36 CRAZY FISTS + TWELVE TRIBES
Coming into this gig after extensive touring was always going to be easy for the two bands, and both proved that the hellish amount of hard work they have both put in has paid off.
Twelve Tribes, who were formed in 1997 in Dayton, Ohio were first up. I personally hadn’t seen or heard much from these guys, and didn’t know what to expect, so gave it the benefit of the doubt. How surprised was I.
Having previously toured with the likes of Killswitch Engage, Hatebreed and Soulfly, this hard hitting five piece put in a classic of a set, what a way to build up the sell out crowd for the headlining band. Vocalist Adam Jackson, with his powerful throaty voice put a gritty edge to the metal grinding sounds that guitarists Andrew Corpus and Kevin Schindel were pounding out. The thumping bass of new recruit Jeremiah Stikeleather and power drummer Shane Shook (and Shook he definitely did!) only increasing the metal thrashing mad vibe that was going through the crowd.
Tracks like National Amnesia and Muzzle Order only proving their rightful presence upon this stage.
Twelve Tribes go onto their own Full European Headlining tour with Bridge to Solace and Raging Speedhorn after this support slot tour with 36 Crazy Fists, and are definitely worth catching.
The temperature outside during the day had already hit the 20’s, and as we’ll all know that is unusual for the UK at this time of year. So it was of little surprise, that with a sell-out crowd, an excellent support band and alcohol fuelled moshing going on the temperature was only set to rise. And boy did it rise.
Alaska bred melodic metal band 36 Crazyfists, with their inspirational, positive yet aggressive metal rage arrived, and to say that the crowd went wild would be understatement of the day. The band has a particularly big following in Europe, and this also speaks for the UK.
Vocalist Brock Lindow, bouncing around the stage like a demented metal Olympian delivering fierce streams of torturous, yet powerful tones, backed with power fuelled drum, bass and guitar immediately has the crowd in a frenzy. The moshpit rose to the occasion, and it was long before we were privy to that wonderful crowd movement “crowd surfing”. With bodies flying everywhere, water, beer and sweat being projected left right and centre, it was hard to avoid overall awe of the whole set.
36 Crazyfists having released their third album of energetic modern anthems surged their stomping rhythms outward and through the venue. It is easy to see why they have been embraced by thousands, and are playing main stages at some of the biggest rock festivals on the continent. “Rest inside the Flames” offers a refreshing take on strength and expression. Tracks like “I’ll go until my heart stops” and “Elysium” offer massive, brutal beats with other tracks offering pain-stricken vocals and guitar arpeggio, before moving onto slamming betas and angular riffs.
With the temperature at over 30 something, a sell out crowd and two extremely good live bands, I was somewhat happy that I had made the effort.
I expect more “big things” from both of these bands. Watch out for them on a big stage at a Big Festival soon, they have both definitely earned that.
Now, to the back catalogue………….
John Lambeth
SOUNDHAUS, NORTHAMPTON 14/04/07