkness. As I arrived at the venue, I received a tornado alert on my phone, and within minutes the clouds opened up, leaving me caught outside in an epic downpour. This only foreshadowed the storm that was about to be unleashed inside the venue.

Opening the evening was The Oracle, who graciously provided me with a photo pass so I could document what would prove to be a tremendous show. The Oracle emerged from behind the stage and transformed the venue from a concert space into something resembling a liturgical chamber.

Cloaked beneath a hood and illuminated by blood-red light, the Worcester-based ritual electronics project delivered a set that felt less like a performance and more like an invocation. Dark ambient textures, mixed with the atmospheric sensibilities of black metal, created soundscapes that sent shivers down my spine as I roamed the venue capturing the performance. The Oracle set a fitting tone for the night’s offerings and is an act not to be missed.

Next up was Ancient Death, a band more firmly rooted in old-school death metal with tremendous stage presence. Almost immediately, the pit opened up and echoes of progressive death metal reverberated throughout the venue as the band ripped through their set. Maneuvering through the chaos to grab photos whenever I could proved challenging at times, but Ancient Death delivered a blistering performance that never let up and was over far too soon.

By the time Worm took the stage, the venue had become engulfed in a dense veil of fog that transformed the performance into something far more immersive than a typical concert. The band emerged and disappeared throughout the haze as they unleashed their cavernous sound.

Worm delivers a style that harkens back to early symphonic black metal while incorporating touches of doom and death metal. Performed beneath a near-constant curtain of fog, the show took on an almost cinematic quality, transforming the venue into what felt like a haunted catacomb.

I was taken aback by just how massive and technically masterful the band sounded live, and it was incredible to witness such a commanding performance in an intimate venue. Few contemporary bands understand atmosphere as completely as Worm, and their live performance was truly remarkable.

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