Live Review : Nomad, Battalions, Conan, Church of Misery, The Star & Garter, Manchester, UK, 1/5/2014

Battalions are a new band on my radar, A four piece from Hull, UK.  There is a tone of Corby sludgers Raging Speedhorn about them, massive riffs set against throat shredding vocals. Indeed during their 3rd song, a two vocal attack adds further credence to this reference.  For the record, RS owns.  There's a southern flavour to their blend, Tennessee style and potent enough to corrode steel. The natural harmonics added to the riffs brings variety and yet their set is rich in groove. One’s to watch for sure.  

Conan burn through a short set but it's blistering.  I say it every time, but the drums are what hold this all together and he is metronomic in his precision, against a back drop of Colossal heaviness. It is in wonderment why they haven't been added to the Government’s nuclear deterrent. The seismic shift would wipe out the whole Pacific Rim. Fresh from there recent euro tour, they are devastating and cohesive beyond words. As a spectator, you wanna head butt someone in the face just to relieve the pressure on your brain. It is phenomenal stuff and they just do not disappoint live. What' is striking to me, is that the addition of the new songs and more progressive elements, adds greater dynamics to their performance. Not only allowing Paul O’ Neill to unleash his full repertoire, but by moving away from their earlier more droning sound Conan have added further appeal to their sound and performance, making their set more engaging and less a demonstration of power alone.  Conan remain as loud as interplanetary thunder and are band not to be missed. 

Japan's favourite mass murderers, Church of Misery (チャーチ・オブ・ミザリー, Chāchi obu Mizarī) arrive to a packed room armed with their toolkit to slay, be it occasioning actual bodily harm with drums, axe, bass.  But let us not forget, the charismatic vocals of Hideki Fukasawa too. Their only crime is bringing the doom to Manchester.  Church of Misery play together and slay together. There's an exuberance and unmeasured confidence in their performance, with a sound which is crystalline. The crowd is subservient to their incantations of horrors, an audience kneeling in the Church of Misery, mesmerised by the fuzz and classic Sabbathian riff, forged from the GOD Iommi himself.

Tonight’s show feels Epic, it’s like a throw back performance, harking back to the golden age of rock.  A Sabbathian serial killer soundtrack. Tracks such as ‘Lambs to the Slaughter (Ian Brady/Myra Hindley)’ are inherently dark in content, yet, heavily versed in metronomic groove, down tuned riffs that saunter down swagger Ville.  The music has an arrogance about it, exuding so much charm, you feel submissive to their manoeuvres, falling victim as everyone did this evening, to the power of the riff.  

 ‘Born to Raise Hell’, is a real highlight, the crowd lapping up every blood soaked lick and drum fill, underpinned by the talismanic performance of Fukasawa.  He is a real focal point and the guy exudes star quality.  The line ‘Born to Raise Hell’ seemingly a mantra to tonights crowd to lose control and let yourself go, it is a truly stunning tune, which encapsulates what Church of Misery are about. No nonsense, no pretense, just a captivating and charismatic performance. 

Words by: Aaron Pickford

Pictures : Jez Walshaw

Live Review : Pilgrim, The Star & Garter, Manchester, UK, 5/11/2013

When Windhand played Manchester, their second ever UK show earlier in the month, things didn't go quite as smoothly as everyone involved would have liked. With guitarist Asechiah Bogdan hospitalized in Chester, the band were late arriving, tour managers were running around chaotically and set times were pushed further and further back.

For Rhode Island’s retro sounding doom act Pilgrim, the main support band that have been traversing the UK and Europe with Windhand, the chaos inflicted upon them too. However, their late starting set saw them play in front of a packed crowd who were yearning for some live music. The band's 'tune low and play slow' policy, one which is shared by Windhand, is well received with each song climaxing to the sound of cheers and applause from front to back.

Despite battling with sound issues and the fact that the Star & Garter doesn't have the kindest of acoustic aesthetics, they produce a barrage of sludgy noise and screeching feedback. This is a band whose live shows convey a true taste of what a gig this size should be like; warts n’ all. They have yet to iron the creases out of their sets, yet to polish off rusty mistakes and yet to really master any real sense of stage presence, but those imperfections only make for better viewing. We are seeing a Frankenstinian beast in the making; slowly bits and pieces, the best of all their influences and loves join together in a cohesive manner. I have a feeling however, that on a thundering night in the future this beast will truly come alive. 

