LIVE REVIEW: Metal 2 The Masses: Heat Three live revie

A DAMP chilly night on Belfast’s Fountain Street was no match for the hot powerful metal that was giving everyone shelter within the confines of Voodoo under the watchful eye of The Distortion Project’s own James Loveday.

Tonight was Heat Three of the clash of metal on metal for Metal2TheMasses, with four bands stepping up on their quest to find a place at Bloodstock 2018.

The first into the fray was Indominus, melodic death metal merchants from the Belfast area.

They had a hard, heavy and thunderous set with thrumming riffage and growling vocals full of menace to let the crowd know who they were.

While there was some movement from the band members, the bassist was a centre point banging off into the crowd every so often with an energy that helped stir up the headbangers there for a good night. They delivered a good set, if only slightly offset by drowned out vocals, but a great effort and well received.

Next up was Acid Age, who interestingly introduced the crowd to the intricacies of thrash fiddling (or
violin for those slightly more cultured).

Eyebrows were raised but this soon changed to delight as this strange combination worked well.

The band were definitely enjoying themselves on stage and on the floor as the singer joined the moshers from time to time. The crowd were really getting into the set and there was even audience participation with a metaller given a mike to sing along – delivering a fair performance himself. They gave a rhythmically diverse performance with some excellent heavy rhythm and blues in the last song.

Thunderwolf, a band from Armagh, came on next and the floor was quite obviously packed now. What was going to happen now? Well, what happened was a very tight band, with fantastic stage presence and interaction with the audience, delivered the best set of the night. By a mile.

No disservice to any of the other bands, but Thunderwolf were fantastic. They rocked the place with melodic heavy riffage, great clear vocals, and songs that got everyone moshing and headbanging like demented demons. They really made even the jaded metallers there stop and take notice. If Iron Maiden did thrash, they would be called Thunderwolf.

With their pumping drums, aggressive melodic bass riffs, screaming and chugging guitars they would fit perfectly performing on screen in the likes of Altered Carbon or Blade Runner. They absolutely nailed it.

And to finish off the night came Wardomized, grindcore from the Belfast/Lisburn area, giving all they got in front of a still animated and enthused crowd of moshers.

They had an aggressive energy that did not stop throughout their set along with yet more audience participation. Heavy growling vocals, pounding drums, heavy bass and melodic guitar swaying between lightning fast and slow produced a cacophony of thrashing kept the moshers happy.

All four bands delivered their own great performances, though there was one clear winner, Thunderwolf. Also joining them in the next heat is Acid Age.

The fourth heat of M2TM will be at Voodoo on Saturday, 3 March featuring PERIAPT
RULE OF SIX, RUSTY TASTE OF SWEETNESS and SKYPILOT.

Review by Ivor Whitten

LIVE REVIEW: Heft and heaviness as Overoth, Cursed Sun and Wardomized bring the metal to The Limelight

SATURDAY evening - a time to wind down after a hard week's work. Maybe check out the evening football match...or chug a beer or six at the weekly celebration of all things heavy at The Distortion Project in Limelight2.

Of course, it is an almost weekly gathering of the devoted, a semi-religious shamanic experience, best epitomised by the headliners on Saturday (20th August) Overoth, with stage layered with smoke, candles and incense...

As usual Mr Loveday pulled together three relatively diverse acts that complimented each other in the heft and heaviness.

Openers Wardomized have quite a challenge to enliven the slowly filling venue and do themselves no favours by opening with two tracks emphasising their inkling towards sludge, doom and grind. Such a slowed down beginning would be better suited to the middle of their set with 'Strained' a tune that could serve as a breather...

The band seem more comfortable - as well as the audience - when they up the pace. 'Tribal Warfare' and the fun 'Suicide Death Rock' get things moving before new track 'Red Death (Flows Through My Veins)' showcases ambitions for the future.

Wardomized have come far over the last 12-14 months. It's time for them to knuckle down to a process of continuous improvement if they want to shift up the bill.

 Cursed Sun have played all parts of any bill and are always comfortable on stage. With forthcoming ep 'The Amygdala' almost ready for release there is a sense that the band are gearing up for a major step forward. Tracks from the ep were aired tonight, including two songs that seemed perfect for the live setting, the opening two, 'Primordial Chaos' and 'Breeding from Bleeding'.


