Music & Related Reviews. Other writing from the obscure realms of Mr Stu's Mind.
Sunday, 30 August 2009
ACHILLA ACOUSTIC SHOW, FROM GREAT HEIGHT, '77 Live At The Gaff 25.08.09
FROM GREAT HEIGHT
'77
THE GAFF, HOLLOWAY ROAD 25.08.09
'77
Tonights evening of diverse talent kicks off with the Spanish band '77.
Now there was a slight hint of Ac/Dc in their set and performance, in fact it was a whole lotta dc.
A quite breathtaking set based around the early days of Bon Scott's rocking outfit, yet they only did 'TNT' the rest were original songs though again pure ac/dc.
FROM GREAT HEIGHT
Playing a shorter set this evening due the fact that their bassist was still on holiday.
Depping for said bassist was Joe Simms from 9blind, and he did a fantastic job.
FGH seem to grow on each audience they play to and it was a stunning set, the Pink Floyd cover attracting the attention of those who were not watching at the time.
They ended their set with 'Split Seconds' and 'Initial' both of which gained a few headbanging and sing-a-long moments.
Watch out for them over the next 12 months because they are going to reach a "Great Height" and their neo-prog rock/metal hybrid will continue to win over new fans all the time.
ACHILLA ACOUSTIC SHOW
For those of you who dont know Achilla are a London based Symphonic/Progressive rock group fronted by the Martamaria, a singer with a world record beating voice.
We were treated to a huge set and all those songs that we were used to as electric full on metal were suddenley turned upside down and given the most amazing makeover.
Songs like 'Arashi' and 'Devils Eyes' have become revitalised and reborn, Dan's guitar playing is as breathtaking as Marta's voice.
Added tonight was a brand new song that will be performed by the usual band soon, and a few inspired covers from Alice In Chains 'Down In A Hole', Nightwish 'Kuolema teke Tajteilian' (Which Marta sang in Finnish and frankley blew Tarja off the planet) and a quite moving cover of Metallica (YUK!!) 'Nothing Else Matters'.
So endeth an awesome and diverse evening.Here's to the next one.
STU
'77
FROM GREAT HEIGHT
Saturday, 29 August 2009
NEMHAIN, MALLORY KNOX, FIVE SECOND RULE, THE DAMAGED Live At The Gaff 22.08.09 (Gig Review)
MALLORY KNOX
FIVE SECOND RULE
THE DAMAGED
THE GAFF, HOLLLOWAY ROAD 22.08.09
THE DAMAGED
Ahh the perfect gig starts in amazing style with the Brighton band formed from the ashes of Bella Nova.Its an absolultey stunning set with some very strong rock songs rubbing shoulders with a couple of great slow and moody songs.
FIVE SECOND RULE
Walking through the venue was a bunch of crazy men dressed as arabs making weird noises and shouting "ducca ducca" a lot, turns out it was the band with a
certain adrian erlandsson on drums!
They played their first song then the vocalist pointed out that Adrian didnt even know the song, in fact adrian had spent just 3 hours with the band a few
days before...stunning.
As ever FSR prove that they are the most entertaining band around at the moment, its just good time rock n roll delivered perfectly.
MALLORY KNOX
I find it hard to say anything different about MK because they have never let me down, every time i see them they are really good, four great musicians
seemingly hell bent on rocking everybody into a sweat.Kit's vocals are as always bang on, i suppose the best thing to say about this show is that they kept their trousers on this time!
NEMHAIN
3rd anniversary gig was always going to be explosive and it did not fail to impress.Sure i am biased here, but some friends of mine who had never seen them before all said the same thing "they're good arent they".It may still be Sam, Lisa, Amber and Adrian but it is a very different band to the one i first saw at the bar monsta 3 years back.Not only has the addition of lakis on guitar built them into a solid unit, but the whole vibe of the band has become very professional and the level of confidence has grown.
Tonights set kiced off with 'Ana' a song which used to start with a slow intro now gets the ramones like 1234 treatment, the set hammers on as the audience laps it all up.
Then we are treated to a brand new song 'Natural', this is the first song that the band wrote equally together and its an absolute rocker!Up next is 'Die Die My darling', still the best version ever and a mosh pit broke out, even amber jumped of the stage and joined in.
