Since well before the pandemic, Reggies has served as Chicago’s base for live metal (all kinds), post-punk, grindcore, etc., and offers metalheads bus transportation to and from Chicago Black Hawk games. I’ve attended concerts at both of Reggies’ settings. (Kinda like First Avenue and 7th Street Entry in Mpls.) I have also seen a “local” band, Burned in Effigy, at both settings – most recently at last weekend’s awesome gig! Burned in Effigy has become my favorite rising band.
The opening track, “Befouled Benefaction,” on Burned in Effigy’s first full-length release, Tyrannus Aeternum, exhibits the same groove and styling of early Lamb of God. If I pigeon-holed Burned in Effigy, musically with authoritative vocal delivery, I’d wager this band would no doubt cite Lamb of God and Sweden’s At The Gates (RIP Tomas Lindberg, d. 9/16/25 of mouth/pallet cancer), as heavy influences. Then on track four, Steve (and Eddie) pivot to mariachi music on Procession ala Eddie Van Halen’s Spanish Fly. The following tracks return to virtuosity and intense heavy metal. With twin guitars (Steve Bacakos-lead, Mike Hisson-rhythm), drums (Eddie Dee), bass (Matt Watkins), and vocals (Mark “Smedy” Smedbrom), Burned in Effigy creates melodic, neoclassical metal that definitely fits Reggies’ raison d’etre!
Burned in Effigy can be found on YouTube, FB, and Instagram, and Steve displays snippets of his technical wizardry here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eecSlIsX1iU
