February 21st,2025—San José, Costa Rica. What started as a regular vacation, took an unexpected turn when we stumbled upon a metal gig featuring ATHEIST, CRYPTOPSY, and SOEN on our first day in town. Naturally, there was no way we were missing it.
The Pepper Club proved to be the perfect setting for a night of sonic devastation—spacious, well-structured, and with a second floor offering an excellent view of the stage. By the time doors opened, the place was packed with metalheads eagerly awaiting the madness to unfold.
Opening the night, ATHEIST stormed the stage with a revamped lineup, except for the ever-charismatic Kelly Schaefer, the band’s sole remaining original member. Joining him were Jerry Witunsky and Alex Haddad on guitars, Yoav Ruiz-Feingold on bass, and Dylan Marks on drums.
Delivering hypnotic precision, blistering speed, and sheer virtuosity— ATHEIST showed why they are considered one of the pioneers of technical death metal. The entire band radiated energy, but Yoav and Jerry stole the spotlight with jaw-dropping performances, headbanging and shredding like maniacs while the crowd moshed relentlessly. Their setlist was a dream for old-school fans, including “Unholy War,” “Enthralled in Essence,” “Unquestionable Presence,” “Mother Man,” and closing with “Piece of Time.” This was our first time seeing them live, and they left us (and the rest of the venue) in awe.
It’s always refreshing to see young shredders like Alex Haddad rocking a pair of ATHEIST sweatpants on stage, a clear sign that the next generation is carrying the torch. Not all young metalheads are playing metalcore, after all! With whispers of a new ATHEIST album finally in the works, judging by this relentless performance, it’s bound to be worth the wait.
Next up, the Canadian death metal juggernaut CRYPTOPSY took over. Led by the always-engaging Matt McGachy, they wasted no time and ignited pure chaos from the first note of “Slit Your Guts,” sending the crowd into a frenzied mosh pit. The band, consisting of Olivier Pinard (bass & backing vocals), Christian Donaldson (guitar), and the drumming monster Flo Mounier, delivered a merciless setlist that satisfied both die-hard fans and newcomers alike.
Tracks like “Lascivious Undivine,” “Graves of the Fathers,” and “Sire of Sin” kept the pit in constant motion, but it was Matt McGachy’s performance that stood out—his guttural and fry vocals were executed with brutal precision, making the ground shake with sheer vocal power. The set closed with the devastating “Phobophile” and “Orgiastic Disembowelment,” a pure, controlled chaos that left the Pepper Club in flames.
Closing the night was the ever-evolving SOEN, a band that seems to be cementing itself as one of the hardest-working names in the scene. The last time we saw them was at Hellsinki Metal Fest in Finland, where they played to a modest crowd inside an ice hockey arena. This time, in San José’s Pepper Club, they took things to an entirely new level. Made up of Joel Ekelöf (vocals), Cody Lee Ford (guitar), Martin Lopez (drums), Stefan Stenberg (bass), and Lars Åhlund (keyboards/percussion), SOEN brought their signature mix of progressive, melodic, and deeply emotional metal with a hint of nordic melancholy to a venue that was absolutely on fire for them.
While the night’s lineup showcased vastly different styles, there was no doubt that SOEN was the main attraction. The moment they stepped on stage, an electric connection formed between them and the audience. You could feel the hunger and energy bouncing back and forth, creating a symbiotic experience between band and crowd. Musically, their set was flawless—tight, emotional, and explosive. The Costa Rican fans sang along passionately, particularly during “Memorial,” which echoed through the venue in unison. “Unbreakable,” a fan-favorite, had many visibly moved, while “Deceiver” kept the adrenaline high. But the defining moment of the night came during “Monarch,” when Joel Ekelöf grabbed a Costa Rican flag, draped it over his shoulders, and paid a heartfelt tribute to the country. The crowd erupted, embracing the gesture with thunderous cheers—it was pure euphoria.
Watching ATHEIST, CRYPTOPSY, and SOEN was a rare treat. The three bands, despite their vastly different approaches to metal, delivered an unforgettable night that showcased the technical mastery of death metal, the raw brutality of CRYPTOPSY, and the soaring, emotional depth of SOEN.
If this show was any indication, SOEN is on the brink of something huge. Their ability to command an audience and deliver with such passion makes it feel like they’re about to break into even bigger territory. The estimated 1,500 metalheads at Pepper Club certainly believe so, singing every word, roaring with approval, and leaving no doubt that Costa Rica knows how to throw down for metal.
Written by Fernanda Nunes and Jules Naveri
