The Black Dahlia Murder - 11 Jan 2012 (The Underworld)

First gig of 2012, for the majority of the metal community in London, with a very interesting line-up. Headlining the show and 21 dates UK tour, the American death-metalers: The Black Dahlia Murder supported by Skeletonwitch and Fleshgod Apocalypse. The now familiar to the UK scene Fleshgod Apocalypse were first on stage and delivered a very entertaining show which definitely gave out a very spooky and horror-like atmosphere, which was very enjoyable. The band was very, very tight and it’s not surprising considering the genre they play. On the other hand however, I’ve constantly moaned about the sound of the Underworld and I will do so again! Fleshgod Apocalypse had a sound which was equally “terrifying” as was their show. I never blame the bands who play the at the Underworld for their sound and I will not do so this time, but the fact that the band uses many backing tracks with strings and other orchestral instruments definitely didn’t help to make things better. On a positive note though, the tuxedo touch was really, really good and it definitely added to the whole image that the band wants to create. Up next were Skeletonwitch, who came on stage with a better sound than Fleshgod Apocalypse and with a very good energy which warmed up the crowd really nicely. Combining the aggressiveness and  bulkiness of their sound, Skeletonwitch are really a great band to watch live and their songs have the exact amount of heaviness which is needed to bring down a venue. But the real heaviness was just about to start with The Black Dahlia Murder. The Americans had an impressive sound, for the Underworld, and really blasted the roof off from song number one. They managed to create an awesome atmosphere and the stage-divers started to flow real quick while “decapitating” more than a few in the front rows. Trevor Strnad (Vocals) gave out a really good show and has proven that he knows how to be a frontman, which is a breed of people that we are starting to miss in the metal scene.  Overall an interesting gig which will hopefully mean that there are many more of those to come in 2012. Happy new year!

The Black Dahlia Murder: 19/20

Sound: 4/5

Ambience: 5/5

Presentation: 5/5

Performance: 5/5

Skeletonwitch: 18/20

Sound: 4/5

Ambience: 5/5

Presentation: 4/5

Performance: 5/5

Fleshgod Apocalypse: 16/20

Sound: 2/5

Ambience: 4/5

Presentation: 5/5

Performance: 5/5

Posted by Nick 

Textures - 25 Nov 2011 (The Garage)

It was a highly anticipated gig for us, since witnessing Textures, with their new members, for the first time at the Euroblast festival in Cologne, Germany back in October. This time they were accompanied by the Swiss-German quintet The Ocean and Manchester’s Aliases. Aliases were up on stage first, but due to our interview with Robin Staps(Guitar) from The Ocean we didn’t catch their set. We got in the venue just in time for The Ocean for which we were very looking forward to. The post-metal band delivered a stunning set which really grasped the predominant Textures crowd. It was actually amazing to see how the energy was flowing from the band to the crowd. The Ocean is a band which can be enigmatic and aggressive at the same time, creating a very mysterious atmosphere which travels the listener. An almost perfect set from them. And right after that, it was time for Textures to headline their show. The band seems to be at its best shape, with their catchy melodies and heavy riffs, which makes them an instant crowd pleaser. They just have this ability to create an immense sound which makes every single song to be heavy as fuck! Of course the highlights were songs such as Awake and Laments of an Icarus which defined the sound of Textures and sent the crowd into some intensive moshing. On the overall, an amazing gig which deserved a bigger audience, so next time Textures or The Ocean are in town, make sure you are there too.

Textures: 20/20 
Sound: 5/5
Ambience: 5/5
Presentation: 5/5
Performance: 5/5

The Ocean: 19/20

Sound: 5/5

Ambience: 5/5

Presentation: 5/5

Performance: 4/5

Aliases: N/A

Sound: N/A

Ambience: N/A

Presentation: N/A

Performance: N/A

Posted by Nick

Dimmu Borgir - 23 Nov 2011 (Islington Academy)

