NEMHAIN, NYA, SPITTING BLOOD, INNER EDEN, NOCTURNAL PLAYGROUND : ROCK AGAINST RAPE 26.01.09 (Gig Review)

NEMHAIN
NYA
SPITTING BLOOD
INNER EDEN
NOCTURNAL PLAYGROUND

ROCK AGAINST RAPE
PURPLE TURTLE 26.01.09

NOCTURNAL PLAYGROUND
The london death metal band always put on a good show and tonight their own technical take
on the genre recieved a warm responce from the audience.
This year will see the release of an album and many gigs are planned so i suggest you check them out.

INNER EDEN
Featuring ex members of Axis Of Evil and Wykked Wytch and the stunning vocal talents of
Charlie Hall (Think Enya meets Angela Gossow), Inner Eden are simply awesome a perfect blend of melody/aggression/Harmony and brutality.
They played one of the best sets i have seen in a long time.

SPITTING BLOOD
Tonight they have a few problems not least of which is that they are due on stage and their
vocalist is still on his way.Still as they have two they have no choice but to go on with
Clara and she does a fantastic job, after a couple of songs Dave arrives and to his credit
dives straight in and is (Naturally) note perfect.
Ultimatley though it was an off night for the band, however many commented that they were
much better than Kreator who played across the road at the Koko.
As you may know i love this band, but im feeling that something is not quite right with them
at the moment, but hey what the fuck do i know !

NYA
Like may here tonight i had never heard of these guys before, by the end of their set
'everybody' knew who they were.
Their blend of melodic metal is outstanding and they are armed with a very talented drummer
called Paul White whose sheer power and showmanship is a sight to behold.
One of their songs has a killer riff based on Black Sabbath's Hole In The Sky which erupted
the place and they do the best (and highly original) version of Survivors Eye Of The Tiger
since CKY.

NEMHAIN
Rapidly proving that not only are they at the top of their game but that there is much more to come, Nemhain now with the original guitarist Sam Hain returning to give us a twin guitar attack with Lakis.
Drummer Adrian's playing is always a pleasure to hear and watch but tonight is even more
impressive when he played with a dislocated vertabrae and a handfull of painkillers !
Frankly the set is just perfect from the punked up opening version of Ana through to the
closing track Speed Queen, my only disappointment was that they didnt play Heroin Child.

Rock Against Rape
The evening raised over £300 for the charity and all credit is due to Phee Kear for putting
on such a great show and baking Cheescake for everyone.
I was happy to be part of it and no doubt we can all do it again sometime.
The whole evenig was filmed and a dvd will be made available later this year.
www.myspace.com/rarcamden

Rape Crisis
Rape Crisis (England and Wales) provides co-ordination for the national network of Rape
Crisis Centres across England and Wales. Rape Crisis Centres provide a range of specialist
services for women and girls that have been raped or experienced another form of sexual
violence - whether as adults or as children.
On this website you will find information about rape and sexual violence and details of your
nearest Rape Crisis Centre if you need support. There is also information for family,
friends, students and professionals.
http://www.rapecrisis.org.uk/


STU

NOCTURNAL PLAYGROUND

INNER EDEN

SPITTING BLOOD

NYA

NEMHAIN

UPCOMING GIG INFORMATION

VIRUS + DISCHARGE GIG 20.03.09

Reborn brit thrashers Virus have announced a major support slot for legendary punk band Discharge at the Agincourt Rock Venue in camberley on 20th of March.

Tickets are on sale now for £10.

