IMMOLATION, KRISIUN, GRAVE & DAWN OF AZAZEL
Dawn Of Azazel were onstage as we walked into the venue. Think they started early to get an extended set and they deserved one having come all the way from New Zealand. Huge and formidable singer, bassist Rigel (who bore more than a little passing resemblance to David Vincent) was a canvas of tattoos and you wouldn’t mess in the slightest as the trio set about painting the soundtrack to Armageddon. Brand new song with the snappy title of ‘Fornication Revelation’ was pretty nasty and unrelenting and certainly set the mood for a night of musical slaughter. I was amused at the way the singer had a nice clean white towel draped over the microphone stand, appreciate the fact he needed it but a sheep’s skull would have been a more fitting ornament. Older numbers like Sedition tore through the venue and those just walking in certainly seemed to enjoy this antipodean display of barbarity. (PW)
After a nice little mangling from down under, came Grave; veterans of the scene, who only recently played at the Islington Academy on a memorable day for death metal fans. Things got going with a nice Omen intro (always good!) followed by the excellent “Turning Black” off the much lauded Soulless album. This track sounded great and the mid-paced bruiser was a real teaser for what was to come. “Pain” off their latest album was received excellently with the first stage-diving of the night, luckily resulting in a lack of pain for the individual involved. “Soulless” was up next, and is a crowd favourite even although it was not delivered here with the fervour that perhaps it deserved. Saying that, Grave and singer/guitarist Ola Lindgren DID have to contend the microphone stand causing as much consternation as it could! (To the extent of having it replaced with one as dodgy as the first!) Even so, Grave manage to rip through several more tracks with “And here I die” being pounded out much to the Underworld’s delight! A professional and tight set, Grave set the dark tone for the rest of the night and finish with the song that started things off for them and before we know it, they bid us farewell. An impressive performance.
Brazilian band Krisiun always excite me. Not in a biblical sense. Well, not in public anyway! But let’s face it. Krisiun look the part and on this night, as usual, they proved that they are the part. Bearded frontman Alex Camargo’s rapport with the Underworld’s swelling audience helped fuel what was a wonderfully vicious pit and the fervour with which they played had the crowd baying for more. From the older “Vengeance’s Revelation” to “Vicious Wrath” and “Refusal” off the AssassiNation release, Krisiun were as near faultless as you could get. I’d even go as far as saying that the atmosphere, sound and visual display put on show was pure METAL!! in the most communally aggressive of ways. Tracks such as “Murderer” were delivered with such a combination of brutality and tightness that it had the effect of shifting material in the lower parts of the abdomen – if you catch my drift! But the real strength of the performance was how Krisiun translate the energy and passion in their song writing to their work onstage, and all who witnessed the night’s set will agree that they ARE one of the best live acts out there. “Creative Scourge” and “Bloodcraft” finish the set off, and the Underworld is left wondering whether even the mighty Immolation can match such a professional yet barbaric display of metal. More, more, more!!
I’ll admit it. I’m biased. I’ve seen this band so many times and am a fan of their warped, brutal and yet often groove filled take on death metal. They have always delivered over the years; both live and in the studio. It was going to be very interesting to see how the new material was received, as with a stable line-up, the newer songs are shorter, groovier and very “to the point”! Immolation did not disappoint. New songs were interwoven with older favourites and the audience lapped it up! “Passion Kill” came across well with it’s groovy, bass driven riff keeping the song moving along nicely, to be followed up by the popular “Into Everlasting Fire”. Bob Vigna’s passionate and energetic guitar movements were a pleasure to behold next to Dolan’s mass of moving hair!! I have always thought that Ross Dolan had one of the most originally evil vocal styles in the whole scene, so to hear his affable New York accent, and witness his congenial manner with the crowd is always quite surprising!! It’s no wonder they are popular though, as the friendly banter is always matched by a ferocious display. Tonight’s display is however, simply breathtaking. “Challenge the Storm” literally turned the mosh-pit into a force nine gale, and the Dawn of Azazel singer (top, top man!!) has to do overtime in helping the band avoid getting swept off with a swarm of would be divers!! There truly was no let up in the evening’s set, and new track “World Agony” sat very comfortably alongside favourites like “No Jesus, no Beast” and “Of Martyrs and Men”. Tracks which brutalised the Underworld ( and my body) before the closing sounds of “Harnessing Ruin” finished off the night’s melee. As Ross Dolan said very graciously during the set; the night doesn’t just belong to one band, it belongs to all the bands. I think anyone who witnessed this display of savage and brutal metal would heartily agree! Right……I’m off for a lie down to recover from one of the most enjoyable evenings I’ve had in a long while. (AD)
Andy Duke & Pete Woods
LONDON UNDERWORLD 18/05/07