It has been a while since the lords of symphonic black metal had visited the UK for a full tour. And what a better way to come back than performing, in its entirety, an album which has been a milestone for a whole genre: Enthrone Darkness Triumphant. EDT is the 3^rd album of black metal legends Dimmu Borgir, which was released in 1997 via Nuclear Blast Records, and it was finally time for the London crowd to witness this historic album at a virtually sold out Islington Academy. Dimmu Borgir performed two sets on the night with the first one being the album. With an exquisite sound, which is rarely heard in the Islington Academy, Dimmu Borgir performed the album with an amazing precision which was definitely impressive. Black metal classics such as Mourning Palace and Spellbound were welcomed very warmly by the fans which moved the academy from left to right. The second set was introduced with a drum solo by Daray (Drums), who proved once again why he is behind the kit for Dimmu Borgir, before presenting some of Dimmu’s hits such as Kings of the Carnival Creation, Puritania, as well as some tracks from their latest album: Abrahadabra. However, there was a slight disappointment, on my part, by the atmosphere which reigned over the academy. I was expecting a bit more of atmospheric "darkness" from Dimmu Borgir, especially with the vast arsenal of atmospheric sounds that they use in their songs. Anyhow, on a general note the gig was the absolute gig for any Dimmu Borgir fan and even if Dimmu is not your cup of tea, when it comes down to black or symphonic black metal, it was still a gig which you shouldn’t had missed. On the other hand, if you don’t like black metal, then I really don’t know why you are reading this review, but I guess that's the magic of the Dark Castle (Dimmu Borgir)!

Dimmu Borgir: 19/20

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

Posted by Nick

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

Wasted Sinners - 5 Oct 2011 (The Monarch)

The Monarch has always been known, as a place for good, underground metal. From the opening acts of Metalworks, to the gigs just like the one that happened last Wednesday, you know you will definitely get quality! So on Wednesday first band I got to witness for the night was Roxville, which unfortunately, failed to impress. With a sound which was very much like a mixture of AC/DC, Guns n’ Roses and Aerosmith it was really hard to distinguish anything that really sounded unique and original. Generally, the lack of a good sound and the lack of uniqueness is what took away the interest from the band’s set. Roxville didn’t deliver a great set and failed to create the nice atmosphere that this style of music generally gives out! On the other hand however, the headliners for the night Wasted Sinners, managed to do exactly this. With a slightly sloppy start on the first two songs, mainly due to sound-man issues, the band really picked up afterwards and delivered a very good set filled with original compositions, as well as two covers;  Chuck Berry’s Johnny be Good and Black Crowes’s Hard to Handle(Original by Otis Redding). The original material of the band had a very nice feel and a very energetic rock n’ roll vibe which picked up everyone in the room! Wasted Sinners are definitely a well-rehearsed and tight band and really understand the concept of putting up a good show! Composed by a technically accomplished crew, these boys only need to find and include the uniqueness in their sound and show, to accomplish greater things. Now that’s where the hard part begins!

Wasted Sinners: 8/10 

Roxville: 5/10

Posted by Nick

F-Arthemis - 24 Sep 2011 (The Standard)

Take a pinch of Rihanna and violently force it with a bit of distortion and keep on doing it till it bleeds, then put on a hell lot of make-up and a nice silky, sexy dress. What do you get? Four crazy dudes from Italy rocking up Dean Guitar’s show! It was with great pleasure that DOA UK welcomed for this year’s edition Italian heavy metal band ARTHEMIS for a very special show. It was not long ago that Arthemis had released an “outrageous EP” entitled "F-ARTHEMIS Pop Up Your Ass Vol. 1" which was released for Metal Hammer UK and included covers of pop songs from Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Madonna and many, many more. The covers of course were not spared by the Metal that flows in the veins of the Italian quartet and the result was certainly a very enjoyable listen! Well, those of us who were lucky enough to attend DOA UK 2011 got the chance to hear this result live for the first and apparently last time! Frankly I was surprised, not only because F-Arthemis attacked the stage with their stockings and sexy little dresses with a complimentary over-dosage of facial hair but because the whole thing actually sounded metal! With a set-list that consisted of songs such as Don’t Stop the Music, Survivor, Womanizer and Bad it seemed that the crowd was pleased and notably, the lady standing next to me who expressed her satisfaction with the cover of Womanizer saying that this was the best version of the song she’d ever heard, including the original! F-Arthemis: 1, Britney Spears: 0! The boys discharged an amazing amount of energy and showcased their talent at arranging and re-arranging songs into what they really want! Unfortunately the sound of the whole event was not the best and it did make many of the performers, along with the crowd, to suffer. However on a general note, F-Arthemis was a simple concept and it was executed perfectly! Naturally though before the end of the set, the boys gave us a little preview of what is coming up in November, when Arthemis will be touring the UK with Neonfly and Freedom Call, with some of their own material and notably their track Scars on Scars. November looks promising!