Overall they manage that delicate balance of composure and craftsmanship that leads to a combustible set, sparkling with energy and a metallic joie de vivre.

Jonesy is the focal point of the contemporary heavy edge, as the sound rages around in wave after wave; melody punctuating the assault as Jonny's solos slam with more edge and volume compared to some recent outings.

Indeed this is a performance that has a freshness about it. Sure, as expected Jonesy joins the crowd, sure the rhythm section is tight as a shark's ass, but what was noticeable was the hunger. They have ambitions and they have the poise to position themselves to realise those ambitions.

Similarly Overoth are realising their ambitions with each and every performance - the drama is but a stage dressing as much as the smeared faces. All would be for nothing if the music was not a force of nature.

Andy is a commanding presence, towering over the audience like a colossus, cowering the unbelievers. His bass the anchor holding the delivery of the songs that are attack the venue as if faced with a row of enemies instead of acolytes at the band's altar of death.

'Kingdom of Shadows' is the most familiar of the tunes, but 'Winter of Iniquity' and 'God of Delusion' were stand-outs, with Daniel and Andrew intent on a delivery of synchronicity few can surpass.

It would be easy amidst the formidable trio at the front of the stage to overlook the contribution of Jay on drums, but on the likes of the début song 'The Keeper' and opener 'Sigil of The Empty Throne' the solidity of the beating is added to with flourishes and punctuation.

New track 'The Keeper' holds it place in the set, and with the band ready to release a new album it bodes well for their continual ascent towards the death metal throne.

Review and pics by Jonny (reproduction by written permission only)

 

COMIN' ATCHA - Gama Bomb set to blast The Empire

THERE are a lot of gigs coming up in the days, weeks and months ahead. Enough to bankrupt your average rocker and metalhead...

Before you plunge headlong into your savings accounts and divest yourself of any investments that you have collect your coppers and 5p pieces and count them all out for Saturday night.

The venerable Belfast Empire is hosting a thrash-fest on the 16th July...

Headlining are those Newry thrashers, Gama Bomb. If you have never seen Philly and co live then don't hang your head in shame - just rack up to the Botanic Avenue venue to see the thrash trope given a huge intravenous injection of humour.

And, you'll learn more about Robocop than you could ever wish for...You'll understand when you see 'em live as well as the (alleged) William Defoe's drug habits.

Also on the bill are Rabid Bitch of the North. Joe and his merry metal compadres are preparing for their appearance at Bloodstock in less than four weeks.

They bring the classic metal sound bang up to date with a fast and furious flourish. Did we mention they're playing Bloodstock?

The thrash-tastcic Scimitar will be bringing their monstrous visions of medieval conflict and modern injustices to a soundtrack of the apocalypse.

Opening the evening are Wardomized. Just two years after their début release come see how these maniacs have evolved.

Tickets, priced at the very reasonable price of £12, that works out at £3 per band... See ya there.

Gama Bomb

LIVE REVIEW: Metal2TheMasses NI Heat One sees metallic assaults and enthusiastic response

FOUR hopefuls, four bands that left everything on stage, four bands determined to give it their best shot at reaching Bloodstock 2016.

The Metal2TheMasses contest got underway in Belfast's Limelight2 on February 6th, with its usual format of voting: 50% an audience vote, 50% from the judges. My fellow judge and colleague Mark Ashby were faced with a difficult task. After all, the audience can be as partisan as they like, but passing judgement had to be impartial and considered.

And, it was telling on the passion displayed by every band member that when the final votes were counted only four points separated the four bands...

As usual the running order was decided by ballot and when Cursed Sun opened the M2TM evidence session they had the attitude and verve as if headlining. Andrew 'Jones' Cassidy was off and on stage like a hyperactive toddler over-dosed on e-numbers.

While he is the focal point for most of Cursed Sun's attack, there is a growing depth to the band; long gone are the overt Lamb of God influences - they may be the same songs, but with much more individual identity for this contemporary metal.

The same identity could not be as easily ascribed to Wardomized. While this was one of their better recent performances we've seen from them it was at times a pick-and-mix of all the various sub-genres of metal...grind, yes, thrash, yes, doom, yes.

