ALBUM REVIEW: Blind Monarch, "What Is Imposed Must Be Endured"

By: Peter Morsellino
 
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 05/04/2019
Label: Dry Cough Records | 

Heavenly Vault
 

“What is Imposed Must Be Endured” DD//LP track listing:

1). Suffering Breathes My Name
2). My Mother, My Cradle, My Tomb
3). Blind Monarch
4). Living Altar

The Review:

Blind Monarch usher us into their world with a sparse atmosphere, crawling with hints to the bleak ether that will soon engulf us. Soon the crushing weight of the music will be realized, and those empty spaces (which will graciously rear their heads throughout the release) will be a welcome reprieve from the sonic assault.

“What is Imposed Must Be Endured” is nothing if not punishing. With an emotional weight that hits equally as hard as the dense tonality of the music, Blind Monarch creates a piece of art here that is meant to stick with the listener long after the final notes have rung out to completion.

One thing that is instantly noticeable within this release is the organic nature of the music. Slow and dirge like, low tuned and impenetrable, yet never falling into a mechanical loop. The overall sound of the band brings to mind the panicked vocalizations of a cornered animal. Guttural and shrieking, fearful and dangerous. Listening to the album, the audience can never be sure what is coming next. It is unpredictable, capable of turning its warning growls into a fierce gnashing of teeth in an instant.

“What Is Imposed Must Be Endured” is cold, but it is never stagnant. Vampiric, it seems to feed off of the energy that the listener puts into it. This can be a very dark and dangerous album. It can be a very powerful and moving experience. This is one to be handled with care. Not a light listening experience by any means, this is one to be examined with full attention. Give this record your all, and it will return it ten fold.

Blind Monarch hit us with everything they've got on their debut, and the gamble paid off in spades. It is visceral and laser focused.  Any doom or sludge fan would be remiss to sleep on this one. Give it a listen; give it a good, hard, focused listen, and see where it takes you.

“What is Imposed Must Be Endured” is available on vinyl for the first time HERE 

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Hidden Mothers, "Hidden Mothers" (EP)

By: Peter Morsellino

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 18/09/2020

Label: Surviving Sounds

“Hidden Mothers” DD//LP track listing:

1). Beneath, To The Earth

2). My Own Worth

3). My Blindness, Your Burden

The Review:

Sheffield UK's own Hidden Mothers make an incredible impression with their debut EP. A devastatingly heavy and emotive piece that will pull on your heartstrings while keeping your head banging for days.

Mixing a beautifully melodic post rock sound with the emotional dissonance of black gaze, Hidden Mothers bring to the table a style that is distinctly their own. The music rises and falls with an intensity rivaling the greats of the post rock genre, with Explosions in the Sky style instrumental passages giving way to extreme turmoil and pained shrieks.  The vocal style I would describe as like Deafheaven but much more emotive, a great improvement in my opinion.

With only three tracks taking up a less than twenty minute time frame, I will say that the EP comes in a bit short in terms of granting the listener the full release promised by the music. To me, this is long form art. I want to sit down with it for an hour and really take in all the feels that are being thrown around, coming out of the experience with a sense of completion.  But hey, I smoke a lot of weed. Anyway, this is a solid start if nothing else.

Hidden Mothers is a band that needs to be watched out for. These guys are going to be accomplishing amazing things with their music.  Grab this EP for a glimpse of what they are capable of and wait patiently for what is sure to be a masterpiece once it comes to fruition.

“Hidden Mothers” is available HERE

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Dead Cosmonauts, "We Sent Fragile Creatures to the Heavens But Not All of Them Perished"

By: Peter Morsellino 

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released:21/01/2020

Label: Independent

“We Sent Fragile Creatures to the Heavens But Not All of Them Perished” DD track listing:

1). We sent fragile creatures to the heavens but not all of them perished.

2). "Is it not worthy of tears​,​" he said, "that, when the number of worlds is infinite, we have not yet become lords of a single one​?​"

3). I looked and I looked but I didn’t see God.

The Review:

It would be hard to describe this album in any simple terms. A mass of writhing, undulating sound sits before you that changes fluidly and often. The best way would be to describe what the album strives to accomplish. Dead Cosmonauts use this new release to test boundaries. To break down walls. To challenge ideas. This album is idiosyncratic.  This is album is an exercise in dissonant beauty. This is perfection.