F-Arthemis: 18/20
Sound: 3/5
Ambience: 5/5
Presentation: 5/5
Performance: 5/5

Posted by Nick

Subversion - 26 May 2011 (Sound)

Those of you who follow Peek from the Pit, and the writing that is being uploaded, probably understand and know that one of my new favourite bands coming right out of the London underground scene is Subversion. So, inevitably, whenever I hear that the boys are playing in town, I do my best to attend! This time Subversion were headlining the Metal Sound showcase in Leicester square. Sound is a very nice venue which, I understand, is not typically very metal oriented but could, I believe, be the ideal place for a full-on heavy metal show like the one that was planned for the night, but unfortunately it just didn't happen. The event was poorly attended, apart from one band that managed to catch my attention and bring in the public. Splintered Soul (which is a band formed in London a few years ago, and I have to admit that I am not familiar with their history, but I understood that there has been a massive line-up change and some time off for the band) is a female fronted band which might remind some of ReVamp, with a different approach when it comes down to the vocals . Interestingly the following and the attendance that the band had was the biggest from all the bands performing on the night! In general the band didn't create a feeling of amazement but definitely triggered a sense of interest which means that it would probably be wise to keep an eye on them. Nevertheless, the band you should really keep an eye on where up next! Last time I witnessed Subversion they were opening the gig for Anterior at the Barfly and, as we all know, support bands generally don't get the appropriate attention they should. So, this time I was expecting more from the band,since they were headlining, and was really looking forward to the set. Unfortunately the sound throughout the whole show, and for all the bands that played, was rubbish. I don't blame any of the bands for this but unfortunately sound is an important factor for a gig, and this is why bands should really be careful when they chose a sound engineer and also insist in having a proper sound check before every gig. Anyhow the guys really attacked the set with great energy and it always amazes me how into it they are. They are really something worth seeing live, and with the appropriate stage and sound this guys can really kill it and blow your mind off! If you are a guy/girl who likes to give the “I was listening to them before they became famous” lecture, then listen to this band because it won't be long! If they play all their cards right they could very soon be, on their way to the top!

Subversion: 7/10

Sound: 1/3

Ambience: 1/2

Presentation: 2/2

Performance: 3/3

Splintered Soul: 6/10

Sound: 1/3

Ambience: 2/2

Presentation: 1/2

Performance: 2/3

Posted by Nick 

Rush - 25 May 2011 (O2 Arena)

I was really looking forward for this gig since I've been listening to Rush since I was 15 or 16 and had since only seen them live through the Rush in Rio DVD. Rush has been on tour since 2010 with the Time Machine tour which features their 8^th studio album Moving Pictures. The gig kicked of with an amusing little video with some nice arrangements of The Spirit of Radio in various different musical genres. The band came on with great energy, just as expected, and the fans really went for it! I have to mention that for this gig I was not on the floor area of the arena but on Level 4 which is the highest point of the arena where the view on the crowd is amazing! For the first set of the show Rush went through a variety of songs from a selection of their albums as well as a couple of songs from their new album said to be released by the end of the year! The second set was all about Moving Pictures. With legendary songs like Tom Sawyer and YYZ it was an absolute delight to hear this album live! Following Moving Pictures, Neil Peart(Drums) showcased and re-affirmed that he is one of the best drummers out there with an amazing drum solo! Not only his is technically great, he also has a musicality within him that really makes him stand out from any other drummer on earth. Then came what is probably my favourite Rush song: 2112!!Naturally the whole 20 minutes song wasn't performed but we still got to witness Part I and Part II which is good enough to me! For the encore the band performed the brilliant La Villa Strangiato and Working Man which were just perfect to end the show! In general the show was great! Lots of lights, nice video effects and a few pyros were just what was needed. However I was slightly disappointed with the gig. The sound, up where I was, was not as good as it should had been. When Geddy Lee(Keys, Bass, Vocals) played keys and used the bass from the synth, it was just too loud and was covering the whole band and this unfortunately spoiled a few great songs such as Tom Sawyer. Also the ambience on the top floor was not very warm and I was expecting more sing-along parts but it just didn't happen. To conclude, yes I am slightly disappointed from the Rush gig but nevertheless it was a great show and I will give them another shot when they cross the Atlantic again!