Certainly they executed them all well, with Stephen McKeown adopting his vocals and his on-stage presence accordingly, but more focus will serve them well in the future.

Technical death metal is a difficult feat to accomplish for any set of musicians, but Shrouded not only nailed the music, but also have developed stagecraft that is needed to execute the style.

They are now a more complete aural and visual unit and even though they were unfamiliar to many present they had headbangers gathered at the barrier to offer neck snapping praise.

The bastard son of punk and thrash Deathbus had the first full-on mosh pits of the night, but they were facing problems from the get go...

For all their energy and determination guitar and lead problems destroyed most of Alessandro's sound throughout their set; a set that had to be cut short by 10 minutes. DB's drummer, John earned top marks for the evening, playing on as long as possible despite having a fractured hand.

All in all four bands determined to display their best take on metal, and all will have learned much more about themselves for the experience

When the final votes were totted up Shrouded and Cursed Sun were the victors on the night and now proceed to the semi-finals.

The next NI heat of Metal2TheMasses is on February 18th, and will see Baleful Creed, Erosion, Skypilot and So Long Until The Séance enjoin battle.

Review by Jonny
Pictures by Darren McVeigh

LIVE REVIEW: Skinned lead the charge at extreme metal Warzone Centre bash

AS a form of music the extreme ends of metal - and death metal in particular has the power to frighten the pets and mystify the uninitiated. But aficionados in Belfast at the April 18th Warzone Centre bash saw Yank rockers Skinned roar, ably supported by The Crawling, Wardomized and Zombified.

With a single recently out on Grindscene Records The Crawling are a welcome breath of fetid death as they pour out slowed down death, with groove brought in only when needed - the rest of the time the three-piece grind down listeners with intent to injure the aural tracts of all in attendance.

Warzdomized, on the other hand fall to pieces halfway through their set. Normally they manage to retain some semblance of structure on their blackened thrash, but this time they were two songs in and arrangements and playing fell apart.

Perhaps they were thrown off kilter by the over-enthusiastic crowd response that saw many of the younger participants join the band on stage.

By contrast Zombified are always on their death metal game. From the moment the unearthly voice of Pete Clarke shatters the Belfast air you know Zombified are here to slay.

Cruelly robbed recently of a semi-final slot in a Metal To The Masses heat they are undeterred as the dual guitar attack left many stunned by the ferocity, especially with Jamie and Adrien on top form.

For the majority Skinned were an unknown quantity - but within minutes the band had acolytes across most at the Warzone.

The four-piece (Travis, Erik, Dale and Jonathan) play with a poise that makes their metallic attack all that more deadly.

There is a real sense that as well as immaculate playing the arrangements within each track help enhance the experience.

It was a perfect conclusion to an evening that saw three bands blast apart any preconceptions about the ability of death metal to entertain and engage, and another band fail to realise their potential.

Review by Jonny

Photographs by Darren McVeigh - MetalplanetBelfast

And this weekend brings y'all rock and metal in abundance

RIGHT people if you want some hard rock and heavy metal you are spoiled for choice - and are going to have to make some tough choices about what to see and what to sacrifice.

The clashes start on Friday (April 17th) when fundraising event 'Darrenfest' brings together three ass-kicking bands to bring metalheads together in a good cause in the Voodoo, in Fountain Street.

Rabid Bitch of the North, fresh from besieging Limerick (at the Siege of Limerick...) will be headlining. Support comes from one of Satan's favourite bands, Zlatanera, and the doomy stylings of Bad Boat.

Tickets are a mere £5, and there is a raffle with some fantastic prizes.

At the same time in 'The Bar With No Name' on Dublin Road Hexxed will be launching their 'Hidden Graphics' ep with support coming from Continuous Battle of Order. Admission £6.

Now, come Saturday there are more clashes, but before deciding where to go at 21:00 get yourselves along to Limelight2.

Why? Because it is the last heat in the Bloodstock 'Metal 2 The Masses' - your last chance to vote for a band to reach the semi-finals of Northern Ireland heat.

Taking to the stage are four bands: Cursed Sun, Dead Addiction, A Little Bitter and Shrouded. The whole shebang kicks off at 5pm, and for five pounds sterling you get the chance to help decide who goes through to the semi-final. Come along and get voting!