"We Sent Fragile Creatures to the Heavens But Not All of Them Perished" is only three songs, of comparatively short length for the Post Metal genre. But Dead Cosmonauts uses their time wisely. No riff stretches beyond comfort, no section overstaying its welcome. The expertly crafted songs flow with the grace of the wind. It is a very natural sounding album. 

The album opens with a very progressive, jazz like collage of dissonance.  The melodies are complex, the beats technical. There is a lot going on, and at times this one can be a bit overwhelming.  Overall though, in a section of metal often maligned for its elitism, it is very easy to keep up with after listening a time or two. 

The second track is where the walls really begin to come down. This is Post Metal for everyone. Gone is the better than thou higher educated barrier keeping the common man out. This is a sludgy romp that maintains its technicality without an ounce of pretentiousness.

The closing number (I'm not using track names for obvious reasons) is a beautifully crafted piece full of emotion. Every instrument shines in its own way, with sections seemingly crafted to highlight each one before they all come together into a fist pumping crescendo. 

Gone are the days of Post Metal being the Intelligent Dance Music of the rock world. Dead Cosmonauts brings together a product that can be consumed with ease, without sacrificing the fundamental high concept of the genre. This is not one to miss. 

“We Sent Fragile Creatures to the Heavens But Not All of Them Perished” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Kurokuma, "Dope Rider" EP

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 30/07/2018

Label: Doom Stew Records

Kurokuma prove once again, that trends in heavy music never last, but creating something unique and personal within the boundaries of heavy music, undoubtedly will.

“Dope Rider” CD//CS//DD//LP track listing:

1). Dope Rider Part 1

2). Dope Rider Part 2

The Review:

I'm always drawn towards bands that tread their own path, so it's rather fitting that I get to review the phenomenal Kurokuma's latest EP, 'Dope Rider'. While the concept maybe based on a comic strip from marijuana themed publication High Times, fans of traditional stoner will be shocked at the lack of copy and paste pentatonic riffs and banshee wails.

Part one of this 2 part release teases the eardrums with Joe E. Allen's always hypnotic, tribal drumming while feedback and droning guitars build slowly. The verse riff is superb showing just how unique the band are in their approach to song writing and riff crafting. Driven by Allen's drumming, vocals are traded back and forth between guitarist Jacob Mazlum and bassist George Ionita to accentuate the rhythmic flow and as the track draws to its natural conclusion, awash with gritty psychedelic textures, it's Allen's use of the mighty cowbell that closes.

Part Two starts off meatier than a caveman barbecue with devastating, muted riffs amid drumming that seems off kilter but is nevertheless absolutely on point. The tremolo riffing caught me off guard and had me gurning and nodding in definite approval. By the time the most accessible closing riff bleeds out to some droning, notes, listeners will want to press play all over again. At least I did...about 6 times...

Kurokuma prove once again, that trends in heavy music never last, but creating something unique and personal within the boundaries of heavy music, undoubtedly will.

“Dope Rider” is available digital here. Cassette and CD available at www.doomstew.com/store/. Vinyl coming September 2018. 

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

INTERVIEW: A year and a half in the life of Kurokuma

Blowing brains wide open since the release of an early two track demo in 2014, Sheffield based atomsmahers Kurokuma have made quite the impression on the doom scene, supporting the likes of Crowbar, Trap Them, Conan, KEN Mode, Skeletonwitch, Goatwhore and Samothrace.  

As well as tours with Dvne and then Vinnum Sabbathi in 2017, it seems that despite the gap of almost two years since the release of their acclaimed debut EP “Advorsus” Kurokuma have built a solid foundation based upon their devastating lives shows and unrelenting work ethic.  

Now as we begin to the enter the second half of 2018 and although they have never been away, Kurokuma are set to make some big announcements and we felt it was appropriate to get the scoop.  I recently hooked with Kurokuma drummer Joe E. Allen to chat about the roots of the band and what the future holds.  Check it out below 

Can you give us an insight into how you started playing music, leading up to the formation of Kurokuma?

Joe: Jake and myself have known each other since we met a long time ago at Corp in Sheffield. After I moved back from Japan more recently we were hanging out, smoking, listening to Electric Wizard, jamming, you know. Isn’t that how all doom bands start? We also wanted to make sure we were adding more exotic instrumentation and rhythms into the mix. We found our exotic bassist, George through an online ad after our original one left.