Four songs later, we get our next treat a song that i have been suggesting they do for a couple of years now, Leadbelly's 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night', the song was dedicated to me and i tell you i was shaking, it was a slow moody version, but i could barley concentrate, i really was moved by it in a way i cant express.
Finally the place erupted with 'Speed Queen' and a toilet roll fight broke out!
The debut album 'From The Ashes' is out on October 16th go buy 2 copies each.
STU
THE DAMAGED
FIVE SECOND RULE
Friday, 21 August 2009
KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR, SAVAGE MESSIAH, KEMAKIL, INSULTERS, M.A.D Live At The Gaff 15.08.09 (Gig Review)
SAVAGE MESSIAH
KEMAKIL
INSULTERS
MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION
The Gaff, Holloway Road 15.08.09
MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION
Amazing heavy band from Brighton making their London debut.
Started their set with the vocalist blowing the horn (HA ha the vocalist got the horn!!!) they then set about a very accomplished set for a band whos average age was just 19.
INSULTERS
The first of tonights Spanish bands, this lot play good aggressive death metal with a twinge of black metal thrown in.
KEMAKIL
Awesome Ipswich thrashers, tonight playing as a four piece with the guitarist now doing vocals as well.I tell you what they sounded better than ever, they are really god at their craft and execute with precision.
SAVAGE MESSIAH The only London band on the bill and fuck me are they good!This is a highly professional band with fantastic stage presence, great songs, four incredibley talented musicians and main man Dave has a wonderful voice with a great range.
A british megadeth but with their own originality, a new album is about to be released..go but it!
KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR
Headliners from spain Korgull are an aquired taste, its a relentless onslaught of distortion, high speed drumming, pounding bass and evil screaming vocals!
MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION
Thursday, 20 August 2009
SKALDIC CURSE - WORLD SUICIDE MACHINE (Cd Review)
01.Pest Against Pest
02.World Suicide Machine
03.Worm
04.Genocide Storm
05.Carcinogen
06.Invoking Mal Being
Woundz (Vocals)
Astynax (Guitar)
Scapula (Guitar)
Monolith (Bass)
Vermin (Drums)
Formed by Woundz, Astynax, VX, Monolith and Theutus in late 2000 with the idea of creating nihilistic and progressive black metal.
Eventually a 2 track demo tape 'Funeral Eclipse' was released in late 2001 and was quickly followed by the 'Hated by Matter' itself demo in 2002. During this period the band played a number of live shows within the UK underground scene and began to gain a reputation for putting on cold, hateful performances.
In late 2003 they entered Astynax's very own Shockwave Studios to record the 'Contagious Psychic Misery' EP which was released in 2004 on Forgotten Wisdom Productions. Soon after this recording, original guitarist VX left the fold and the band continued as a four-piece. Support slots with Enslaved and Lugubrum followed and in mid-2005, the band once again entered Shockwave studios to record their debut album 'Pathogen'.
Early 2006 saw a number of changes within the band line-up - original drummer Theutus left at the start of the year to be replaced by Vermin. In addition, the band returned to a two-guitar line-up with the recruitment of Scapula (Paul Scanlon from Akercocke) during this same period. The remainder of 2006 was spent working on what would become 'World Suicide Machine', this material sees them build on the twisted, progressive approach to black metal evident on the debut yet taken to even more extreme depths, down darker and ever more warped sonic paths.
This recording attracted the attention of Norway's Dark Essence Records who subsequently offered the band a deal and now finally its released after 2 years!
"This album takes the blackened brutality and labyrinthine structures of the first album, and injects more intensity, atomsphere and spiralling passages, creating a unique and complex album that journeys through black metal, thrash and progressive rock".
Well thats what the record company say and to be honest that pretty much sums this up.
It is devistatingly heavy and complex full of distortion, cutting edge guitarwork, screaming death vocals, huge drums and pounding bass.
Each track seems to almost scream of full on black metal then switch to opeth like musical structures, doom influences and classical as well, it has everything.
