06 March 2007 (gig)
13 March 2007
A Metal Hammer arranged Battle of the Bands. Four bands in competition, each with 25 minutes to strut their stuff, in a boxing ring. Not ideal conditions for any of the bands to perform.
The Zico Chain are a band with a good 'n’ nasty, punk 'n’ sleaze mix. If you can remember Gun 'n’ Roses at their most aggressive and punky then you’ll know where they’re coming from. They played a good solid set, Roll Over and Lonely Ones being the standouts. They clearly weren’t enjoying the ring experience and it’s to their credit that they put on a good show. One for the future.
'Your all waiting for the Flintstones.’ jibbed The Zico Chain to the crowd. Turisas are from Finland, and arrived in the ring wearing animal skins and war paint. Imagine a horrible blend of Manowar and Braveheart. To get away with these visuals, you need a good set of songs and unfortunately, they haven’t, or not very many. Their efforts to go folky by incorporating a violin and an accordion, didn’t really work. The accordion, in particular, just had the unfortunate effect of giving the songs that featured it an 'Allo 'Allo feel, which was probably not the result they envisaged. In fact when these instruments weren’t used, the songs sounded fuller and far more powerful.
I didn’t have high hopes for Deathstars, having found their Termination Bliss album a bit monotonous. Too many John Carpenter movie theme music type intros and the singer’s Andrew Eldritch fixation was trying after a while. They kept my attention for about three songs but their combination of goth, death, sub Marilyn Manson did start to wear thin pretty quickly. Still they went down well.
Usually metal bands from the Iberian Peninsula should be avoided at all costs. However, Breed 77 are from Gibraltar and that makes them a British band (I think) and they are good. There has been a lot written about their 'Latin’ influences. I’d say it’s quite definitely Spanish ' even Andalucian ' but not South or Central American. Their use of acoustic Spanish guitars were integral to the songs, and not just slotted in by a lazy writer looking for a change of pace. Even without the acoustics, there’s a Moorish air that permeates their sound and sets them apart. There was a genuine warmth and inclusiveness about this band and their music, which the audience reacted positively to , and I think is going to take them a long way.
