SEREGON + ELIMINATION + FLAYED DISCIPLE
THE GAFF, HOLLOWAY ROAD, LONDON - 26/11/09
This evening’s gig was a stop off in London for this touring package courtesy of Resilience Records (get well soon Jamie). Seregon have been right on my radar for a couple of years now and having finally got a copy of their new EP (‘Disposable Suffering’), it justifiably displays their heavy, intense thrash approach. Opening band FLAYED DISCIPLE from the Somerset area are a bit of an oddity on this bill. A death metal band, however, it is not often that I am taken aback by a live performance and this was surprising as, whilst possessing a very good sound, they did not have a bass player on stage. Okay, the drums were triggered to the max but this gave them a dynamic sound and a bass was not really needed. Taking a liking to Zombies, this especially found favour with one female member of the audience, in fact the only paying punter stage front apart from the other bands watching. ‘Dead Disfigured Babies’ and ‘Drawn Viscera’ may not be wholesome titles but the music that went with them was simply magical. This is a band to watch out for in the future no doubt about it.
ELIMINATION (UK) have found favour with a couple of Metal Team scribes in recent months, and tonight’s “true metal” display reminds the listener of Iced Earth and Conquest of Steel. The latter very much emulated by Elimination’s on stage performance. Retro as hell, brand new hi-tops and a passion for throwing shapes in the guitars, this was pretty tight, although the sound is sometimes lost with the vocals especially being quiet. ‘Destroyed by Creation’ and ‘Straight To Hell’ display their talents and finally gets some crowd participation at the front; although it’s debatable that too much alcohol was drunk this evening, to the point where it starts to distract my viewing of the band to watch the audience shenanigans. Still a good show, probably worth spending more time on the soundcheck however, but no one can deny the bands enthusiasm and maturing stage show since the last time I saw this band.
For me, this evening was all about seeing SEREGON again. True gents of the scene and never short of happy comedy banter either. From retro-listening to their new EP, it’s clear that Seregon have upped the heaviness stakes, this is displayed perfectly in their live performance. It is VERY heavy and fast! Newer tracks like ‘Fuck Shit Up’ and ‘Disposable Suffering’ are fine slabs of metal whilst older “classics” like ‘Kingdom of the Blind’ still hold their own and grab the listener by the balls and drag you into these Bristol chaps world. Alex Hagues guitar work is stunning and James Moore’s vocals merciless. I get another chance in a couple of weeks to see this band and I cannot wait. One of the UK’s premier unsigned bands, and this is something I cannot believe, but best of luck and until the next time, it’s been emotional!
Unfortunately, this is another venue that starts gigs late and finishes long after it reasonable to get home via public transport. Local headliners DAMNAS apparently suffered a lack of attendance which is a crying shame. It is only the bands that suffer in the end with venues opening later, but when it is planned to start the headline band at 11pm, its always going to be tough, especially running a further 30 minutes behind schedule. Although it’s the capital city the public transport sucks for those who travel a fair way into Zone 1. These smaller venues should take note from the established venues; bands get fairer treatment with more people hanging around to watch them, especially mid-week shows when they finish at a reasonable time.
Paul Maddison
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