Words by : Phil Weller

You can read Phil’s live review of Windhand here, whom Pilgrim were the main support for at this gig

For more information

http://hailthepilgrim.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/hailthepilgrim
http://hailthepilgrim.bigcartel.com/

Live Review : "Campaign for Elimination", Esoteric Youth/Blind To Faith/Nails @ The Star and Garter, Manchester, UK, 16/11/2013

By: Aaron Pickford

A cold autumn evening in November and with Guy Fawkes Night a distant memory now and with my 9-5 done for another day, I’ve been dealt the hottest ticket in the land, NAILS much touted UK shows. Admittedly only a short drive from Sheffield to Manchester, I often lack the motivation to venture out after dark, however following reliable Intel that NAILS tore Glasgow a new one the previous night. That was the only persuasion I need to make the trip. Destination, the Star and Garter, Manchester, UK

Let the Campaign for Elimination commence. Kicking off proceedings this evening, were local blackened hardcore miscreants, ESOTERIC YOUTH. Whilst having not heard these guys, they do not disappoint, front man 

Dom Moss prowling the stage like a demented serial killer, battering the crowd with his vicious vocal assault. Musically, we are served with staccato guitars, scything riffs which follow no obvious pattern, backed up by a tight rhythm section. Whilst I cannot fault the execution and delivery of their set, at times, the sound suffered in the mix and this in turn affected the overall quality of their show. ESOTERIC YOUTH are certainly ones to watch and based on what I observed, I’ll certainly be hunting down their source material for closer inspection.

Up next is Benelux brawlers, BLIND TO FAITH. Indeed with an awesome back drop on display, it is clear that these guys are schooled in misanthropic aural disdain. Following EY, BLIND TO FAITH translates an altogether different vibe; there is a confidence there and intent to bash in your head with their d-beat rituals. Armed with their recent release “Under The Heptagram”, BLIND TO FAITH, play an absolute blinder, dual guitars are thick and snarling, ranging from frenetic pacing of d-beat hardcore, to slow brooding doom at times, musically speaking these guys just tear it up. The crowd initially appeared to be virgins at the graduate ball, afraid of taking their first step on the dance floor, however with their infusion of crushing Celtic Frost meets Entombed riffs and menacing hardcore anger, they were soon won over. I was totally sold on this performance and on the strength of this show alone, their Full Length debut and “Under The Heptagram” were purchased by said reviewer, so great work guys, you totally kicked my arse.

Listening to the absent minded circus freaks on so called talent shows of today, frankly makes fans of the ‘heavy’ wanna puke. It does me, anyhow. Take note assholes and listen to Todd Jones, “We have to be here” “We have been waiting to play Manchester a long time” that is sincerity people and he has the biggest set of brass cojones to back it up. Enter stage right, I give you NAILS.

Having hit the road in support of their phenomenal record “Abandon All life”, NAILS unleash violence upon the masses tonight, the venue is sold out and the on looking crowd lap it up with a black tooth grin.

Tight, razor sharp and frankly chaotic, NAILS make no excuse that their music is not for the faint of heart, oh yes there will be blood and indeed that is what is spilled. From the very first note of their set, the pit is open and the fists start flying. Frankly the show up at close quarters gets violent, such is the virulence of the band’s display. Infecting us with their nucleonic blast beats, lacerating guitar and pissed off vocals, the NAILS experience is bitterly hostile, with just the right dose of harshness added for good measure.

I was not there in the heady heyday of the US hardcore scene and yet for some reason NAILS performance reminds me of that, Todd Jones looking like a demented Henry Rollins, projecting a sense of menace and yet he is genuine and sincere during his interaction with the crowd. Their performance was toxic, obnoxious and just fucking nuts, and we the crowd loved it. A vulgar display of power indeed. To coin of phrase from our man, Fitton, Nails are and were the second coming of awesome, a molten lava of hate and we loved every minute of it.