Tickets available here : http://www.wegottickets.com/event/40709

End of the year

So ends another year,lets have a look back shall we ?
Best
Alestorm - Captain Morgans Revenge
Chaosanct – I Of Goliath EP
Children Of Bodom – Blooddrunk
Chrome Division - Booze, Broads & Beelzebub
Alice Cooper - Along Came A Spider
Darkthrone - Dark Thrones & Black Flags
Girlschool - Legacy
Jex Thoth - Jex Thoth
Judas Priest - Nostradamus
Motley Crue - Saints Of Los Angeles
Motorhead - Motorizer
Ravens Creed – Militia Of Blood Sacrifice EP
Satyricon - Age Of Nero
Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone
12 Ton Method - Art Of Not Falling EP
Venom - Hell

Worst
AC/DC - Black Ice
Guns N Roses - Chinese Democracy
Metallica - Death Magnetic

VIRUS,INFESTATION,AFFLUENZA - ROCK ATTIC 20.12.08 (Gig Review)

Virus
Infestation
Affluenza

Rock Attic 20th December

Affluenza
Stepping in at the last moment to help rescue a bill that was falling apart thanks to some
genuine reasons from some bands and some crap ones from others, the London band formerly
know as 'Seasons Of Six' put on a good show.

Their opening was very gothic and atmospheric this was followed by 30 minutes of melodic
Death Metal played with true style and conviction.
At times the melodic side takes over so perhaps they should drop the death metal element all together and just be good old "Heavy Metal".

First rate female bassist Nicky fingers flew up and down the fretboard complimenting the
excellent guitarwork of Marcel.Vocalist Cletus screamed his lungs out but also managed to
sing as well,he also looks like Wayne Static's brother !

Infestation
Any band who use the cookie monster theme as their intro are going to get a double horns up
from me !
Words such as "Brutal" and "Crushing" are the best chosen when describing their aural assault of Death Metal.
One of the most technically proficient bands in the scene anywhere in the UK, they played to
a packed venue full of appreciative headbangers eager for more.

This was bassist Rob's last show with the band and it was one of their best, so a suitable
farewell with songs like 'Evil Evil' slaying everything in its path.

Virus
Gig number two for the reformed (no lets change that to remade) thrash legends, still
proving that they are better, faster and stronger and ready to take on the pretenders to
the throne of UK thrash.

Tonights show began with Coke pacing up and down during the intro shouting "Lets fucking do
this!", the whole band were pumped and ready.
Notch this one up as "Job Done", audience worn out and sweating, band playing perfectly (even
Sam's amp commiting suicide during one song, quickly replaced so the onslaught could
continue) and shouts for an encore which was duly delivered.

They need to expand their set and though this may be herecy to some,i would drop a couple
more new songs into the set and lose some older ones.
Word is more gigs are planned and a new EP by April, this Virus is dangerous and ready to
infect,question is now.."Are you ready ?"

STU

Affluenza

Infestation

Virus

HOLLOW LIMIT - THE DEVILS HOUR EP (CD Review)

1.The Devils Hour
2.Our Desperate Story
3.The Betrayal

Dan - Lead Vocals
Mike - Lead Guitar
Tommy - Guitar, Backing Vocals
George - Bass, Backing Vocals
Lukey V - Drums

There is little to fault here,this is as near perfect as you would expect from a bunch of lads who started out covering a handfull of Avenged Sevenfold songs a couple of years ago then grew up and started to take notice of Iron maiden.

Sure this has Maiden stamped all over it, but its no clone,there is originality here delivered in a style that would appeal to ten thousand young rock fans out there who are being force fed shit like fall out boy and the automatic.

Vocalist Dan sings (yep sings none of your cookie monster stuff here) sure he growls occasionally but his style brings a little class along with that dual guitar attack,solid bass and solid drumming.
Kerrang covers stars within the year i think!

STU

Rating 8/10

Get This If You Like : Iron Maiden, Killswitch Engage

KING LIZARD,VIRUS,HOLLOW LIMIT - ROCK ATTIC,STREATHAM 13.12.08 (Gig Review)

King Lizard
Virus
Hollow Limit

Rock Attic 13.12.08

Hollow Limit
With their melodic blend of Iron Maiden meets Killswitch Engage they may have seen an odd choice for opening act, but this bunch of young rockers took to the stage and demanded attention.
After a cool start the audience started to warm up when they did a cover of Maiden's 'The Trooper', from that point over they won them over with each successive song recieving a loud cheer.
The band have a great stage presence and a good dual guitar sound with a very talented frontman who was not afraid to jump into the crowd and sing right in their faces.
One to watch for in 2009 i think.

