BURIAL + VORTEX
DURHAM FISHTANK 25/9/11
It’s been over 16 years since I attended a gig in my town of origin; timing was such on a visit back up north that I was able to attend this show. The venue is new to me, I knew it as a place to go and have fish and chips in my youth! The venue is named suitably, it is very small, if you got 30 to 50 people in here tonight, it’s going to be horrible! Buzzing from the thought of going to a gig outside of London, I was reminded that the usual tardiness of gigs outside of London is still very much an issue. Doors open 7.30pm, First band on just after 9pm, this was a little bit annoying, especially as I only saw between four and twelve paying guests including me, the other people in the small bar were parents and friends of the opening band and band/crew of the travelling headliner, but at least this town is beginning to get a local scene going again, as far I was concerned, you had to go to Newcastle for anything remotely resembling a scene nowadays, I am duly proved wrong and encouraged at the same time.
The turnout did not hamper the events following the intense start to the live music by local band VORTEX. This is a young thrash band, some aspects of their tracks played indulged into some melodic death metal, but this was mainly down to the intense vocal style of singer/guitarist Luke Elton. I was impressed with their hardware, their guitars, I admit to being a guitar freak, but at least they can play them. When lead guitarist Daniel Jordan let loose around the fret board, man, there was no stopping him or them. A thunderous track like ‘Warspeed’ should be a staple diet for any thrash fan and songs about the Saw movies (‘Rancid Manifestation’) gives me the general impression of tight musicianship and a clear love for what they are doing. Not forgetting their influences, Vortex play out a stellar cover of the mighty Exodus’ ‘Bonded By Blood’. All in all, it is refreshing to find new talent, Vortex are a thrash band that deserves some recognition, although members are in their formative years, this is one band that have really practiced hard in their mere 2 year existence and the fruits of their labour are evident in their live performance.
Headliners BURIAL from Manchester, look that little bit more experienced as they take to the end of the room that resembles a floor level stage. Immediately there is a clear musical genre change, the sound is immense and the guitar work complex raising horns to the blackened death metal genre. I don’t feel as much love for this band if I am honest. This is a style very popular and witnessed in abundance around the country. But for all my lack of enthusiasm for their music, Burial are a tight unit and are clearly dedicated to their cause playing black/death tunes from their ‘Dissidence’ self-released EP and such forth creating a total eerie and deafening end to the weekend.
Paul Maddison
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