Rating 10/10
For fans of : Mayhem, Chaosanct, Akercocke, Voi Vod, Opeth, Aborym
STU
RAVENS CREED - ALBION THUNDER (Cd Review)
Steve Watson (Guitar)
Ravens Creed were formed in late 2006 by Steve Watson (ex Iron Monkey) and Jay Graham (ex Skyclad and former session drummer for Tony Iommi).Steve then contacted his friend, Ben Ward (Orange Goblin) and Martyn Millard (Orange Goblin) and asked them if they fancied climbing aboard the sturdy bullet-ridden tank and melting brains with riffs, the foursome recorded the Militia of blood sacrifice 7" and it was released worldwide by Land O' smiles records (ltd to 500 80mg copies).
Last year there were more gigs and an amazing ep (Reviewed elsewhere in this blog), but now we have a full blown album, time to hit play, crank it up and run for cover!!!!!!!!
I love the catchy "Bring out your dead" line from 'Pox Mortis' and the song has a real punch in the guts riff.
Ravens Creed are to my mind the only band who truly understand black metal originators Venom, they have managed to capture that chaos that Cronos did when he fused those punk influences with Motorhead back in 1979/80.
There are no frills here, its just pure and hits the spot like a triple shot of absinthe!
Rating 10/10
For fans of : Venom, Discharge, Motorhead, Orange Goblin, Warfare, Tank.
STU
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
THUNDERBIRD 13 - PROMO CD (Cd Review)
01.Black Wing Bird
02.House Of Sin
Goffzilla (Guitar/Vocals)
Rob (Drums)
Carl Dawkins (Bass)
Thunderbird 13 are a hard hitting rock’n’roll band from London.Formed from the remnants of several other bands as a studio project in 2007, frontman Goffzilla fuses each members love of all things rock’n’roll to create their old school sound.
'Black Wind Bird' has a punchy Megadeth feel to it like 'In My Darkest Hour' its a stripped back sound which allows the music to speak for itself.
The second track 'House Of Sin' on the other hand is in uk stoner territory with a great guitar solo thrown in.
Both tracks show that this three piece have a great deal of potential, especially with current NWOTM resurgence.
Rating 7/10
For fans of : Megadeth, Viking Skull, Clutch, Cauldron
STU
KYRBGRINDER - DEFIANCE (Cd Review)
01.My Heart Bleeds
02.Defiance
03.The Guide
04.What About Me
05.Fall Away
06.Not In My Name
07.Wayside
08.I Wanna Kill
09.Monster
10.Swallowed My Life
11.Greatest Weapon
Johanne James (Drums/Vocals)
Ben Glover (Guitar)
Dave Lugay (Bass)
Dave Dart (Guitar : My Heart Bleeds)
Melodie Gonnard (Vocal : Greatest Weapon)
I Should start this review by stating that i have certain reservations about much of the lyrical content.The lyrics are quite brilliant, well thought out and in many cases thought provoking, however i do have a problem with what appears to be a quite dominate christian theme this is notable in songs like 'The Guide' sure it has the line "For vacuous religions violate my peace" but it also implies that christianity is the right way with the line "Im the one to guide you, the light beyond will set you free".
Now 'Not In My Name' has a good theme about the morons who fight wars in the name of religion,and rightly condemns it, yet how easy is it to forget the sickest song ever written 'Onward Christian Soldiers'.
There are other examples as well but i'll not continue the theme.
Many of the other songs seem to deal with personal pain, confusion and suffering from illness, all in all a much more intelligent approach than the ususal sex, drugs and rock n roll.
Now to the music itself, listed on the cd as file under "Heavy Metal", well dont file under "Classic Rock" for thats where this belongs.
The quality of musicianship here is first class and given the fact that it is driven By Johanne who is perhaps better known to many of you as the drummer from prog rockers Threshold, though you would have heard him on countless other songs from some surprising artists over the years as he is also a top session drummer as well.
His rhythms bind the songs whilst his vocals cut through the mix to soothe the ears even when the song itself is aggressive.'My Heart Bleeds' is a slow moody rocker that has a great powerchord holding the song together and some great soloing from Dave, the same is true of 'What About Me', 'Monster (With a touch of black sabbath doom influence) and 'Greatest Weapon'.'Fall Away' is the heaviest track on the album, with the drums and bass thumping through the speakers (Well mine were at the volume i was playing it at), its a real headbanging classic!
