Despite the reference to slick noir lore, The Black Dahlia Murder looked more like a bunch of blue-collar dudes who love pizza. Last night the band opened for Cannibal Corpse and pummeled Water Street Music Hall with a lot of double-kick as a foundation, but broke into cool grooves at least once a song either as a respite or a hook. The stage show was non-existent (no pretense, just rock) with singer Trevor Strnad stomping around the stage howling, fist-pumping, and throwing his arms in the air like a ref confirming a field goal.

Cannibal Corpse followed with its legendary from-the-bowels-of-hell tone and relentless pounding. The synchronized head banging was full-on Broadway. The vocals were buried and sounded more like a long, drawn out dry heave, but such is the style these days. The mosh pit was packed with more sweaty, shirtless dudes than a Roman bathhouse, but masculinity prevailed in a hail of elbows and knuckles. Plenty of heavy out there folks, but none heavier than these guys.