ABSU, PANTHEON I, RAZOR OF OCCAM, & ZOROASTER
LONDON UNDERWORLD 03/11/09
Living a stones throw from the only official Zoroastrian UK temple I plumped to review the band with the somewhat odd name, which I probably would not have a clue about its meaning unless the religious group had taken over my old local cinema. As for the band from Atlanta I had a quick listen earlier and thought they were a slightly odd choice for the bill especially as Clutch were down the road and this lot shared big beards and big riffs with them. Thankfully they were a lot more dynamic and interesting (sorry Clutch fans) and had a meaty sound, playing to the max from the off. Bret Anderson strummed away on bass, bent over his microphone and a heavy droning noise shook the foundations and rattled us around. This was heavy and heady, sludgy and pudgy, like being smacked around the head by the fat school bully and left in a heap on the playground floor bleeding from the ears. As seemed to be the score tonight the bands were happy to keep both us and themselves entertained tonight with revolving line-ups and the trio onstage were joined by members of Pantheon I for a lead-lined jam that was akin from having been in the midst of a heavy spliff session and having someone bring the bong out. That particular unnamed song was described as a ‘molten chuggathon’ by my notes and I think that’s a pretty good description. I am sure the words ‘The Ancient Ones’ were yelled out during the last number, perhaps they were trying to invoke something nasty and I am sure I could also hear chanting monks behind the guitar deluge. There was certainly a religiosity about this Zoroaster and their flame burned with strength and might. (PW)
And so as Razor Of Occam step up the religious theme carries on as vocalist Matt snarls out that it’s all a disease, before sinking teeth into ‘Bite of Dogmata.’ With half of Destroyer666 in this band you can be sure you’re in for a set of blackened thrashing mayhem and having drawn Absu comparisons in my review of Homage To Martyrs earlier this year these were a perfect support for the Sumerian demons. The Aussies, armed with studded guitar straps and bullet belts are prepared for war! Bassist Alex especially looks poised for battle; he’s really going for it pulling some truly mean expressions that would have me believe that his guitar doubled up as a machine gun. They don’t fuck about with the unnecessary; they are about as subtle as a guillotine and aim to slice straight through flesh with their razor sharp attack. Certainly on such tracks as ‘Altar Of Corruption’ the guitars are really cutting and metallic while vocals are delivered with a high level of ferocity that clearly provokes one guy who suddenly decides it’d be fun to bash me on the head with a newspaper – most amusing! Their set seems to go by very quickly which is probably a good sign and overall this was thoroughly enjoyable. (LH)
I was looking forward to Pantheon I, the Norwegian band has three past and present members of 1349 and their latest album ‘Worlds I Create’ is one I have been really getting into. There was plenty of dry ice and atmosphere as the orchestral intro cloaked the stage. Lead singer Andrè Kvebek reminded of a hairy wookie as he grabbed the microphone and the group burst into ‘Serpent Christ.,’ which got those at the front headbanging along. Of course a lot of the audience attention was cast upon the gorgeous cello player Julianne Kostøl who plays the orchestral parts live and has had the dubious pleasure of spending the entire tour on the night-liner as the only lady amongst 20 men. It is hard to replicate the sound from the strings in a place with the acoustics like the Underworld however and despite the fact that Julianne was obviously very much in action her parts were not as focused as they deserved. The drums were though and sounded particularly thunderous behind the mighty swagger of ‘The Last Stand.’ It was one of those nights for swapping and sharing (not bodily fluids I hasten to add) and visitors from Zoroaster joined in on ‘The Wanderer And His Shadow.’ Our English culture was hailed as far as both our drinking prowess and Alan Partridge were concerned which makes me wonder if that is how all other Europeans look at us! This was a pretty full on and fast and frantically eviscerated set which climaxed with ‘Where Angels Burn.’ Hopefully this was not the last we will see of the band over here as they were formidable and impressive. (PW)
Over the PA a classical piece plays out; a calm before the Cythraulian storm which certainly builds up suspense as the Texas Sumerians, Absu, arrive on stage to a ground shaking rumble. It’s something of a novelty to watch a band fronted from the back, so to speak, with Proscriptor being the man behind the mic and the drumkit; it’s an arrangement that I struggled to imagine could work but the performance didn’t suffer one bit. ‘Apzu’ is the first familiar track that comes hurtling out of the PA and it sounds quite fucking deadly to put it lightly. There’s that rawness to their sound with primitive, scraping guitars and on tracks like ‘Highland Tyrant Attack’ there’s a solid blast of pulverising old-school thrash to back it all up that reminds a little of Destruction, yet weaved in its midst is a magickal element that really gives them a much darker occult edge. There’s a militant seriousness to their attack, and ‘Night Fire Canonization’ spearheads forward while I listen in at the bar to an amusing interrogation of an un-metal barman who quite clearly wouldn’t be heading over to the merch table after his shift. I must say I was a little disappointed at the lack of songs from the recent self-titled album given how excellent it is, but nevertheless hearing numbers like ‘Swords And Leather’ and ‘Manannan’ is enough to let them off. Bassist Ezezu shares vocal duties with Proscriptor and it works especially well on this one as the vocal lines bounce off one another while the crowd appears to be doing the same. The night wouldn’t be complete without at least one blast on the bagpipes, and with that they end things with an encore of ‘Never Blow Out The Eastern Candle'. (LH)
Pete Woods and Luci Herbert
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