Since this album was released Ben has been replaced by Aaron Waddingham and Dave by Alberto Flaibani, this line up is about to undertake new recordings and a mjor tour is in the pipeline.
The band are awesome live!
Rating 8/10
For fans Of : Living Colour, P.O.D, Skunk Anansie, Bloodgood, Whitecross.
STU
Sunday, 9 August 2009
VARIOUS ARTISTS - GRIND MADNESS AT THE BBC (Cd Review)
Death 21.CS 22.Control 23.Walls 24.Raging In Hell 25.Conform Or Die 26.SOB 27.Unchallenged Hate 28.Mentally Murdered 29.From Enslavement To Obliteration 30.Suffer The Children 31.Retreat To Nowhere 32.Scum 33.Deceiver 34.Social Sterility
EXTREME NOISE TERROR
DISC 2
57.Crepitating Bowel Erosion 58.Slash Dementia 59.Cadaveric Incubator Of Endo Parasites 60.Reek Of Putrefaction61.Empathological Necroticism 62.Foeticide 63.Fermenting Innards 64.Exhume To Consume
65.Forgotten Existence 66.Attack In The Aftermath 67.Psychological Warfare 68.In Battle There Is No Law 69.Drowned In Torment 70.Eternal War 71.Realm Of Chaos 72.Domination 73.Destructive Infinity 74.Warmaster75.After Life 76.Lost Souls Domain.
DISC 3
77.Tiny Tears 78.Wound (Not Wound) 79.Pulp 80.Like Rats
81.Incompatible 82.Burned Beyond Recognition 83.Oblivion Descends 84.Divisions 85.Voice Your Opinion 86.Strong Enough To Change 87.Odie's Revenge 88.It's My Life
HERESY
89.Flowers (In Concrete) 90.Belief 91.Network Of Friends 92.Sick Of Stupidity 93.Too Slow To Judge 94.A Sense Of Freedom 95.Consume 96.Face Up To It 97.Into The Grey 98.When Unity Becomes Solidarity 99.The Street Enters The House 100.Cornered Rat 101.Open Up 102.Everyday Madness Everyday 103.Break The Connection104.Ghettoised 105.Network Ends 106.Release 107.Genocide
108.Hangin' On 109.Vagrants 110.Skate-Bored 111.Intense Degree 112.All The Guys 113.Daydreams 114.Take No Chances115.Future Shock 116.Politician 117.Allegiance 118.Bursting.
Between 1987-1990 BBC radio 1 DJ John Peel invited a succession of almost unknown extreme metal/hardcore bands to record sessions for his show.It seemed highly improbable at the time that the recordings would help define and shape a musical movement soon to be know as "Grindcore".
Earache has finally obtained the rights from the BBC to release these legendary radio sessions in their entirety for the first time.Up to now only a handfull of these have been officially released on "Peel Sessions" EP's back in the mid 90's and of course a few bootlegs.So to get them all together in one place is nothing short of brilliant.
Of course Napalm death were know on the underground scene almost from their inception in 1981, those of us who knew our Venom and crass were aware of them, but to playing their tapes at home to suddenly hearing them on radio 1 was quite shocking!
Disc two features Carcass the band formed by future Napalm member Bill Steer again Peel was a fan and invited them in 1989 to record a session of songs from their fourthcoming Symphonies Of Sickness album.
Disc three returns to the Napalm connection with Godflesh, the band formed by their former guitarist Justin Broadrick.
Rating 10/10
For fans Of : Napalm Death, Extreme Noise Terror, Carcass, Bolt Thrower, Godflesh, Unseen Terror, Heresy, Intense Degree
STU
Saturday, 8 August 2009
BANGTOY - SPANK THE CAT EP (Cd Review)
Thursday, 6 August 2009
MALEFICENT, BANGTOY, GENERATION GRAVEYARD, POISON ZOOMAK Live at the Gaff 02.08.09 (Gig Review)
BANGTOY
GENERATION GRAVEYARD
POISON ZOOMAK
The Gaff, Holloway Road 02.08.09
POISON ZOOMAK
Very melodic glam tinged rock.The northampton quartet have a good sound, not quite the car crash they claim on their myspace, they entertain well enough but the singer/guitarist comes over as way too serious, great voice though.