For those people unfamiliar with your band, are there any bands on the scene past and present that you would use as a reference point bands to describe your band, and who or what continues to inspire you and push you to try new things?

Joe: It was originally Black Tusk, Black Breath and other bands that start with Black. The more primal, rhythmic elements came from listening to “Battle Against Clown” from the Akira soundtrack, me playing the taiko drum in Japan and a shared appreciation of South American electronic music. Also George being a percussionist as well helps.

We have pretty high and adventurous standards when it comes to what passes as worthwhile music. Seeing off-the-wall bands like Granule and Birushanah recently in Japan feeds the creativity. Our music is meant to represent raw power at its core. All music is an inspiration. In fact, anything at all is - you can draw that power from anything and anywhere and then put it back out for the people.

Since the release of your well received debut “Advorsus” in September 2016 can you summarise what you guys have been up to over the last 18 months or so. Any highlights you’d like to mention and any forthcoming announcements you’d like to share with our readers?  

Joe: A lot has happened since that. UK tours with Under, Dvne and then Vinnum Sabbathi from Mexico. “Siege of Limerick” in Ireland last year was our first show abroad, then earlier this year we did Japan with Conan and Granule, then Iceland for the 4/20 weekend…

Japan was just as dope as you’d expect. Probably more actually. The fans were receptive to us and Conan, especially cos it wasn’t a kind of music they were necessarily used to. We had a team of people linked to “The Doom Doc” following us round and they’re working on a short film. I’ve seen clips and it’s gonna be a nice piece exploring touring, as well as Japan’s metal scene and cannabis culture there. It’ll be out later this year.

And we’ve got a video diary we filmed ourselves in Iceland coming out very soon. We were there for a 4/20 event with the Icelandic premiere of “The Doom Doc”. A lot happened that weekend, including one of the members of Morpholith getting arrested haha. So that video diary will be out at the start of June along with the release of “The Doom Doc” on DVD, finally.

Soon we’re playing in an actual cinema down in Bristol soon for another screening of “The Doom Doc”. That’s with 11paranoias, Under, A Horse Called War and Shrykull - five bands all featured in the film. That will be sick, visuals and the lot

Then we have our first release in over a year and a half coming out in August on Doom Stew Records. They’re based in San Francisco and run by the drummer from Brume.

Does anything spring to mind when you think about the completion of your upcoming record and how is the mood in the camp at present?

Joe: We’re enjoying everything that’s happening right now, soaking it all in. But we’re very pleased to finally have some new music to put out, and on vinyl this time. Feels like a very long time since “Advorsus” came out and we don’t really play those songs much anymore. We’ve gone to town with this new release - it’s a concept EP and it’s pretty special. I mean, check the artwork for a start.

It’s all based on the Dope Rider strip from High Times in the 70s. We got in touch with Paul Kirchner - the creator and artist - and he was very into the idea so he let us use any of the art. The lyrics in one of the tracks are from one specific Dope Rider story, and that whole story is printed in full on the lyric sheet insert. It’s gonna be a very nice thing to hold in your hands, especially for fans of beautiful and surreal art.

What stands out as your overarching memory from the recording sessions?

Joe: We recorded it with Sam from Slabdragger down at “The Cro’s Nest” in Croydon. It was a funny few days for a few different reasons which I won’t go into, but looking back on the positives Sam has a really nice place where we stayed and the weather was hot so it was a good, sweaty time.

One thing that sticks out was having to dash to see this guitar tech guy after Sam was hearing some weird notes on George’s bass during recording. This guy has a little shop and has worked with bands like Judas Priest. After getting it reset the bass was sounding perfect. We did a couple of experiments with South American instrumentation as well, some of which made it onto the final mix.

We ended up taking the tracks to Chris from “Skyhammer Studio” and he did a mix that left the two tracks sounding nice and big. It’s been a very long process up until the release but that’s what can happen, ya know.

With you new record in the bag, how is your schedule shaping up over the next 12 months?

Joe: This August we hit up Eastern Europe on tour, including Rockstadt in Romania and Brutal Assault in Czech Republic. We’re playing with Converge twice so I’m gonna ask Kurt Ballou if he wants to record our next release. Also gonna get a photo with Danzig.