Rush: 18.5/20

Sound: 4/5

Ambience: 4.5/5

Presentation: 5/5

Performance: 5/5

Posted by Nick

 

Pagan's Mind - 20 May 2011 (Underworld)

It was only four years ago when, while I was going through my local CD shop in Paris, I came across God's Equation by Pagan's Mind. While I have to admit that I only bought the CD because of the artwork, I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied when I heard the music. And now, four years later, here they are, performing at the Underworld for the second time in their career. Supporting them: progressive power metalers Neonfly. With the news of, them signing a record deal with Rising Records being still fresh, Neonfly performed an amazing set containing songs from their first album due to be released on the 29^th of August. Willy Norton(Vocals) proved once again that he is a perfect fit for Neonfly, with his powerful vocals and stage presence. Despite some technical difficulties affecting the wireless system of Freferick Thunder(Guitar) half way through the set, the band still delivered a great show full of energy and power. Neonfly are now tighter than ever and the album should be anticipated by all! Pagan's Mind kept the same pace and delivered a very powerful and energetic set. The Norwegian made it clear that they are back to rock the UK and they definitely rocked London! The crowd, although not huge in numbers, was completely into it and everybody seemed to have a great time, which created a superb atmosphere. Pagan's Mind are one of the few bands that actually enjoy being on stage and you can clearly see it! The always impressive Jørn Viggo Lofstad(Guitar) along with the amazing vocals of Nils K. Rue(Vocals), who performed with a broken hip, along with the rest of the band really created a great feeling and left the best impressions to the London crowd. Their new album named Heavenly Ecstasy is out now via SPV Steamhammer. And if you missed the show for any reason, make sure not to miss it the next time this boys will be around!

Pagan's Mind: 19/20

Sound: 5/5

Ambience: 5/5

Presentation: 4/5

Performance: 5/5

Neonfly: 18/20

Sound: 4/5

Ambience: 5/5

Presentation: 5/5

Performance: 4/5

Posted by Nick

 

Roger Waters - 17 May 2011 (O2 Arena)

What an amazing gig! When I first saw Roger Waters, back in 2007, it was for the Dark Side of the Moon tour during the Paris gig, and back then I genuinely thought that: this gig is probably the best gig I have ever witnessed. Since then I've seen a hell lot of other gigs and there were some of them which matched that gig and some which didn't even come close to it. However this time was different. The show was absolutely amazing. Lights, sounds, performance, atmosphere were all perfect. In particular I loved the sound, which was surrounding the venue and you could hear all the voices, small sounds and sound effects coming from the back of your head to the front. Just amazing! As mentioned, when the tour was announced, the show followed the original format that was used for the original The Wall tour in 1980, but with today's technology, which consisted of a wall being built slowly, slowly between the audience and the band, while the band was going through the first part of the show. With some amazing songs such as Mother, where Roger sang along with a recording from the last UK performance of The Wall 29 years ago, and of course Another Brick in the Wall part 2 which, as you can imagine, was sang by the whole audience along with a choir of kids that came on stage for the song, part one was just full of energy and passion. Part two of the show started with an amazing display of video effects, projected on the completed wall, which mesmerized every single person present that night with the help of songs like Hey You and Bring the Boys Back Home. This, of course, led to Comfortably Numb which came on and just putted the whole audience into a trance during the solo which was perfectly executed by Dave Kilminster(Guitar). Eventually the wall came down with the use of the amazing video effects that the team had and really gave to every one of us an amazing trip of lights and sound. During Run Like Hell the wall was projecting words in the iFormat, that Apple uses with almost all of their products, along with great images to represent the world today and how everything has become, which I thought was great (see video below). In general the gig was just amazing and all of those who had the chance to witness one of the gigs (six London gigs in total) will probably remember it for a very long time!

Roger Waters: 20/20

Sound: 5/5

Ambience:5/5

Presentation: 5/5

Performance: 5/5

Posted by Nick

Anterior - Subversion - 9 May 2011 (Barfly)

After the review for the new Subversion album, I was highly anticipating this gig since I was very curious to see if these guys could re-create what they did on the album, live. Not disappointed at all! This guys were great! Subversion really brought out everything they had and it resulted in a great set which was slightly spoiled by the sound. Subversion is definitely a band to keep an eye on since I do believe that this guys have the ability do something really good in the future and really climb up to become a well known established band. The set consisted of songs from their album which were executed really well and created a very nice energy and atmosphere. Headlining the gig were Welsh metalers Anterior which finished the gig in a great way. They came on stage with an amazing energy and power and really gave a great show for everybody. Anterior is really a band which I believe hasn't managed to attract the amount of fans it should. They are a very good band with good songs and a great stage presence. I'm very interested in seeing what are the plans that these guys have for the future since this is also a band I would like to see getting bigger. A new album is expected to be released later this year so we just have to wait for that I guess. In general, a good gig but unfortunately poorly attended.

