On July 22, 2025, the metal world lost the legendary Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne. That night the brutal force that is Sanguisugabogg took the stage at St. Louis’ Off Broadway and opened their set in the most metal way possible with a crushing tribute to the man himself. Their take on “Sweet Leaf” wasn’t just a cover, it was a sludge-drenched, bone-rattling homage that paid respect to Ozzy’s legacy while launching the band’s latest tour into full carnage mode.
The show marked the first time the Ohio death metal juggernauts — Cody Davidson (drums), Drew Arnold (bass/guitars), Devin Swank (vocals), and Ced Davis (bass/guitars) — unleashed new material from their just-announced album Hideous Aftermath, due out October 10 via Century Media. As expected, the new songs pushed their already grotesque boundaries even further, blending technical brutality with a raw, guttural edge that left the packed all-ages crowd stunned and satisfied.
Alongside fan favorites like “Face Ripped Off,” “and “Dead As Shit” the band debuted several tracks from the upcoming record, including “Abhorrent Contraception,” and “Rotted Entanglement.” True to their name, Sanguisugabogg delivered a set soaked in depravity and precision, keeping heads banging and pits swirling from the first riff to the last growl.
Midway through their pulverizing set, vocalist Devin Swank paused to give a special shoutout to the Vulgar Display of Podcast. Swank, who was a recent guest on the podcast, showed support and a nod to the growing support of underground metal media and the bond between band and fanbase that fuels Sanguisugabogg’s relentless rise.
Sharing the bill were rising acts Stabbing and Putrid Stu, both of whom primed the stage with their own brand of gut-churning ferocity, creating a full night of chaos and catharsis.
With the legacy of Ozzy lingering heavy in the air and the future of extreme music on full display, Sanguisugabogg’s St. Louis stop was more than a concert. It was a ceremony of filth, fury, and respect. And if the early taste of Hideous Aftermath is any indication, death metal is about to get a whole lot nastier.
The Barn 