We have a split EP planned with some friends of ours on a notorious Sheffield label. We’re recording a cover we’ve been working on and some deep, dubby cuts.

Then we do a UK tour with a dope powerviolence band from Japan, announcing that officially soon. Then a handful of dates with Boss Keloid. We’re on about going back to Japan, maybe Ireland again. We might be just about ready to record an album at some point next year...

We also have one more track left over from that last studio session so we’ll be putting it out on a split with a certain Mexican band - you can probably guess who if you think hard enough.

Finally, do you have any last words?

Joe: Big up THE SLUDGELORD and the Sheffield sludge crew.

The End

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

Live Review : Red Fang, The Corporation, Sheffield, UK, March 17th 2014

I only got to see 10 to 15 minutes of opening act – Lord Dying – as I was busy interviewing the main band. I am huge fan of their music and what I did see, impressed the hell out of me. Thick and brutal Sludge Metal riffs that went down a storm with the crowd in attendance tonight. You can tell why Lord Dying are considered one of the best upcoming Sludge Metal Bands on the Relapse Record Label. I think they may have won a few fans from tonight’s performance alone.

Up next is Californian self proclaimed - Psychedelic Violence Rock and Roll Upstarts – The Shrine – who put in a blistering 35 minute performance showcasing tracks off their two records Primitive Blast and Bless Off to an audience which took time to warm to these hard as nails stoner-thrash rockers.  Initially, some people weren't really convinced at the start including my brother who I was in attendance with. But by the end The Shrine had converted a huge number of people into rocking out with their insane blast of hard-rocking riffs including my brother.  He even bought a T-Shirt from the band at the end.

The Shrine are a highly energetic band, backed up with a powerful whirlwind of thrash based Stoner Metal riffs that left the audience in a daze at times. They left the stage to great applause and they definitely got the audience warmed up for the main act – RED FANG!!!

Red Fang came blistering on stage and played a stunning hour set packed full of classics from their last 3 albums. Opening up with HANK IS DEAD. Red Fang got straight down to business of rocking the fuck out and showing the world why they are one of the hottest Stoner Metal bands around.

The dual vocals of Aaron and Bryan instantly tore a hole in the universe as they showed the audience who was in charge. The audience were loving this right from the start, including myself.  I was rocking out, to a whole range of Red Fang tracks that almost everyone sang along to.

Voices Of The Dead, DOEN, Throw Up and No Hope proving that Red Fang are a band not to be messed with, as they laid down some impressive riffs. John's drumming was fantastic throughout and he never missed a beat.

Red Fang showed they had a wicked sense of humour during the show, joking along with members of the drunken audience, with Bryan telling drunken hecklers who is the boss with some damn fine witty comebacks of his own.  The audience found it highly amusing.

The music is what we came to see and Red Fang delivered on all counts during the course of the show. The biggest cheers of the night came when Red Fang played tracks such as 15:16, Crows in Swine and Blood Like Cream before exiting the stage to a rapturous reception.

We only waited about a minute or so before Red Fang unleashed into a one-song encore with their classic track – Prehistoric Dog – which was worth the admission price alone.  The entire audience sang along to all of the lyrics while Red Fang played some epic riffs which only added to the wonderful atmosphere they had created for the past 65 mins or so.

They left the stage to a brilliant reception and proved once again why they are one of the worlds best Hard Rock/Stoner Metal bands currently out there today.

My fave gig of 2014 so far. I hope other gigs I see this year match the fun and excitement that Red Fang created tonight.

Written by Steve Howe

Live Review : Mastiff, Dripback, Crowbar, The Corporation, Sheffield, UK, 1st March 2014

