Rise Above Records: Saturday

She'll sell you a rocking-horse

She'll sell you something too,
 probably more expensive

Next night, Purson were pleasing to behold, particularly the mellotron-synth and the hat, though the overall effect was marred by poor sound and guitar problems. Iron Man was certainly very large; although he said they had been playing doom for twenty years they sounded uncannily like Judas Priest without the twin guitars. There are worse things to sound like. Blood Ceremony were more advanced, without loosing a fundamental metallurgy, especially the bassist, the flute playing effectively the role of the lead guitar at the climaxes; though the vocals were a bit low and the set was oddly brief, especially if they had flown in from Canada. Melachi thinks someone might want to consider the set timings in future.

Rise Above Records Anniversary Festival: Friday

He was born a wicked man I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and hungry body, arriving at the Garage on 27 December must observe first of all that if this venue is going to run such a long show they should allow readmission or at least provide a few pizza slices as the masses cannot be expected to go without food from five to eleven. So returning later I saw the good three admirals Sir Cloudesley Shovell who seemed less dire than previously, the first few songs coming in with a Nice Crunch: perhaps they had some new material; though still degenerating eventually to a duller hard rock (in the manner of the King's X). Let us hope they hung around till the end to pick up some tips. I was puzzled by Horizont - and not only in the question of how to pronounce it. Sounding like a power metal band without the bombast, I wouldn't have thought them to fit well within this stable and I won't be looking for more from them. The band introducing themselves as the "Sharon Tate whatever" appeared hairy and hunching up and down on their mighty axeworks less diffidently than I had seen them before (as Uncle Acid) at this venue. They then delivered an extraordinary sequence of crushing yet bouncy riff anthems as though choosing from a twenty year hit catalogue, while the great unwashed flailed their heads in awesome rapture like the Jews at the wailing wall. And though there was no transfiguration on this occasion, Melachi feels the possibility cannot be excluded in future.

Among the Russians

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body,  did read Colin Thubron's book Among the Russians, which details his camping trip by car across the western Soviet Union around 1982. Quite a curious thing to do at any time, though. He gives pleasing accounts of the sights and journey, which are most interesting in the Caucasus. The locals he meets are strangely similar: morose, inquisitive, drunk and oddly blank. It would not be fascinating to find out what has happened to them since. I wonder if these traits appertain less to Soviet Man than to those who approach foreigners on campsites. The author draws no conclusions, and remains an enigma, as do even his car and camping equipment,not unlike the sphinx he observes.

Black Sabbath and Uncle Acid

Acid Experience

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did attend the gig of Black Sabbath and Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats at the 02 Arena, North Greenwich, on 10 December 2013. Many were present for Uncle Acid, and quite a few actually sat or stood and listened to them. In the Grand Scheme of things, maybe they are in fact better than the headliners, but at present all their songs have a very similar grind. Black Sabbath started with the most exposed and out of tune vocals I have ever heard (although I have heard Ozzy before) but improved a few songs in from Snowblind onwards.

Girl with a view

So either they turned up his monitors or switched on a tape; I do not think the latter as Children of the Grave towards the end was terrible as well. He also seemed to have trouble reading the autocue on the new songs. The guitars were magnificent though the acoustics were not great. The drummer was enthusiastic but in a metallic rather than bluesy way. I do not think this could be described as a particularly good concert, though the experience from the front of the floor may have been effectively visceral. But these are the words of Melachi, among the gods.