OBITUARY, HOLY MOSES & AVATAR
LONDON ULU 03/02/08
Always good to come to the ULU! Nice venue, good view, and for me, the sound has always been pretty good! Also, if we’re being perfectly honest, when it comes to a choice between here and the Fridge, it really is a no-brainer! (nothing to do with draught Guinness on tap at all....erm!) The first band to grace our presence was Swedish band Avatar. Unfortunately for them, the venue was not even close to being one third full, so in terms of a crowd reaction to the band – well, you could say it was sadly lacking. But, for the 25 minutes or so that they were on the stage, the five piece from Gothenburg played with energy and enthusiasm. Lots of headbanging from the guitarists, and a good effort to front the night’s performance from singer Johannes, the band (sounding like a cross between At The Gates and early era Soilwork) perform well on the night. Even if it must have seemed like they were playing to some locals down the Dog and Duck, such was the crowd in attendance. Closing off their set with “When the Darkest Hour Comes”, Avatar showed themselves to be a band with a future ahead of them, even if at times the performance did seem a little too choreographed and stiff for my liking during certain songs. (AD)
It has been a while since Holy Moses played the UK, well not even in my memory but during the set Sabina Classen informed us that it had actually been a full 18 years. Well the band had really impressed me the couple of times I have caught them in Germany and it was great that the venue had suddenly filled up and there was a big pile up down the front as they launched into ‘Master Of Disaster’. An institution in Germany in my opinion this lot are wholly underrated in our country and they set about storming away for the next 45 minutes with songs from their 21 year existence, with old barnstormers such as ‘In The Slaughterhouse’ providing a good old fashioned culling. The bass sound was particularly heady in the mix and with the vocalists cutting rasps we were getting knocked silly around in the pit as I tried to get some photos. Sabina gobbed water all over my head and at the same time almost a pint of beer got knocked out my hand doh! Security looked on bemused as the 1st stage-diver of the night clambered up and launched into the crowd. The ULU has a high stage so it is perfect for acrobatics. The hits kept on coming and this was the perfect support for Obituary as it really got the audience fired up. I have to think that perhaps the likes of Arch Enemy should take this lot on the road with them though, Sabina could definitely teach Angela a thing or too and being veterans they deserve to play some bigger shows. Finishing off as always with a cover of Dead Kennedy’s classic ‘Too Drunk To Fuck,’ one can only hope they don’t leave it another 18 years. (PW)
Having missed Obituary’s earlier previous performance at the Underworld, I was literally salivating at the prospect of seeing them. When the boys from Florida renewed their illustrious career with “Frozen In time”, I was pleased. But with “Xecutioner’s Return”, I was quite frankly pissing my pants with excitement! (As much as a geriatric who’s one away from a full house on bingo night, I may add!) In particular, I was interested to see how the new material would come across live, and how Ralph Santolla had fitted into the band. Put simply, Obituary kicked ass. I don’t think anyone leaving the ULU on Sunday night would have been disappointed. For all the times I have seen them play, this had to be one of their best performances. Belting out older songs like “Find The Arise” and “Turned Inside Out” early on in their set , I have never seen a band enjoy themselves so much on stage, while literally wreaking havoc with the this tight as hell showing. Newer tracks like the powerhouse “Evil Ways” were received by the crowd as if they had always been there, and Santolla on guitar adds the extra something to any band - his confidence and fluidity with the solos stunning throughout. The pit was a swirling mass of vicious intent throughout the lesson in live performances and even with pen and pad in hand, I was sorely tempted to get beaten black and blue just to get more involved in the electric atmosphere that had been conjured. “Threatening Skies”, “By The Light” and “Insane” all go down well, and there isn’t one song that disappoints. John Tardy and his voice are an institution in death metal, and the enjoyment that he was having could just about be seen beneath his Aslan-like locks. The guys even managed to entertain before their encore, with a Donald Tardy drumming solo, followed by a battle of the guitarists. (Santolla may have edged it......but I’m biased!) Finishing off with the groovy “Second Chance” off “Xecutioner’s....” and “Slowly We Rot” from their debut album, Obituary really have come full circle. Seven full studio albums into a twenty year career, this was the mark of a band that is in the ascendancy again. Simply awesome! (AD)
Andy Duke & Pete Woods
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