Anterior: 18/20

Sound: 4/5

Ambience:4/5

Presentation: 5/5

Performance: 5/5

Subversion: 16/20

Sound: 3/5

Ambience:4/5

Presentation: 5/5

Performance: 4/5

Posted by Nick

Lest We Forget - Subversion (2011)

ALBUM REVIEW

I'll have to be honest and sometimes honesty hurts, but it's been a while since I've heard anything from any new band and I've actually liked it. Until the day I got an email about Subversion. I'd never heard of this band before so the first thing I do is to give it a listen on Facebook and well, I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. So when I got a hold of their CD it went straight in the player for a first proper listen! Many plays later I am finally ready to say that this could be one of the bands that will shape the UK metal scene in the future. The ideas are really good and the execution is flawless. The production level is amazing for a debut album and it just sounds really really heavy. The interchanges and the quality of the vocals is excellent while drums, guitars, keys and bass are extremely tight between them and create a great energy and superb atmospheres. The only minor part is the sound of the kick drum which is some times a bit too dry and very trigger like, which reminds of a simple sound recording software plug-in. Also the album is not very fluid. It feels that sometimes it is kind of stumbling and after a few listens it can get a bit boring on some parts. The album also has a war theme going on, with many samples from war scenes, which is nice but makes it, I believe, suitable for listening only if your mood allows it. However, in general this is an excellent effort from Subversion and I really can't wait to see if they are going to sound as good as this when they play live in a few weeks, here in London!

Our favourite track is probably Treason (Beyond Forgiveness) which really has some nice technical riffs and an amazing chorus which really sticks to your head! Also noticeable is the very nice So Many, So Few which is an incredible instrumental piece most probably inspired by the 1940 Churchill speech, which you can partially hear at the end of the track. The track would be a perfect soundtrack for any war film! I can just picture it!!!

Lest We Forget: 8/10

Posted by Nick

Children of Bodom - Amon Amarth - 9 Apr 11 (The Forum)

The bill for tonight's show was excitingly promising with two giants(literally for one, not so literally for the other) of Scandinavian metal and with the sun shining high, the metalheads came in numbers for it. With the release of Surtur Rising and Relentless, Reckless Forever everybody was quite eager to hear the new material! First to showcase their might were our favourite Vikings: Amon Amarth. With eight studio albums in their bag and with a very small set time to fill, the band had to chose the songs to perform carefully and I am a bit disappointed from the choice. Would had definitely liked to hear more new songs and in general more Amon Amarth. The sound was quite bad which is something surprising since I remember that in general the sound in the Forum is quite good, even for support bands. However the band was up there and seemed to be in a very good shape and this is definitely a great warm-up for the big US tour they're heading of to. Amon Amarth are said to be coming back to do a headline tour here in the UK, so all we have to do in order to hear some new material live is just wait a few more months! Up next: Children of Bodom who attacked the stage with great might and aggression. These guys really know how to give a show although sometimes Janne Wirman(Keyboards) seemed a little bit bored. Alexi Laiho(Guitar,Vocals) proved once again that he is a great front-man and a great shredder. Once again however the sound was not that great. Better than Amon Amarth but it seems as if some speaker blew out at some point and the sound was really unworthy of a venue such as the Forum. Overall a very nice gig with a good atmosphere but unfortunately not a great sound.

Children of Bodom: 17/20 

Sound: 4/5

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

Amon Amarth: 15/20 
Sound: 3/5 
Ambience: 4/5 
Presentation: 4/5 
Performance: 4/5

Posted by Nick 

Calatrilloz - 29 Mar 2011 (Islington Academy)

 

UNSIGNED BAND

When you read about Calatrilloz before going to see them at a gig, you are not entirely sure on what to expect. So before I went to the gig I read all the basic info for the band and checked out some of the Youtube material that they have and had a vague idea of what was to come. Once inside the academy I got greeted by a make-uped Luca Minischetti(Drums) who reassured me that the band was up first since the band that was originally intended to play first had pulled out. Calatrilloz came on stage and definitely delivered what all the writings mention: a theatrical/operatic rock feeling that was definitely a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately though it seems that no band can be spared from the technical difficulties that arise at every gig, and this time was no different. The backing tracks that Calatrilloz use were not coming out through the sound system and I later found out that one of the fuses was not working properly and it caused the whole backing track system to collapse. Despite that though, they guys really delivered a very good set that had all the intensity and excitement that it needed. Calatrilloz is composed by really talented musicians and they really deliver something unique for the scene. It would definitely be very nice to see how much difference the backing tracks make since some times it did seem a little bit "empty" but still it wasn't something that would make the band sound less good from what they already were. Overall a very enjoyable set by Calatrilloz and I'm really looking forward for the next gig to get a taste of the complete Calatrilloz experience!

