Tonight sees the third in the series of gigs that have become known as the ‘Summer of Slaughter’ at the Limelight complex.
To be honest, while I had been cognisant of the name Katatonia for around a decade, I had not been overly familiar with their music, which existed by and large on the periphery of my musical radar. In fact, I paid much more attention to the side project of two of the band members – the black metal supergroup Bloodbath.
All that changed a few months ago, when Belfast’s own ‘Mr Metal’, James Loveday, announced that he had attracted this seminal Swedish outfit to a local stage.
Katatonia, in fact, have been around for almost two decades, releasing eight albums in that period. The band was formed in Stockholm by childhood friends Anders Nystrom and Jonas Renske (who were born less than a month apart, trivia fans) in 1991, and released their acclaimed demo, ‘Jhva Elohim Meth’ (please don’t ask me to translate) around a year later. This led to a one-off deal with the legendary Swedish No Fashion label, which resulted in their debut album, ‘Dance of December Souls’, released – suitably enough – in December 1993.
Just as things looked like they were starting to take off for the pair (who recruited additional musicians on an ad hoc basis for recording and live purposes), they then embarked on a move which was to become somewhat of a distinguishing feature of their career – they took a break.
Finally, having recruited guitarist Fred Norman, the band returned to recording in early 1996, emerging back onto the scene with ‘Brave New Day’ later that year.
Over the next decade, and between various side projects (it’s a feature of the Swedish death metal scene that even the biggest acts have members who are in a number of different bands), the band released albums – and contributed to various compilation efforts - at fairly regular, by their standards anyway, intervals, inking a deal with Peaceville Records along the way (1999). All of this culminated in the album that well and truly catapulted them into the international limelight – 2006’s ‘The Great Cold Distance’. Following extensive touring the band then, yes you’ve guessed it, went into hibernation again (well, it’s cold in Sweden!).
They emerged again last year with the long-awaited and highly acclaimed ‘Night Is The New Day’ – described by non other than Opeth frontman Mikael Akerfeldt as the “heaviest album of the year”: but, opinion is subjective and there are many who would argue that there were heavier albums released in 2009, but it’s still a damn fine slice of dark metal and bodes well for a great gig tonight.
See you all there.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Factoring in the Fear!
And so we come to the second night of our summer of slaughter... and the long awaited return, after nine years, of Fear Factory.
Like Soulfly the previous evening, a visit by Burton, Dino and co always promises something brutal: unlike the former, however, the latter delivered brutality of a completely different, and much more welcoming kind.
From opening chords of 'Mechanize' to the dying embers of 'Replica', this was a battering ram of blastbeats, a barrage of booming bass and a slaughterfest of stunning shredding, all topped off with the restrained vocal violence of Mr Bell, on the top of his game.
This was very much a crowd-pleasing set, concentrating on the highlights from 'Obsolete', 'Digimortal' and 'Demanufacture', plus a triumvirate of tunes from their latest masterpiece, 'Mechanise', and the mighty 'Martyr' thrown in for good measure. But, to be honest, that was exactly what was wanted.
This was a tight 85 minutes of just exactly was expected from a band who are masters of their craft.
And, once again, a mention must be made of the S+A sound - once notorious for its muddiness and ability to destroy even the best sound performance, once again it was crystal clear. Well done to whoever is responsible (but not for the fucking ridiculous 10.30 curfew to let in a bunch of smiks seeking cheapo chavification: the fact that all the metallers hung about for another couple of hours and continued pinting like it was going out of fashion should show the powers that be where their audience really lies!)
Like Soulfly the previous evening, a visit by Burton, Dino and co always promises something brutal: unlike the former, however, the latter delivered brutality of a completely different, and much more welcoming kind.
From opening chords of 'Mechanize' to the dying embers of 'Replica', this was a battering ram of blastbeats, a barrage of booming bass and a slaughterfest of stunning shredding, all topped off with the restrained vocal violence of Mr Bell, on the top of his game.
This was very much a crowd-pleasing set, concentrating on the highlights from 'Obsolete', 'Digimortal' and 'Demanufacture', plus a triumvirate of tunes from their latest masterpiece, 'Mechanise', and the mighty 'Martyr' thrown in for good measure. But, to be honest, that was exactly what was wanted.
This was a tight 85 minutes of just exactly was expected from a band who are masters of their craft.
