MONSTER MAGNET, SEVENTH VOID & EXIT INTERNATIONAL –
LONDON ELECTRIC BALLROOM - 27/11/10
Where is everyone, it’s early doors but? Well they are probably not stupidly standing in the freezing cold and trying to drink a can of cider which is doing its best to take all the skin off their lip. Warmth at last and the first band Exit International are quickly on stage following an intro that from the bar, sounds like a burst of hip-hop. I have never heard of this lot and have no idea what to expect at all. They sound American, going at things with guitars blazing and a mindset that reminds me of Sonic Youth a bit, now I learn they are actually from Cardiff. This trio are noisy and violent and are not so much warming us up as giving us electric shock therapy. Reminiscent to a large extent of grunge they may be very much out of fashion but do not care in the slightest. A few people wandering in however look bemused, wondering if they were at the wrong show. If I had gone to see The Pixies, I would definitely have thought I was in the right place and as some Big Black sounding guitar work and a song about hating God shoots out the speakers I can only really approve.
Perhaps when you have a band who are “broke, tired, hungry and horny” it is going to give their performance an edge and I was instantly blown away as Seventh Void romped into ‘Killing You Slow.’ No disrespect to the dead but there was always a certain hit or miss spontaneity about Type O Negative live, but Seventh Void featuring two members of the band were 3000 miles from home with plenty to prove and were going to make the most of it. I absolutely love the new album and was very happy to hear the title track ‘Heaven Is Gone’ up next with full thickly chugging guitar and bass rumbling out the speakers and Kenny Hickey’s vocals sounding glorious as they hit the rafters. The band were the perfect support but still the place was far from full and more should have got here early to catch this weighty Brooklyn doom and bow down before it. Apparently we bore witness to ‘the Russian Guido death metal claw, at least I think that is what was said regarding bassist Hank Hell. Also we were told he was likely to be found face down with a lollipop up his ass later, ok! The set packed as much off the new album into it as possible with rousing numbers like ‘Broken Sky’ doing the business. Just before they finished there were a few familiar licks from ‘World Coming Down’ and glasses raised in remembrance to that voice that will never be forgotten.
How do Monster Magnets work? Well they attract people! Admittedly that is an awful pun but coming out the photo pit and trying to get to the bar at the back it was evident the venue was now packed, wall to wall. Prior to this up front and personal, it was the first time I had caught Monster Magnet for some years. The band post Ed Mundell seemed to have no problem hitting their groove and as they blew into the first couple of numbers ‘Nod Scene’ and ‘Tractor’ they pretty much flattened us with their intensity. Dave Wyndorf looked healthy and commanded things from the front as guitarists and bassist duelled away at sides of the stage. There was some head melting sonic feedback and plenty of power riffing as we went from ‘Dopes To Infinity’ and the psychedelic flavours of the music itself were enough to leave you 
feeling stoned. I was at the back before the first blast from new album ‘Mastermind’ was dropped and ‘Hallucination Bomb’ had a very heavy load about it and it was evident that many in the packed house have the album already and were getting on down to this. Even from the back Dave’s voice stretched across the waters where I kind of felt myself shipwrecked and needing to push forward. At this rate next show is going to have to be at Brixton. ‘Dig That Hole’ was another new one and having listened to the album a couple of times today I was really getting into this.
Cries of ‘whoa baby’ from the singer aside it was next time to ‘Look To Your Orb For The Warning’ and the whole place was going down to it and loving every second. The best was yet to come and for me the excellent Hawkwind number ‘The Right Stuff’ followed by ‘Space Lord’ was the highlight of an exceptionally good and very powerful set. Everyone was singing along to the latter with the word ‘Motherfucker’ ringing in our ears. Not done yet, there was time for a few more, I have to admit I was hungering for a new one I did not get, namely ’10 Million Miles’ but it was ‘Gods And Punks’ instead and to finally finish us off ‘Power Trip.’ For an hour and half the band had us in their grasp and played an absolute blinder and were completely on fire. There is no denying that this was oh so monolithic baby!
Pete Woods
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