SUSPERIA, EVILE, DEMAGOGUE AND LIGATURE
A few days before this gig was due to take place Entombed were forced to cancel due to a death in the family of Alex Hellid. If that wasn’t bad enough the shock news that Onslaught were also forced to cancel as Sy Keeler needed emergency surgery followed. So what the hell is the promoter of the show supposed to do? Well Arcane took it on the chin, found two other bands at incredibly short notice and dropped the ticket price substantially. Unfortunately this meant a pretty empty venue and a big loss but at least a professional attitude was maintained and the likes of ass-clowns Metallysee should certainly take note.
Those that did turn up certainly got a good night of metal. First up were a name from the past Ligature who have just got back in action with a new singer Nick and were angrier than ever. The vocalist refused top be trapped on the stage and prowled the dance-floor giving a hardcore intensity to both the music and presence of the band. Although Ligature retain their old thrash sensibilities there is now an essence of death, grind and at times even hints of punk and doom about them. I was a bit reminded of the likes of Stampin' Ground in a brawl with Napalm Death on numbers like ‘What’s In The Basket?’(actually I dread to think). Others like ‘One Man War’ almost stomped the heads and cracked the ribs of those unsuspecting souls filtering into the venue. As for closer of this short sharp shocking set MDK the letters stand for Murder Death Kill in case you were in any doubt. Look forward to the debut album, just don’t leave it another decade lads.
Demagogue have certainly been getting a serious name for themselves and this was the first time I had actually managed to catch them and was looking forward to hearing how the songs from debut album Ruin would sound live. Fluid and progressive and highly talented was my immediate thoughts as ‘Sterile Ways’ forged its way out the speakers with a meaty gravity. This is the sort of group who are going to appeal to the musicians and players out there. I was reminded of the complexity of the likes of Gojira and Hacride and musically Opeth and newcomers Memfis. Demagogue are certainly not the sort of band you have a chance of getting your head round on a 1st listen. ‘The Wound Forever Open’ slowed with a proggy vibe before launching into a wild fiery riffing assault borne on by singer Frank Allain’s growling roar. The flow between heavy and mellow passages certainly were handled with dexterity and firm favourite of mine ‘The Last Betrayal’ finished a great set from a band you are sure to be hearing plenty of in the future.
Evile certainly put Huddersfield on the heavy metal map when Earache signed the youngsters up. A name I have heard loads but this was my first musical experience with them and it was one I had been looking forward to. ‘Enter The Grave’ was certainly old school by both title and delivery. This was Testament, Anthrax, Metallica and Megadeth all rolled into one along with a backbone of Slayer’s Angel Of Death. ‘Killer From The Deep’ adopted more of a speed thrash sort of style clashing with Suicidal Tendencies and DRI. Matt Drake has the perfect voice to go with the headlong rampage of the music and if there had only been more people here we could certainly have answered that classic question, “what is it? Caught in a Mosh!” The one thing that I did think at times was that I was watching a covers band playing songs I didn’t quite recognise but the retro kick was definitely there and one can see why this lot are so popular, although on first impression that spark that label mates Municipal Waste have wasn’t quite there for me. To be fair though that could be due to the atmosphere and I am sure they would have kicked my butt in a fuller venue. Those that did catch them were certainly nursing sore necks by the end of the set.
I have to be honest I wasn’t looking forward to headliners Susperia. I have seen them a few times and never liked them and wasn’t expecting to change my mind now. Perhaps it was due to the amount of booze that had gone down my neck but that’s exactly what happened. I had noted that new album ‘Cut From Stone’ had an edge over what I have heard before on a quick listen before sending it on to review. The writer that got it certainly seemed to think so and strangely from the second they burst into opener from it ‘More’ well that’s exactly what I wanted.
There was plenty of heavy metal posturing on stage and the band certainly didn’t seem to care less that there were only a handful of people in front of them; they gave it 100% and then some. Getting into the spirits of things I wasn’t even put off by the ‘hey, hey’ chants that normally have me cringing and songs such as ‘Release’ and ‘Chemistry’ were powerful enough to make me think that I may certainly have been unfair on this lot in the past. Basically my notes ran out early into the set, the beer didn’t and I seem to remember spending a good part of the rest of the show head banging. Concluding it all with ‘Home Sweet Hell’ Athera and crew had finally won me over and although I’m not rushing off to pick up their back catalogue I am pleased to have stuck around to watch them.
Pete Woods
LONDON UNDERWORLD 07/05/07
All that was needed to conclude a great night of metal was a punch up with one of Camden’s crack street tramps but that’s another story.