Saturday, 1 March 2014, Crowbar bring the HEAvy to Sheffield., Corporation

With the news that Iron Witch were playing as support the previous night in Manchester, admittedly there was some disappointment from this Sludgelord, that they are not on the bill tonight, however Mastiff were more than a worthy replacement.  Hailing from Hull, East Yorkshire, UK this crazy bunch of miscreants imbued hate from the outset.  A sound in the key of malevolence, Mastiff were devastating, with their blend of sludgey hardcore metal. Hell, I’m a dog lover myself, but this four piece were more rabid that a rampaging packs of Rottweilers, an intimidating proposition indeed.  Is there a genre called sludge aggro-core? If indeed there was, this band of merry bastards would be the antithesis of that.  Their short set was just low end filth, the pace of hardcore, the crush of Crowbar and venom of Converge.  A nice mix and given that I was on a diet of crush tonight, this is just the start to the evening I needed.  These guys were a worthy replacement for Iron Witch, their power and performance was vicious and given the bassist was punching himself in the head, just a little bit unhinged too.  As their bio suggest they sound like, Crowbar, Battalions, Hatebreed, Terror, 100 Demons.  A heavy mix indeed and once this Mastiff embedded its teeth, there was no mercy shown. To paraphrase Jello Biafra, ‘A dog should not bite, it’s supposed to beg’, however the only people begging was the audience, for this particular onslaught to be over, and so they could nurse their wounds, before the next band took to the stage. 

As the venue starts to fill up and the alcohol begins to flow, I can only make reference to myself here (I was enjoying myself, J).  Dripback take to the stage.  With their sophomore release but a few weeks old, Dripback’s opening gambit is one comparable to early NY Hardcore and is perhaps my immediate reference point, but more nihilistic, punctuated by grindings guitars.  The tone and refrain is angst, think Ray Winstone in a Borstal with an iron bar twatting you in the face.  Where’s your tool, now eh?  The pace is one of intensity, kinda Shane Embury doing hardcore, seriously these guys are unrelenting.  Pinched harmonic and the odd galloped riff and beat down are the only source of respite throughout the duration of this avalanche of discordant dirt.  This set is the sound of grinding noise and as the band state, “Keep your mouth shut and your head down”.  Hell, I feel like kicking my own arse, so these bastards will go easy on me.  30 mins of assault and battery, these guys are a knuckle duster to the face.  Dripback were arguably an incongruent choice for the bill, however what they delivered was blistering, and who can argue with that?  

Having kicked off this heavy metal day, watching The Lego Movie with my 2 ½ yr old son.  Frankly, you don’t get more metal than that, do you?  It was time to dust myself down and prepare for a night with ‘The Riff Lord’ himself, Mr Windstein.  That can only mean one thing, Crowbar are in town.  With the refrain of ‘Everything is awesome’ from the aforementioned movie, playing repeatedly in my head, it is quite fitting given that my face is due to be melted under the weight of sludge this evening.  Who doesn’t think that’s awesome??  Raise your hands. 

Owing somewhat of a favour to Phil Anselmo and two misunderstood TV metal heads, I have followed this band for 20 years.  The simple common denominator for this dedication is ‘riffs’, sheer unadulterated weight.  For me their first 5 records are solid gold, with Odd Fellows Rest perhaps just edging Broken Glass in terms of their definitive record.  But let’s not kid ourselves, nothing is average about these guys, Equilibrium, Sonic Excess, Lifesblood and more recently Sever the Wicked Hand are still class records.  The lasting appeal of Crowbar is Lord Windstein, his tenacity and dedication to his art of producing crushing riffs is unparallel, coining the phrase ‘None Heavier’.  Indeed, Windstein himself said in a recent interview, the biggest compliment you give, is that of ‘Riff Lord’. 

Recently stating that your current line up is the strongest in 25 years is a measure of their confidence, new album in the bank, no side projects, new bass payer.  This renewed vigour within the band is clear to see tonight.  The altar for this ‘Lord’ is the stage and tonight Crowbar destroys.  ‘Conquering’ is just the best start you could ask for, Windstein’s white explorer brings massive power, the crowd bellowing ‘Conquering, In time I’m Conquering’.  In the live arena, the song is heavier than I remember on record.  ‘High Rate Extinction’ was the first Crowbar I ever heard and is next up, chugging riffs, you known the one, with that trademark low end bend every 3 or four notes.  The Lasting Dose is stunningly crushing, audibly this is seismic.  Windstein sporting his Michael Schenker t shirt is clearly enjoying himself and reminding us that it was 10 years since he graced this very stage.  Words like weight, crush and crunch are the perfect adjectives to sum up this evening.  This band bring the kind of dense power that asphyxiates, causing your eyes to glace over, I’m talking petechial haemorrhaging.  The sheer volume tonight stifles your every breathe and ability to take in oxygen.  We are treated to ‘Burn Your World’, ‘Self Inflicted’ ‘Sever The Wicked Hand’ ‘New Dawn’ , saving ‘All I had (I Gave)’ to the latter part of the set.  For me, ‘Planets Collide’ is always a highlight and is easily one of the best songs Windstein has written.  Tonight is no exception and overall their performance was a balanced diet of bludgeoning riffs.  My 5 a day was slow low end heaviness and I went home overwhelming satisfied that Crowbar are more powerful than ever and undeniably there is indeed ‘None Heavier’.  Now watch the ‘Planets Collide.’    