Calatrilloz: 8/10

Posted by Nick

Achilla - 27 Mar 2011 (Hoxton Underbelly)

UNSIGNED BAND

When I heard the line up for this event I was awaiting a good night. Achilla and A New Tommorow are two bands that I have seen before and know that they can deliver great shows. However there was also a new band, for me, on the bill tonight. Seven7 is a four piece band from London, led by Swiss guitarist Nick Meier, which as it sounds has influences that go from Dream Theater to Pantera and gathers everything in between. The band delivered a very nice set which was really pleasant to listen to. With a good energy and sound, Seven7 is definitely a band to keep an eye on. With some very interesting guitar work, good grooves and vocals the band seems to have lots of potential. Only negative aspects were the fact that it sounded a little too much like Dream Theater when it came to guitar sounds, melodies and harmonic changes and also that the drummer seemed not to be as connected with the rest of the band as they were in between them. It would be great to see what the guys can do by creating a different and more unique sound. I'm not saying that they should ignore their influences but at least try to equally divide them in their sound. Up next we had a band we have already reviewed here: A New Tommorow. These guys are getting better every time I see them. For me they really had the best sound of the night and with their songs they really create a very nice, rock atmosphere that anybody can enjoy. Alessio's vocals were great and the guitar work from Edward was the best I've seen him deliver. Definitely try and catch them on their next gig which is coming very soon! And then to complete the night Achilla came on stage. Unfortunately for the band Achilla's sound suffered from the facilities of the venue and with some quite annoying power cuts during the set it was hard for the band to stay focused on delivering the set. Despite all of that, Achilla gave out a good set that proved that they are definitely one of the upcoming female-fronted rock/metal acts to take over the UK in the next few years. I was impressed by Martamaria's vocals which sounded really good on most parts, despite the fact that they were lacking some accuracy on a few other parts, while Daniele Panza proved once again that he is a shredding machine. Gus Macricostas is always a delight to watch on stage since he seems to enjoy being there more than anything in the world. Overall despite the poor attendance the gig was enjoyable and proved that there is an underground scene that is emerging in London. It's all about keeping an eye on it now!

Achilla: 8/10

A New Tommorow: 8/10

Seven7: 7/10

Posted by Nick

Sonata Arctica - 25 Mar 2011 (Islington Academy)

I was introduced to Sonata Arctica back in 2003 or 2004, when I was still a teenager getting into metal, and back then I was liking some of the songs but nothing more. So after 6 or 7 years it was finally the time for me to witness Sonata Arctica live, and yes this was my first Sonata Arctica gig. In general I wasn't impressed but neither was I disappointed. Sonata had setted up a very nice stage which is something you don't often get in the academy and it was certainly nice to see some change. The band delivered a very good set that ended very early (9:20pm) due to some club night that probably was taking place at the academy. The academy was almost full and this probably explain the change of venue that happened (originally the gig was going to take place in Koko). Sonata Arctica started their set with songs from their latest album Days of Grays and then performed a series off classic songs from their previous albums. FullMoon was definitely a hit with the crowd chanting like crazy on the "runaway parts". Tony Kakko(Vocals) had some very interesting ways of presenting the next song which I definitely thought was funny. One of those stories about his two Toyota's rusting in his back garden resulted to Paid In Full which is always very energetic to hear. Don't say a Word was definitely the apogee of the gig and the crowd responded very well. The atmosphere was very warm and nice and I generally think that everyone enjoyed the gig. Sound wise it wasn't great but it is very rare to get bands with a good sound in the academy so I'll blame that on the venue. The problem with Sonata Arctica though is that they are unable to deliver the magnitude of sound that they have on CD. On many parts the lack of guitars, instruments and backing vocals is quite striking and would definitely make a huge difference if those parts were introduced somehow. Overall an enjoyable gig and a satisfied crowd!