And, once again, a mention must be made of the S+A sound - once notorious for its muddiness and ability to destroy even the best sound performance, once again it was crystal clear. Well done to whoever is responsible (but not for the fucking ridiculous 10.30 curfew to let in a bunch of smiks seeking cheapo chavification: the fact that all the metallers hung about for another couple of hours and continued pinting like it was going out of fashion should show the powers that be where their audience really lies!)
Monday, 2 August 2010
Soul hardly flies in Belfast
One thing you can be sure of when Soulfly roll into town - it ain't going to be pretty.
Last night's return to Belfast was far from pretty - more like pretty brutal, on a couple of fronts.
Rumours had been circulating for a few days about Max Cavalera's health, and the frontman indeed did not appear his usual self: still the messiah-like rabblerouser, his onstage movements were slower, less fluid than I remember from the 'Dark Ages' tour, and those closer to the stage than I reported he could be seen gasping for air on his frequent departures off stage.
However, Max Cavalera being Max Cavalera, he nevertheless gave it his all - albeit with a somewhat curtailed set (I made it seven songs shorter than published tracklists for the first leg of the 'Omen' tour, before the band hooked up with the festival circuit). From the opening, chantalong barrage of 'Blood Fire War Hate', it was a nonstop circlepit of action, as the band trawled their six album back catalogue (one song from each of 'Soulfly', '3' and 'Conquer', two each from 'Primitive', 'Prophecy' and 'Dark Ages') mixed with three tracks from their latest, and heaviest to date, opus - the anthemic 'Kingdom', the fiercesome 'Bloodbath & Beyond' and the impressive 'Rise Of The Fallen' - and the usual handful of Sepultura classics, 'Refuse/Resist', 'Troops Of Doom' and 'Roots Bloody Roots', with accomplished aplomb.
Temporary bassist, and Rasputin-lookalike, Johnny Chow filled the bottom end admirably, although there were a few missed cues, while birthday boy Marc Rizzo's shredding definitely was the highlight the highlight of the musical side of things.
One other positive to be taken from this evening's performance: the muddy sound which practically ruined Max and co's last visit five years ago was long gone, which bodes well for this evening's visit by the mighty Fear Factory.
Last night's return to Belfast was far from pretty - more like pretty brutal, on a couple of fronts.
Rumours had been circulating for a few days about Max Cavalera's health, and the frontman indeed did not appear his usual self: still the messiah-like rabblerouser, his onstage movements were slower, less fluid than I remember from the 'Dark Ages' tour, and those closer to the stage than I reported he could be seen gasping for air on his frequent departures off stage.
However, Max Cavalera being Max Cavalera, he nevertheless gave it his all - albeit with a somewhat curtailed set (I made it seven songs shorter than published tracklists for the first leg of the 'Omen' tour, before the band hooked up with the festival circuit). From the opening, chantalong barrage of 'Blood Fire War Hate', it was a nonstop circlepit of action, as the band trawled their six album back catalogue (one song from each of 'Soulfly', '3' and 'Conquer', two each from 'Primitive', 'Prophecy' and 'Dark Ages') mixed with three tracks from their latest, and heaviest to date, opus - the anthemic 'Kingdom', the fiercesome 'Bloodbath & Beyond' and the impressive 'Rise Of The Fallen' - and the usual handful of Sepultura classics, 'Refuse/Resist', 'Troops Of Doom' and 'Roots Bloody Roots', with accomplished aplomb.
Temporary bassist, and Rasputin-lookalike, Johnny Chow filled the bottom end admirably, although there were a few missed cues, while birthday boy Marc Rizzo's shredding definitely was the highlight the highlight of the musical side of things.
One other positive to be taken from this evening's performance: the muddy sound which practically ruined Max and co's last visit five years ago was long gone, which bodes well for this evening's visit by the mighty Fear Factory.
Devilish Truckers
Over the past year or so, there is one band name I have seen on flyers, posters, etc., which has meant that, whenever I go to see them, they guarantee me one helluva fucking good time. And that name, of course, is Trucker Diablo.
Finally, the party hard quartet have released their debut opus, The Devil Rhythm - and, by fuck, has it been worth the wait!
Put quite simply, this is ten blistering beer-, diesel- and whiskey-soaked powerhouse tunes which roll out of your speakers with the demonic intent of... well... a beer- and whiskey-soaked trucker - and then some.
Tom, Simon, Glenn and Terry set out their stall with the opening bars of the self-explanatory 'Drink Beer, Destroy', with its catchy suvern blooze infused hooks and equally catchy, nay infectious, chorus. The band are as tight as fuck, with Tom and Simon's guitars both complementing and bouncing off each other as required, while Glenn and Terry provide a backdrop tighter than a nun's crack! 'Juggernaut' features the band's old friend Ricky Warwick, who parties just as hard as the rest of the band.