Fresh from exercising your heavy metal franchise (well it is more fun than the General Election!) you are faced with another choice...

In the Pavilion the hard rockin' bluesy act Lo Mejor launch their début CD. Given past live performances it is sure to be a stormer...

But in terms of storms...Skinned will be arriving from the good ol' USofA to bring the noise to the Warzone Centre. Death metal terror will be in support in the shape of Zombified, with Wardomized and The Crawling also on the bill. £10 gets you in - and it's BYO.

Also on Saturday Lower Than Atlantis appear in the Bar Sub, QUBSU, with We Are The Ocean and PVRIS in support. £6 gets you through the door.

Now, by any stretch of the imagination that is one helluva weekend of rock and metal!

LIVE REVIEW: War, doom and thrash - Limelight caught in headlights by Wardomized, Owlcrusher and Scimitar

SATURDAY evening at Limelight2. RockD in the Limelight2. Beautiful noise in the Limelight2. All the ingredients for another fantastic metal presentation from James Loveday's Distortion Project as Wardomized, Owlcrusher and Scimitar took the stage.

Scimitar took over headlining duties as a result of illness forcing Bakken to withdraw. While they were missed by all, it was nevertheless a diverse, and highly entertaining triple dose of different forms of metal on Saturday (August 2nd)

Opening up the noise attack were Wardomized, a four-piece with a fearsome thrash, punk and hardcore mix to their sound. What them young 'uns call 'crossover'

Wardomized...and a squid atop
Josh....

With Luke (drums) and Josh (bass) the rhythm section was nailed on solid, but for the first few songs the guitar tone was very thin, with Eddie struggling with what seemed to be problems with his monitor and amp settings. It was only when 'Degenerate' came along did the pace pick up.



Eddie singing....

The more punky sound towards the end of the set complimented the overall effect of Wardomized, with singer Steve switching to guitar and Eddie taking over lead vocal duties. While enjoyable enough they need to refine their take on crossover thrash and perhaps think about a second guitarist to add another layer on the furious riffing.


Steve delivering ground
shaking bass

Fast, furious riffing is not something Owlcrusher have ever indulged in. Nope, it's more a case of slooooowww it right down, get the bottom end dropped through the floor and deliver a set that had many hidden layers within the doom, sludge wall of noise.

Damien produced deceptively straight drumming with in particular clever use of the cymbals as the only 'bright noise' against the wall of deathly racket.

Andrew - shouldn't have
been pissed off

Andrew's straight forward guitar gave way on occasion to intricacies amidst the sludge, while Steve's bass rumbled with ground shaking effect.

Comprising a couple of songs in their half hour set Andrew seemed pissed off as he left the stage, throwing his guitar down and declaring, "that was shit". Perhaps an overly critical slant to take in a set that clearly kept the doom fans in the venue happy.

Taking the stage on their second headliner for The Distortion Project's RockD Scimitar have obviously benefited from the experience of supporting Arnocorps the previous week

Launching into the set with the eponymous 'Scimitar' John's guitar work scythed, well like a scimitar made of Damascus Steel and honed to a deadly edge.

With one ep already behind them and work underway for their second release the pure thrash of the band is clear. Ryan (drums) and Chriz (bass) have grown as a powerhouse duo, driving the sound ever onward, notably on closer 'Beaten To Death' and 'We All Shall Burn'.

Ryan enjoying the thrash

Jonny's vocals are now complimented with better stagecraft and presence behind the mic.

It is always hard for bands to adapt their own take on thrash - do you  go down the more punky route, opt for the straightforward 'classic' thrash of the 80s, or do you develop a take that incorporate all that, as well as more contemporary thrash sound that has evolved throughout the first decade of this century.



Scything from John

Scimitar have worked hard on developing their own sound, especially notable on 'Innocent X' and 'Act of War' - the latter the title track on their first ep getting better as the band wrestle out tiny shifts from the original to make it a more lethal track.

Overall a band growing every time they take the stage, heading a show that many more could honestly enjoy. What better way to relax on a Saturday that get smashed to thrash and drink with doom.

 

Review by Jonny

Photographs courtesy of Metalplanet

Alcohol courtesy of Limelight