Words by : Aaron Pickford



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Live Review : Thy Art Is Murder, Heart of a Coward, Aversions Crown, Aegaeon, The Corporation, Sheffield, UK, 2/2/2014

As is the case with everything, genres get diluted with mediocrity with every emerging scene, and yet there are those bands, which set the benchmark and are a cut above the rest. Since the emergence of the deathcore movement, whether you like it or not, the death metal scene is perhaps thriving more than it ever has in years.  Indeed, the fact that tonight’s show is packed out, is testament to that. 

Invariably, music will always polarise people and purests of the death metal scene, may not accept the association with deathcore.  Indeed tonight’s bill perhaps cannot be categorised as deathcore or death metal per se, but invariably those on the bill tonight, have taken the blueprint of those genres married them together and given the scene a 21^st century makeover.  One thing is for certain they are undeniably HEAVY! 

Arriving fashionably late to tonight’s proceedings, a Sunday evening I might add and a day which is ominous given the resultant commencement of another week at work, Aegaeon Pronounced (ih-jee-uhn)  are perhaps 10 or 15 mins into their set.  An assured performance from what I am exposed too, indeed it is what we have come to expect from the death metal genre, tight beat downs, solid guitar work , double bass rumbles and growling vocals are all in abundance and made to measure for the death march ahead.

Next up is Aversions Crown, a six piece outfit from Adelaide, Australia.  What these guys present is more in the vein of deathcore.  A 3 guitar attack, laying down cacophonous  surges of riffs, with the Man / Bear vocalist as imposing a frontman you’re likely to be abused by, with his array of growled/screamed assaults.   Certainly they exude a certain decorum of confidence and they deal in clinical, technically dexterous guitar work, beatdowns and bucketloads of hate.  A guitar attack, seering the guitar neck, with made to order shred attack.  A shredders delight, for the Rings of Saturn generation.

My recollection of Heart of a Coward, stems from a free CD giveaway a few years back and I can honestly say, that I wasn’t particularly enamoured by it.  Tonight, with the front man, Jamie Graham adorning a Deicide shirt, I was fearful of perhaps more style over substance and yet, HOAC with their own brand of HEAVY was certainly a highlight, brushing aside their peers under them, with the creativity and variety of songs.  What made this evening a good night for HOAC, is having a front man, possessing confidence and enough belief in their own ability to come out fighting. 

HOAC are not necessarily that different from their peers tonight in terms of technicality, they just have better songs and immediately the crowd are on their side.  HOAC have taken the branding of the American blueprint and beat them at their own game.  For me, their music is not necessarily to my own taste, but what they do, they do really fucking well.  By no means are they reinventing the wheel, but they are doing it with more ferocity, integrity and vigour. 

There’s certainly a certain degree of foreboding before the headliners, Thy Art Is Murder hit the stage, and then we’re immediately inflicted with a hateful dose of venom, summoned forth like a vehement diatribe, from TAIM front man CJ McMahon.   Adorning a Hannibal Lector shirt, this dude looks deranged and seems intent on eating more than your goddam liver, maybe your spleen too.  This is devil’s music people and you’d better repent, because this art is most definitely, Murder!    Musical evisceration is perhaps more apt and Ladies and Gentlemen, this is as violent as music gets.  Despite their obvious brutality, the performance of TAIM is also absorbing and the crowd are just plain bonkers, fools flipping off the stage, with a trip to the chiropractor a certainty for Monday morning.  Last song, Reign of Darkness brings down the curtain on a torturous evening.  The best way to sum up tonight’s live show would be a mechanised, precise, technical and flawless performance and to coin a phrase from Fear Factory, it could be aptly titled the ‘Machines of Hate’. 

Words by : Aaron Pickford

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