Other highlights include the live favourite 'Big Truck', the bluesier 'Voodoo', the wonderful 'Dirty Love' and closer 'Rattelhead', which features the best banjo intro I have heard on a rock song since Blackfoot's seminal 'Rattlesnake Rock n Roller'. And the Blackfoot comparison is a fair one. The album has the overall feel of 'Marauder' era Medlocke, coupled with the rawness of early ZZ Top, the catchiness of the Black Crowes and the passion of our own Thin Lizzy.
And its all perfectly delivered thanks to a great production by Frankie McClay - clean and crisp but with enough dirt on its boots to capture the spirit of TD's always superb live shows. This, quite frankly, is essential listening.
Available directly from the band @ www.myspace.com/truckerdiablo
Finally, the party hard quartet have released their debut opus, The Devil Rhythm - and, by fuck, has it been worth the wait!
Put quite simply, this is ten blistering beer-, diesel- and whiskey-soaked powerhouse tunes which roll out of your speakers with the demonic intent of... well... a beer- and whiskey-soaked trucker - and then some.
Tom, Simon, Glenn and Terry set out their stall with the opening bars of the self-explanatory 'Drink Beer, Destroy', with its catchy suvern blooze infused hooks and equally catchy, nay infectious, chorus. The band are as tight as fuck, with Tom and Simon's guitars both complementing and bouncing off each other as required, while Glenn and Terry provide a backdrop tighter than a nun's crack! 'Juggernaut' features the band's old friend Ricky Warwick, who parties just as hard as the rest of the band.
Other highlights include the live favourite 'Big Truck', the bluesier 'Voodoo', the wonderful 'Dirty Love' and closer 'Rattelhead', which features the best banjo intro I have heard on a rock song since Blackfoot's seminal 'Rattlesnake Rock n Roller'. And the Blackfoot comparison is a fair one. The album has the overall feel of 'Marauder' era Medlocke, coupled with the rawness of early ZZ Top, the catchiness of the Black Crowes and the passion of our own Thin Lizzy.
And its all perfectly delivered thanks to a great production by Frankie McClay - clean and crisp but with enough dirt on its boots to capture the spirit of TD's always superb live shows. This, quite frankly, is essential listening.
Available directly from the band @ www.myspace.com/truckerdiablo
Sunday, 1 August 2010
It's been far too long... back to blogging!
Sorry that the blog has been inactive for a while - fuck, has it really be more than six months? but we've been really busy over the past few months and sometimes some things fall by the wayside.
Anyway, we're going to be blogging on a more regular basis, with news on the Belfast rock scene, as well as gig and album reviews.
So, first a quick update on all things Paradise City, our old school classic rock and metal club promotion... as some of you will know, we have returned to our roots, with a new monthly residency at Madison's Hotel on Botanic Avenue (we're down in the basement bar, which we've lovingly renamed the 'new Rock Bottom'). We're on the first Thursday of every month - which means this coming Thursday night, 5 August, peeps - with doors open at 9.30pm and admission a mere £3 (or free if you're an early bird and get down before 10.30).
Since our last posting, Phil has progressed from co-promoter to DJ as well, and is doing really well, and he'll be opening proceedings, followed by the main man, the mysterious Monk and then our resident eye candy for the girlies, Stefano. We'll also have a request slot, so either post something online at www.facebook.com/paradisecitybelfast or speak to one of the terrible triumvirate on the night.
We're also launching a second night. Called Hangar 18, it's a bit heavier, with the emphasis more on the metal end of the spectrum, but still the same philosophy - it's old school! H18 launches at The Pavilion on Friday 20 August, and then will be on the third Friday of every month. As with PC, doors are 9.30pm and admission is £3. DJs on the first night will be Monk and Phil. Join us at www.facebook.com/hangar18belfast for updates and general banter.
Last weekend, we had the pleasure of working with our good friends RockRadioNI, as guest DJs at their first live night, also at the Pavilion. We're hoping to work with Philip and the team again very soon, with the possibility of some major news in the very near future, so please keep checking this blog and our Facebook for the news as it happens. We're also hoping to have news of another PC/RRNI development in the very near future, so again please keep checking back for updates on that. That's about it for the moment.
As I said, I'm going to be blogging on a much more regular basis from now on, with mynext post being a review of the brand new and long anticipated debut album from one of myfavourite party bands, Trucker Diablo. Ciao, peace, respect and \m/
Anyway, we're going to be blogging on a more regular basis, with news on the Belfast rock scene, as well as gig and album reviews.
