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

Awaken The Tides - Malefice (2011)

ALBUM REVIEW

Reading metalers Malefice are back with their 4^th studio album entitled Awaken The Tides, which was released on the 2nd of August via Metal Blade Records. While listening to the album the first time, I have to say that it left me disappointed as I was expecting something heavier from Malefice and Awaken The Tides is not exactly what I was anticipating. However after listening to the album a few times I grew fond of it and I can say that the album flows really nicely and there are some very nice passages that sound awesome. Awaken the Tides is an album which brings to the listener a nice variety of sounds and styles as it seems as if Malefice tried a different recipe for this album. With the vocals not being as aggressive as one would expect, and with tracks with a slower tempo and vibe, such as The Day the Sky Fell, Malefice really brings out an other aspect of the band which is kind of refreshing to hear. Dale Butler(Vocals) really does a great job on the whole album and uses his vocals capabilities to the max! The guitar riffs are not as aggressive and attacking as on the previous album but are still keeping a nice feel while some riffs are still spine-destroyer material! The big question in my mind is whether Malefice has found their sound yet or if they are still searching. Awaken The Tides is definitely the most "musically mature" work that Malefice have released but how far can they take their music and how much difference can they make is something we will have to wait to find out. Until then though we have a kick-ass album to enjoy!

The album has a bunch of really cool bits to check out. The title track Awaken The Tides has some great drumming from Chris Allan-Whyte(Drums) while tracks like Flood Of Red and Delirium feature some really nice guitar solos that go from crazy atonic stuff to melodic and almost bluesy licks. Dale Butler is really impressive on The Day the Sky Fell introducing a lot of feeling in his singing as well as on The Haunting which is a track with a massive intro riff that turns out into some sort of heavy metal lament and eventually awakes the tides!

Awaken The Tides: 8.5/10

Posted by Nick

Darkness in the Light - Unearth (2011)

ALBUM REVIEW

The Massachusetts metalers are back with an incredible display of power and aggression with their new album Darkness in the Light expected to be released on the 5^th of July via Metal Blade Records. With Justin Foley of Killswitch Engage, stepping in, behind the drum kit and super duper producer Adam Dutkiewicz, commonly know as Adam D. from Killswitch Engage, Unearth have unleashed a furious album with great riffs that might bring back to older metalers some Pantera memories while the Killswitch influence is also quite vivid. With this being the 5^th studio album of the band, one can feel a definite progression from the band and the reach of a satisfying and very pleasant level of maturity in their music. The melodies, the riffs, the aggression, everything is there in the correct amount for Darkness in the Light to become one hell of an album and to me it seems like it is. Trevor Phipps(Vocals) really went crazy with the vocals while there is also the addition of clean vocals from Ken Susi(Guitars), on some songs, which to be honest are kind of tasty and match nicely with the sound of the band. Buz McGrath(Guitars) is just ripping through the solos and just as on the previous albums, he really shows what a great, technical guitar player he is. Honestly this is a great album and if you live near the sea then buy a copy and blast it out of your car speakers on your way to the beach!

Favourite track out of the album is probably Arise the War Cry which to me, sounds like it will become a great reason to mosh like a motherfucker during Unearth gigs. The chorus has a very cool melodic line in the background while the middle part of the songs is just sheer madness and heaviness composed so that everyone can dislocate their necks because of extreme headbanging.

Darkness in the Light: 9/10

Posted by Nick