Gig Reviews

Savage Messiah are playing Bloodstock this coming weekend and so they pulled out all the stops to play a warm up gig in guitarist Joff's hometown of Hastings.

First band up were local thrashers Vulgate.  Their vocal style reminded me at times of a cross between Venom and Kreator.  It bordered on old school death growls whilst retaining that raspyness of their German contempories, and the music has elements of classic early Testament and Exodus.  They have a stage confidence which surpasses their young age, and their take on classic speed metal manages to inject technicality without sacrificing the songs themselves.  This is something I wish

GRAF ORLOCK, LICH, THE QUERELLES + BROKER –   Green Door Store - 9^th July 2012.

Words by Colum Bell

The first band up were Broker, and due to a late arrival I only got to catch the end of their set. Broker played a sort of noise rock in the same vein as Jesus Lizard, Botch and Cave In, and sounded pretty good for what seemed like a new band. Next up were the Querelles who played rock and roll. They were pretty good, but I couldn’t help feeling that they didn’t quite fit tonight’s bill. Part of me was expecting them to be somewhat heavier.

Due to a late start it was almost 10.15pm before Lich from Kent, and the main support for the tour took the stage. They brutally stormed through a short (around 20 minutes!) but sweet and sludgey set.

Graf Orlock didn’t start until around 10.40pm, but it was certainly worth the wait. The previous bands

Faith No More Sunday 8th July 2012

Hammersmith Apollo, London

Words by Antony Roberts

Support band Guano Podano sounded like a 3 piece film soundtrack band, with lots and lots of Hank Marvin style tremolo added.  Whilst their shimmering tones would have worked perfectly adding atmosphere to a Tarantino or Lynch desert scene most of the crowd were unappreciative, with practically everyone around us nattering away to each other.  It was only when Mike Patton briefly appeared onstage to do vocals for "Prairie Fire" that the audience responded anything beyond it's previous polite applause and actually took interest.  

There's a long 45 minute gap between Guano Padano and Faith No More.  The entire stage was decked out in white, amps are covered in sheets, even the keyboards are white and an entourage of staff/roadies shuffled back and forth bringing on flowers, and more flowers, and more flowers (see the videos, it looked like a florists display by the time everything was set up!).

The band walked out in all white suits and what looked like Yoga meditation outfits, and start into the instrumental "Woodpecker From Mars" before

Words and photos Antony Roberts

(apologise for the photos, taken on point and shoot due to lack of photo pass).

Despite huge queues it was surprisingly quick to get into the sold out Forum venue, and entering the main downstairs I was greeted to a total sweat box.  The venue was rammed more than any gig I've attended having gone to many sold out shows there before, i guess some shows are more "sold out" than others.

The stage was blocked off by a giant curtain emblazoned with the Kiss logo to keep the stage set up hidden from view until the time was ready.  Prior to the 9PM start the crowd were already reaching fever pitch.  Even a hit on the snare from a drum tech was responded with huge cheers from the audience.  Anticipation levels were high and I've never seen such a joyous crowd, smiles on 

Words and photos by Antony Roberts 

On Monday 18th June Brighton played host to legendary metallic hardcore band Integrity from Ohio.

First band Strike The Bear played to a practically empty room of 26 people.  It would have been nice if the local crowd had actually made the effort to get there early, and support the up and coming bands but c'est la vie!  They are a very young band

Trolls, Booze and Videotapes  – Golden Gods Awards 2012 Review

Words by Nicholas Holmes

Photos by Tess Donohoe  www.tessdonohoe.com

After the mud-bath that was 10^th Download Festival 2012, hundreds of crazy metal-heads made the annual pilgrimage down the M1 to top off the weekend at Metal Hammer magazine's infamous Golden Gods Awards, which also celebrated its 10^th event. Held once more at London O2's Indigo2 venue, the ceremony included incredible live performances, occasionally ludicrous acceptance speeches, and lots and lots of booze.

ATP I'll Be Your Mirror with Slayer, Sleep and more, Alexandra Palace, London, 25th May 2012

Words and photos by Antony Roberts

All Tomorrow's Parties festivals are not exactly known for metal line ups.  Sure sometimes they'll get a curator with wide musical tastes and they'll be a few heavier acts doted about on the line up, but generally they are quite a mixed affair.  It was with huge surprise that they announced that Slayer would be headlining one of the days at this year's I'll Be Your Mirror.  The surprise soon turned into general excitement in the UK metal scene when the rest of the support was announced.  Sleep were coming back for ATP, along with a lineup not to far away from the usual suspects to play at Roadburn Festival.

 
For those that didn't make it here's a quick overview of the festival and facilities, followed by a review of each of the bands that played.

Primordial, Hell and Winterfylleth at London Islington 02 Academy, Saturday 5th May 2012

By Gary Lukes

Photos by Antony Roberts

Winterfylleth may have to launch the blistering opening to “Mam Tor” in front of a half-empty hall, but by the time the song’s epic, woozy rhythms have come to a close any remaining pockets of space are rapidly filled by generous applause. Almost two years after the release of “The Mercian Sphere”, a regular presence on the live scene has built their reputation almost as much as their critically acclaimed LP.

Playing an atmospheric style more often associated with Eastern Europe, the Mancunians have recast the mesmeric, eddying riffing into their own mold of “English Heritage black metal”. It’s an embodiment perhaps best epitomised by “The Wayfarer Part I…”, from the imperial swell of the 

Inverloch/Indesinence/Necro Deathmort - London Camden Underworld - Thursday 19th April 2012

By Gary Lukes

Photos by Antony Roberts

Thursday’s aren’t the most metal of days, and tonight London sadly seems more interested in the latest episode of Watchdog than the resurrection of Australian doom legends Disembowelment. Thus, we are greeted into the murky belly of Camden’s Underworld by the sight of Necro Deathmort summoning their spacey, sinister electro-doom in front of a measly crowd of about twenty people. 

And it’s a shame, as AJ Cookson and Matthew Rozeik utilise the unusual guitar/laptop (and occasional bass) set-up to conjure an insidious sound that seethes under the sparse lighting; constantly shifting shape in the shadows and somehow emerging more malevolent than before. 

At times, they can recall Aphex Twin at their most deranged or Axis of Perdition at their most lucid, while the band’s sound as a whole seems to consist of a unique legion of influences that echo genre-freaks as varied as Lustmord, Blut aus Nord and Massive Attack. On tracks such as “Temple of Juno”, dark dubby beats mutate and melt into ethereal effects, off-kilter guitar-lines and menacing screams. 

Paradise Lost + Insomnium + Vreid

The Brook, Southampton, Tuesday 17^th April 

Words by Nicholas Holmes

Photos by Tess Donohoe www.tessdonohoe.com

Days after the anniversary of Titanic's demise, it is perhaps vaguely appropriate that one of the greatest gloomy bands in British music history land in Southampton, the city from which the doomed vessel sailed just over 100 years ago. However, Paradise Lost have proved to be far from a sinking ship as they approach their quarter century next year. The nearest they have come to steering off course has been the departure of three drummers. That particular role has been ably filled since 2009 by possibly the busiest sticksman in metal, Adrian Erlandsson, who also plays for Nemhain, Brujeria and Swedish legends At The Gates. Phew! On what is their