So, first a quick update on all things Paradise City, our old school classic rock and metal club promotion... as some of you will know, we have returned to our roots, with a new monthly residency at Madison's Hotel on Botanic Avenue (we're down in the basement bar, which we've lovingly renamed the 'new Rock Bottom'). We're on the first Thursday of every month - which means this coming Thursday night, 5 August, peeps - with doors open at 9.30pm and admission a mere £3 (or free if you're an early bird and get down before 10.30).
Since our last posting, Phil has progressed from co-promoter to DJ as well, and is doing really well, and he'll be opening proceedings, followed by the main man, the mysterious Monk and then our resident eye candy for the girlies, Stefano. We'll also have a request slot, so either post something online at www.facebook.com/paradisecitybelfast or speak to one of the terrible triumvirate on the night.
We're also launching a second night. Called Hangar 18, it's a bit heavier, with the emphasis more on the metal end of the spectrum, but still the same philosophy - it's old school! H18 launches at The Pavilion on Friday 20 August, and then will be on the third Friday of every month. As with PC, doors are 9.30pm and admission is £3. DJs on the first night will be Monk and Phil. Join us at www.facebook.com/hangar18belfast for updates and general banter.
Last weekend, we had the pleasure of working with our good friends RockRadioNI, as guest DJs at their first live night, also at the Pavilion. We're hoping to work with Philip and the team again very soon, with the possibility of some major news in the very near future, so please keep checking this blog and our Facebook for the news as it happens. We're also hoping to have news of another PC/RRNI development in the very near future, so again please keep checking back for updates on that. That's about it for the moment.
As I said, I'm going to be blogging on a much more regular basis from now on, with mynext post being a review of the brand new and long anticipated debut album from one of myfavourite party bands, Trucker Diablo. Ciao, peace, respect and \m/
Thursday, 14 January 2010
In-Vader-ed
With 2010 already shaping up to be one slobberknocker, now comes the news that Polish death metal legends Vader are to make their first ever visit to Belfast, when they rip the Limelight apart on 3 March (yes, that's just two days after MachineHead lay waste to our fair city!). Tickets, costing £17.50, are now on sale from usual outlets.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Circadian seek bassist
Teenage trio Circadian have posted the folloing announcement on their My Space blog:
"We're Circadian, a bluesy hard rock band from the Downpatrick(ish) area. We've been going for just over two years and have been gigging extensively since our inception. We have released two studio E.P's in the past and are currently in the process of writing and recording another. We have upcoming gigs in 2010, such as the Belfast-Nashville Songwriters Festival in the OhYeah! Centre (PP Note: This is the Paradise City Live gig on 26 February, also featuring Black Freeway and Trucker Diablo) and The Dangerfields 10th anniversary gig in Auntie Annies.
"We're looking for a bassist between the ages of 16-19 to complete our lineup. We need someone who's:- Committed to attending gigs and practices- Willing to contribute to songwriting and recording.- Passionate about music; listening, composing and performing.- We don't want any ego's, wannabe virtuoso's/eejits into uber technical prog metal shite, lazy feckers or general arseholes.
"We draw our main influences from Classic Rock, New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Blues and 70s Punk; but we also enjoy everything from Irish Trad, 2 Tone Ska, Reggae, 80s Indie, Hardcore Punk etc.
"We have our own practice space (situated at my home in the Downpatrick(ish) area) complete with all necessary equipment (yes, even a feckin' kettle!) and our own mini recording studio.
"Our aim is to write good songs and put on an energetic live show. So if you're interested in this position, check out our somewhat recent material on our page."
Anyone interested can apply via www.myspace.com/circadianmetal
"We're looking for a bassist between the ages of 16-19 to complete our lineup. We need someone who's:- Committed to attending gigs and practices- Willing to contribute to songwriting and recording.- Passionate about music; listening, composing and performing.- We don't want any ego's, wannabe virtuoso's/eejits into uber technical prog metal shite, lazy feckers or general arseholes.
"We draw our main influences from Classic Rock, New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Blues and 70s Punk; but we also enjoy everything from Irish Trad, 2 Tone Ska, Reggae, 80s Indie, Hardcore Punk etc.
"We have our own practice space (situated at my home in the Downpatrick(ish) area) complete with all necessary equipment (yes, even a feckin' kettle!) and our own mini recording studio.
"Our aim is to write good songs and put on an energetic live show. So if you're interested in this position, check out our somewhat recent material on our page."
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