We are introducing a new point system today which goes as follow:

Sonata Arctica: 17/20

Sound: 3/5

Ambience: 5/5

Presentation: 4/5

Performance: 5/5

Posted by Nick

 

Epica - 15 Mar 2011 (Scala)

Last night the Scala in Kings Cross was packed with metalheads and all of them were there to witness the come back of Epica after 3 years of absence from the Londonian scene. A very nice and simple gig with only one support act which, I believe, gave the opportunity to the crowd to enjoy more from both of the bands and also kept the it energetic throughout both sets. Supporting Epica last night we had ReVamp from the Netherlands. A fairly new band that visited the UK and London for the first time last night. Through their vocalist,ex After Forever, Floor Jansen(Vocals) Revamp managed to give out a very nice mix of smooth and aggressive all combined in a very nice package of symphonic and heavy. The songs were very pleasant to hear and the crowd seemed to like it. A very nice energy from this band and a great connection with the crowd that makes us certain that will be seeing them to be back in London and he UK very very soon! Epica is one of those bands that has a very unique and distinctive sound that has attracted millions of fans worldwide and is a band that does what it does with passion and love which is great to see and witness. And tonight was no different. Epica came on stage with a huge energy and a nice sound which however lacked some magnitude. Nevertheless the band delivered a great set with songs varying from different albums. Simone Simons(Vocals) was really in a great mood and lifted up the crowd in a “lovely” way that she only knows how to do. Mark Jansen(Guitar,Vocals) also gave out a great show while his vocals seem to have really improved. Coen Janssen(Keyboards), who recently become a father, was really enjoying the gig and it's always nice to see the musicians on stage enjoying the show as much as the people off stage. All the classic Epica songs were present and we even had the chance to hear the amazing Tides of Time were Simone is really showcasing the amazing voice that she has. The Imperial March was a great inclusion in the set-list and it was really well executed by the guys in the band too. The duet with Floor and Simone on Sancta Terra just before the end of the set was extremely nice and you can really see that those two are amazing singers each in her unique way. Cry for the Moon was a big sing along for the crowd which seemed to know all the lyrics by heart. It is generally amazing at how loyal and diversified is the Epica crowd. You can find in it every kind of person you may wish for and it is really great to see so many different people being united under one roof thanks to music. To finish the gig Epica performed The Phantom Agony while giving it a very nice “disco” feel during the chorus which suited the song quite well! In general a good gig with some nice surprises and a very pleasant atmosphere.

Epica: 18/20

ReVamp: 16/20

Posted by Nick

Nile - 13 Feb 2011 (Islington Academy)

Gigs like the one that happened last night are not witnessed very often. We had it all: bad news, good news, great news, excitement, surprises and a hell lot of METAL! So let me start with the bad news. Bad news were that the second tour bus carrying a bunch of merchandise and 3 of the bands playing had stuck somewhere in Scotland due to a flat tyre and wouldn't make it to the gig. Good news was that the two bands that were in London and that were going to play were Melechesh and Nile. The great news were that we would get a bit more from each one of them and that kicked in the excitement. So first on stage were Melechesh which, like pretty much everybody else in the room, I never saw live so I could only expect what I had heard on the CDs and let me tell you something...I was blown away!! This band is extremely good live and they really give out something that you could hardly ever expect. The crowd just loved them and from what Ashmedi(Vocals) told us after the show during the interview, they loved it as well. So, was the first Melechesh London gig a success?? Hell Yeah!! The band came on with a great energy and they just sounded really really good. The middle eastern influences where exactly where they needed to be and when Ashmedi says: “Create, not re-create” well that is exactly what he is doing.Melechesh has created a very unique sound and you can't really get it anywhere else. It was also interesting to see that people came to London from all around the world for this gig. Notably a couple from the Netherlands as well as people from Israel, Scotland and even the US! But of course with a line up like this, who can blame them? So after being blown away and lifted up by Melechesh it was time to get smashed in the face by the heaviness of Nile! METAAAAL!! Nile was just perfect. The sound unfortunately wasn't terrible but like George Kollias(Drums) told us after the gig “When you play this kind of music, its hard to get a good sound” and its kind of true. This was also the first time that Chris Lollis(Bass, Vocals) played with Nile in London. And that guy is bloody good on the bass. Really good technical ability and great voice that really gives to Nile a push and makes them sound, in my opinion, a bit bigger and heavier. And what to say about Karl Sander(Guitar, Vocals) and Dallas Toler-Wade(Guitar, Vocals)? This guys just killed it. They shred like crazy and they really capture the death metal sound perfectly. So when everything was going great and we couldn't be happier we get the first pleasant surprise of having Ashmedi from Melechesh joining Nile on Black Seeds of Vengeance and then we get something that as I was told was the second and last time that Nile would ever do, a cover. Nile nicely covered Thin Lizzy's Emerald in memory of Gary Moore who sadly passed away last week. And if you wonder who did the vocals well...it was Punchy, the sound engineer and tour manager of Nile. Good voice that lad has!

