Opeth - 13 Nov 2011 (Brixton Academy)

 

Sunday night was a night of prog-metal at the Brixton Academy in London, UK. Two massive bands came together to rock London and promote their new albums; Opeth with Heritage and Pain of Salvation with Road Salt Two. First on stage were Pain of Salvation who delivered a good set but unfortunately didn’t impress. The sound was not at its best and this really affected how the band came out. It seemed as if the ambience was hard to establish in the academy and, despite the good show and set that Pain of Salvation delivered, it felt as if the crowd didn’t really adhere. Of course the audience was predominantly an Opeth audience so I believe it was something that could had been foretold. Pain of Salvation played songs from their new album, Road Salt Two, as well as tracks from their previous albums. While talking with the band’s front man Daniel Gildenlow, he announced to us that the band would most probably be back sometime around February for a headline tour in the UK and it will definitely be interesting to see how the band performs in front of its own crowd. Time for the headliners of the show. After a somehow controversial new album by Opeth, I assume that most of the fans where looking forward to see how the setlist would be arranged. Well surprisingly, for some, Opeth performed songs which included only clean vocals, just like on the new album. The gig was slightly disappointing and failed to entertain to the degree which Opeth gigs usually do, despite the jokes made by Akerfeldt and a quite embarrassing version of George Michael’s Faith played by Akerfeldt and sang by the public. Just like with Pain of Salvation, the atmosphere was quite disapointing. However, we got the chance to hear some tracks which we don’t normally hear while it is fair to mention the drum solo of Martin Axenrot during Hessian Peel which showcased a nice technical ability. We also got to witness a small acoustic set by Opeth who performed the God of War III track The Throat of Winter, among others, on acoustic guitars. Regarding the matter of Akerfeldt's vocals, it is creating an uncertainty since during the gig, it was quite visible that Akerfeldt has lost weight, and this made us wonder if there is actually something physically wrong with him. On the other hand if there was, he probably wouldn’t be on tour. So, let’s hope that all is good and that this is just the era of the quiet Opeth which after all, is not that bad!

Opeth:  18/20

Sound: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Presentation: 5/5
Performance: 5/5

Pain of Salvation: 16/20

Sound: 3/5
Ambience: 3/5
Presentation: 5/5
Performance: 5/5

Posted by Nick

Machine Head - 18 Feb 2010 (Brixton Academy)

I have to be honest on this one. Five days after the Lamb of God concert I was still kind of buzzy when I entered Brixton Academy for the second time in a week and to be honest I didn't really know what to expect. I had previously seen all the bands on the bill individually but I had a feeling that it wasn't going to be the same this time. I arrived in the middle of the Bleeding Through set and the room was packed so I decided to stand at the back of the venue and watch the entire gig from there. Bleeding Through delivered a good set with no big surprises. Marta was as always charming on her keys but the set didn't really delivered the whole potential of the band. Then came on the ones who were bound to destroy me: Hatebreed. The band came up on stage with a very powerful set and a great live sound. I will be Heard was the opening song from the hardcore metal heads and it was definitely heard. I actually managed to move all my bruised muscles from the previous gig five days ago. A very nicely prepared set from Hatebreed with songs as Destroy Everything and In Ashes They Shall Reap. Get the full Hatebreed set-list here. By the time Hatebreed finished I had moved to the middle of the venue and the echo of MACHINE FUCKING HEAD was going around the whole academy. Machine Head came on and they just blasted the place up. It only took one song to get me all over the place and fortunately that was the second one on the list. Imperium kicked off and that was the beginning of an amazing gig. Flynn(Vocals, Guitar) gave 101% and Demmel was ripping the guitar strings . Flynn even gave away their newly acquired Silver Record for “The Blackening” to a lucky member of the audience. The gig was loud, fast and heavy, exactly what you can expect from MACHINE FUCKING HEAD !!! I found myself literally floating across the venue: From the far-left side to the far-right side in about 2 seconds.( Guinness Record?) The set ended with a mind-blazzing Halo and the riffelicious Davidian. It is a shame because in my head this gig kind of cast a shadow over the Lamb of God gig. Nevertheless this week had been amazing with two incredible gigs, good memories and buzzing ears. LET FREEDOM RING!!

Machine Head: 20/20

Hatebreed: 18/20

Bleeding Through: 15/20

Posted by Nick 

Lamb of God - 13 Feb 2010 (Brixton Academy)

LAMB OF GOD! You do realise that when a band like this hits town you know it will be a “messy” night, and indeed it was. Got at Brixton quite early and managed to get all the supporting acts with first on stage Between the buried and me. A not so impressive set by this North Carolina band but to be honest when you are waiting for Lamb of God it is quite hard to attract anybody unless you grab them by the balls. August Burns Red did exactly that. If you are not familiar with this band they do actually kick ass. Great, heavy music, nice stage presence and nice interaction with the public, despite the fact that most of the crowd was there for Job for a Cowboy and Lamb of God. HOWEVER...............August Burns Red members dressing style is just...hm..how to put it?.... “not appropriate”. I really don't mind having people dressing up in any kind of way, but coming to a Lamb of God gig dressed like that...well..it just doesn't feel right. Coming up a band that I was very intrigued to see live and I have to say I was quite disappointed. Job for a Cowboy came on stage with attitude, confidence and...an atrocious sound. Don't really know if Job for a Cowboy is to blame or if it is Brixton but the sound was just very very bad. Also the fact that the pit was mostly consisted of young teenagers who, I ll be honest, don't really mosh but try to be as violent as possible, did leave a very bad taste in my mouth about the whole set . Job for a cowboy is definitely a respected band and they perhaps deserve a review with a better sound. And now the main act for this soiree. LAMB OF GOD. Couldn't ask more from this set. Powerful, aggressive, headbangigly amazing, hair pulling, bruise maker, knee destroyer and everything else that follows a great metal gig. The “big boys” took over the pit and things started to feel a bit more METAL. I actually had to quit for a moment to get a break because of the intensity of the pit. Lamb of God delivered an amazing set with a mixture of Wrath songs as well as some classic head bangers such as Redneck, Laid to Rest and Omerta. Randy(Vocals) was on excellent form and Chris Adler made that drum-kit wish it was never born. A definite must-had-gone-to show and I'm sure that all who attended will remember it for a few years.

Lamb of God: 19/20

Job for a Cowboy: 14/20

August Burns Red: 15/20

Between the Buried and Me: 12/20

Posted by Nick