ADASTREIA, THE PROPHECY & CONQUEST OF STEEL
When three even half decent metal bands invade my hometown of Huddersfield it is something of a novelty because it is so rare that it happens! After all of the complaining I do about the Huddersfield metal scene…or lack thereof, to miss a gig like this one would make me something of a hypocrite.
Kicking off the night somewhat later than expected were Yorkshire’s very own metal warriors Conquest of Steel. After hearing all the hype that surrounded this band I finally managed to catch them earlier in the year at a packed out gig in Wakefield where if truth be told I wasn’t really impressed. Then again, I suppose even the greatest bands have their “off days” and so I was willing to give the band another chance.
Despite the absence of a bassist (who had broken his collarbone), Conquest of Steel battled through a steel fuelled set which went down a treat with the true metal heads in attendance. This was a fun packed half hour of head banging with a bombardment of metal odes so clichéd you can’t help but shout along to the instantly memorable lyrics with your air-sword at arms length. These warriors certainly do put on a show high in entertainment value, not sparing on the stage props and as the vocalist swaggers around the stage wielding a sword, I decide it is probably safer to remain at a distance as I watch them. Musically they pack a tight punch of old school heavy metal mayhem complete with galloping riffs, high pitched harmonies and a traditional metal sound that should cure any fix for classic Maiden-esque metal. A lively start to the evening.
Up next were Halifax doomsters The Prophecy. Last time I saw these they played to a crowd of scene kids who were none so appreciative and what remained of tonight’s crowd were a little more receptive to their misery inducing sound. Encompassing an equal blend of technicality and atmosphere, the sound fermented was thoroughly compelling and had me entranced from start to finish. Vocalist Matt Lawson bellows with the utmost conviction emitting feelings of despair with a tone of gothic beauty. Greg O’ Shea meanwhile grinds his axe with a great deal of technical precision being the livewire on stage that is surely out of place in a doom metal band. The Prophecy seem to have improved since the last time I saw them, if that’s even possible. This band are really going places.
I’ve managed to miss out on Adastreia on the few occasions when they have played locally and I must say that I was looking forward to seeing them play tonight. Unfortunately their set got off to a very disappointing start indeed as the sound quality was so bad it would have made Nightwish sound like a pub covers band (and a bad one at that!). The vocals were inaudible, the keyboards unnecessarily loud and the rest just sounded like noise flying around the room. Thankfully the sound did improve to some extent at least, although as much as I really tried to enjoy this band I couldn’t help but feel there was something missing. Alexandra has a great classical vocal style which would probably work well with the addition of a harsher sounding vocalist to balance things out, although her voice lacks the strength that some solo front women in metal possess. Adastreia have an ethereal sound which has a subtle leaning towards black metal while utilising some heavy chugging riffs which add a layer of intensity to the atmosphere. While I quite enjoyed the songs on CD, in the live setting I couldn’t help but feel that the songs could have done with being just that little bit shorter. Hopefully next time I catch this band the sound won’t be such an issue.
Luci Herbert
THE PARISH, HUDDERSFIELD 19/05/07