GENERATION GRAVEYARD
You see this is what happens when you mix booze with GG Allin, Amen and FDQFP13...
A fucking amazing "in your face" punk/anti-glam rock n roll band with a real "Fuck you" attitude.
It was a short set full of energy and great songs, including an oustanding cover of GG Allin's classic 'Bite It You Scum'.
Here are 5 guys (Max - Vocals, Johnny - Drums, Pete & Spider - Guitars,Phil - Bass) who really just want to party on stage with songs like Murder Rock N Roll, All Hail Plague, Destroy Yourself and Bastard Throne.
They'd blow wednesday 13 off the stage any day, these guys are on it, its a dangerous show with Max throwing himself on and off the stage whilst the guitarists rip the place apart.
BANGTOY
First gig in over 10 years for the American rockers originaly known as Bang Toy 69.Now reformed by vocalist Frank he has put together a very impressive line up and one which quite honestly rocks!
It must have felt very odd playing a small club in Holloway after the bigger venues of the Usa, but it was a stadium worthy performance we were treated too.
Great songs like this are normally associated with the likes of Loverboy, Tesla or Skid Row and thats where Bangtoy belong and somehow i get the feeling that they will quickly gain mass recognition.
The set was full of life, frontman Frank is a true performer he sings with a big voice and gets the crowd involved throughout, he is backed by a first class band complete with a drummer who does fancy stick twiddling !Solid bassist and stunning guitarist.
Show stealers tonight were "Spank The Cat" im sure you can work out what thats about and the awesome "Your're Outta Luck" which worked the crowd up with one of the best sing-alongs i have ever seen at the gaff..... "cause im too drunk to fuck!".
MALEFICENT
Okay how can i put this ? they are werid, its sort of industrial goth with a slight metal edge, very dark and doomy.
They remind me of the 'Dresden Dolls', very theatrical and visually entertaining with the stunning Maleficent Martini stalking the stage in her underwear and the menacing Mortimer Cain on dual vocals.
Together with a masked guitarist they present a very atmospheric show held together by live drums and numerous samples on backing tapes.
Outstanding song tonight was their inspired cover of the Nick cave & Kylie song "Where The Wild Roses Grow".
They ended their set with a playout tape of the Baywatch theme!!!!!
STU
POISON ZOOMAK
GENERATION GRAVEYARD
Sunday, 2 August 2009
MAN OF KIN, KYRBGRINDER, FERAL, LAND OF KANE Live At The Underworld 30.07.09 (Gig Review)
KYRBGRINDER
FERAL
LAND OF KANE
Underworld, Camden 30.07.09
LAND OF KANE
The band features Aaron from Kyrbgrinder on lead guitar, they realy warmed up the audience and threw everything into their set.With a really good vocalist who reminded me of Paul DiAnno and Dave Wyndorf, as well as a solid rhythm section, all helped push their take on traditional heavy metal well above the average and worth checking out again.
FERAL
Bassist james quit the band the night before, should have been a disaster right?What happend was nothing short of brilliant, Man Of Kin's bassist Carl learned their set in a couple of hours and was note perfect, in fact his style of playing gave the songs a new edge that may have surprised everyone including the band.They played a short set but it was one of the most intense performances of their career to date, not one fuck up from any of them.
KYRBGRINDER
If its entertaiment and pure professionalisim wrapped up with top rate musicians and perfect melodic hard rock songs you want, then you need look no further than Kyrbgrinder.
Its a crime that so many shitty emo/alt bands get the publicity in the press when real talent such as this is ignored.
Every songs kicks and the audience loved every second, a stage invasion from the other bands for a mass headbanging session rounded off a stunning set.
MAN OF KIN
A year ago you would have said "Who?" tonight you would would have said "Wow".Their performances are always full of energy but tonight they excelled and proved to be a world class act that deserves major label attention now.From the opening drum beats to the final guitar chord they slayed a packed underworld, their groove/thrash metal turning normal headbangers into slam dancing crazies, add to that 2 circle pits and moshing you would think Devildriver were playing.
Vocalist Jaz introduced another new song to the set and put some real singing into the mix of his ususal screams and growls.
Having completed their set they were called back for an encore and finished off the crowd and venue with their metal medley.
STU
LAND OF KANE
FERAL