Virus
Expectations were very high and the conversations outside were colourful, the question being could Coke McFinlay pull off a new Virus with him being the only original member and with it being nearly 20 years since their last gig.

The attic was packed with many old fans, some had traveled many miles to be here,
punks, skinheads and young thrash metallers were all waiting... then out went the lights the smoke machine spluttered into life and the intro tape rolled, out walked Coke, Matt, Sam and Dave they picked up and stood behind their chosen weapons of destruction and then Blam!straight into 'Seeing Is Believing' the place went fucking crazy!
In those few opening notes Coke had already proved his point and silenced the critics yes he could pull it off, but he went one better this is a new invigorated Virus full of life and power and dedicated to the music now and not on a nostalgia trip.

Though Coke had not sung with the previous incarnation he was more than capable of breathing new life into the songs and Dave's subtle changes to the drumming have dragged the classics like 'Lunacy' and 'Pray For War' kicking and screaming into the modern age.

I tell you this forewarned is forarmed Virus want their throne back !This was hammered home with a brand new song called 'Skulls Of My Enemies' move over Evile your slayer worship days are over, original brit thrash is back.
The final songs were'Dont Get Mad, Get Even' and 'Testify To Me', a solid 30 minute set that left every single person there covered in sweat and cheering for more, i did not hear a single complaint, not one person said anything negative.

King Lizard
The Camden Crue were an unlikley headline act, but its about time that they played outside their "Box" and they won over a few new fans tonight and gained some respect from fellow musicians, one of whom will remain nameless but plays in a death metal band was jumping up and down and singing along and headbanging big time !

It has to be said that they entertained above and beyond normal duty and in particular turned much of their attention to their friend and long time fan Ross who was celebrating his 21st birthday.
After each song drummer Sky brought fourth a shot of Jagermeister for him to drink, to be honest the band had been getting him sloshed all evening, im amazed that
Ross got any pictures or video footage at all tonight.

Ross was dragged on stage to sing 'Riot' and displayed some quality headbanging as he slid down alice's mic stand!
Another shot and Flash pulled him onstage again to introduce 'Outrageous', i must point out that during each song more and more people were coming back to watch them.
The first trouble of the night came during Niro's guitar solo when a drunken idiot decided to go for his guitar, i jumped up and threw him off as he then tried to grab a mic stand.
Some people really need to learn how to behave and was lucky this time do that with another band at another venue and some roadie or security guy may think of Dimebag and do more than just push you.

One more song and another shot, then the second problem as Ross had to be propped up, that last shot was one too many, as the band continued Ross became worse and eventually collapsed, at first it was still funnny and Sky mouthed to me if he had killed him, i gave the thumbs up, it was his mission to do so and "Death By Sky" was achieved.
However as the band kicked into an amazing improptu version of 'Whole Lotta Rosie', Ross became worse, the band ended their set with 'Johnny B Goode' and were joined by the lads from Hollow Limit.

When the venue cleared it was a mixture of nervous laughter and concern for about half an hour, numerous people came to help including a girl called Jenny, and an off duty policewoman came and took control, we were all hoping that positioned right and a little sleep that Ross would arise, but he did'nt in fact he became cold and totally unresponsive and the officer called for an ambulance.

We then spent the night at a hospital in Tooting where 5 hours later Ross came round.
Much respect to king lizard who were constantly texting to see how he was.
I think everyone was concerned that things had gone a little too far, but in all honesty at the time Ross was having fun (Including laughing whilst being sick and still trying to sing along), so all in all no harm was done and everyone is still alive.
King Lizard (nearly) killed ross..What a headline, they came,they drank,they conquered and played one of their best sets ever, it was raw and alive and they got thrash metal fans dancing!!!The police woman asked an unconcious ross at one point "do you know where you are" if he was awake he could have shouted "In The Jungle Baby"!.

STU

Hollow Limit

Virus

King Lizard