And to sum it up, great night, great gig and very cool memories!

Cheers to everyone that helped and made everything happen!

Nile:19/20

Melechesh: 19/20

Posted by Nick

Unfortunately the sound on both interviews with Nile and Melechesh is not available. The cassete we used seems to be faulty and there is nothing we can do about it. Apologies to everyone for not having those interviews.

Evile - 13 Feb 2011 (Underworld)

The Thrash revival in the UK has had an amazing response from the fan base as well as the bands involved, taking it to new levels. Tonight's show proved just that.

Any young artist opening for Evile must surely be quaking in their boots pre-show, but Mutant took it in their stride and managed to pull off a great set and really got the almost full crowd in the mood for cracking some skulls. Fast, tight, and with a good sound, they not only performed well, but showed themselves in a manner of the 80's legends with the front man fitting the persona perfectly in his relationship with the audience. Effects on the main vocals were a little over done for the first track, but as soon as Tom Luchtenstein(Vocals, Guitar) began to talk to them, the effects issue was soon resolved and there was an all together excellent set.

Second up were Ipswich thrash outfit Elimination. Mutant had set the expectancy of the crowd to a high level and the energy was there ready to explode, but the audience seemed disappointed for the first few tracks as the music was a little slower and more epic melodies were coming from the stage and not the hard hitting, no nonsense thrash that the crowd desired so many began to head off to the bar area of the Underworld. A good sound and a tight set lead to the audience responding well towards the end which enabled Elimination to really get into gear and revive the show, leading to the final act.

Evile have come a very long way and they have been at the very forefront of this recent thrash revival, and tonight they showed exactly why. With riff after crushing riff at lightning speed and with machine gun percussion to boot, the audience was in the palm of their hands throughout the entire set, especially during Into the Pit, during which the pillar in the middle of the crowd area became a pivot of a huge pit that would make one dizzy to watch for an extended period of time. To close the show, an excellent performance of Killer from the Deep pushed the punters to their limits, and left Evile still in the eyes of many thrash fan as the number one UK thrash band. With no clear problems, there is no telling how far, and how fast, they will relentlessly rise.

Evile: 20/20

Elimination: 14/20

Mutant: 18/20

Posted by Tom

The interview with Ben from Evile is coming up very soon!

Crowbar - 20 Jan 2011 (Underworld)

So once again back to, perhaps my favourite venue in London: the Underworld, but this time to witness the heaviness and “amaz-ness” of Crowbar. However before I talk about Crowbar there is an other band that was on the bill that needs to be mention. Opening up for Crowbar tonight were Hammer of the Gods and Shaped by Fate. I, unfortunately, didn’t catch the whole Hammer of the Gods set so I'm not able to give you a full review of that. However I have to admit that the uniforms were very nice and like Paul Fortescue (Vocals) from Shaped by Fate said: ”Anyone who can dress up like this and get away with it earns my respect”. So Hammer of the Gods: definitely a band to check again in the future. Now, as for Shaped by Fate, these guys came on stage with a huge energy and lots of attitude. Everyone in the band really gave 110% of their capabilities and they delivered a very satisfying set that definitely warmed up everyone for Crowbar. The sound of the band was not bad for a supporting act and the stage presence, as I said, was just enormous. If you are into the metal-core scene and you are looking for something new then give these guys a listen and I'm sure you wont be disappointed. And then was the time that we were all awaiting: Crowbar! The New Orleans sludge metalers really did it for everyone tonight. They delivered a great, heavy set and really satisfied everyone in the Underworld which was packed since this show was sold out. The crowd was very energetic and participated in every song while the pit on All I Had (I Gave) went absolutely mental and the crowd at the front of the stage really felt what heavy means! Crowbar is definitely one of the heaviest bands out there and they proved it with Planets Collide which was just HUGE! Crowbar also gave us a little taste from the new album that is coming out on Valentines day (14^th of February for those of you who don't take showers) with Cemetery Angels which you can check out on Crowbar's website here. Overall: a great gig with a hell lot of noise, beer and metal!

Crowbar: 20/20

Shaped by Fate: 16/20

Big thank you to Adam Sagir!

Posted by Nick