Primordial Prime in Islington

6 May 2012, 00:13

Sat 5 May – Primordial, Hell, Winterfylleth

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did grant an audience to Primordial at the 02 Islington, London, on 5 May 2012. I heard most of the first band,Winterfylleth, and was impressed. They played much in the brisk shamanic two-step of the pagan style, which I had last heard from Wolves in the Throne Room, though with their songs nicely structured and decent variations. My only query was whether the shamanic two-step was entirely suited for "English" pagan metal, is it not more a Nordic or Eastern structure? I was sorry not to pick up their vinyls after the gig.

Next were a band "Hell", strangely I had never seen them before. The cross of thorns borne by their singer was interesting, and the crow-mask when he moved to "bring out your dead" even more so; and when we got to the auto-flagellation, this was perhaps excessive... I last saw blood in Islington from the lady of the Theatre des Vampyres, perhaps they should get together. Strangely I had complained only last week of the lack of synchronism in the headbanging of Insomnium, here we actually had choreographed headbanging, with the heads moving to the back and the side in order. My question with regard to these gentlemen was I think relating to the music, always important for a band, I feel, and here not entirely exceptional. Their song about Macbeth was perhaps not at the same level as the rest (being a rather odd topic). I hoped they would do a metalled-up rendition of "Gethsemane" towards the end, but was not to be. But very interesting, and I would like to see them again, though perhaps not buy their records, if any. And I do not think I would go as far as the young lady in front of me, with a tattoo of pitchforks, possibly their emblem, in a circle between her shoulder blades.

Then the headliners, Primordial, as they said, from Ireland, Republic of. I thought he asked rather too frequently whether we were alone, since the answer was not altogether unclear. But a very impressive vocalist, who could perhaps add a little menace to his repertoire, and with actually meaningful lyrics, quite a rare thing in the metal scene, possibly the Irish influence. If only Opeth could write a lyric at least once in a while! Had many epic, powerful and memorable songs, I recall Coffin Ships, Judas, and Empire Falls, and one about Slaves of Rome, - and to remember this never having previously heard them is great credit to them. A few more guitar solos and a greater moshing would have improved matters still further. Hope to see them back in London soon.

Aye to a great line-up of bands, one of the best I have heard. Nay to early curfew; in fact my companions and I took revenge by staying on for the subsequent Club de Fromage disco and got thrown out for excessive slam dancing. Which was not a sorrow.

Melachi out of the Zone of Dovlatov

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being a man of wealth and taste, did read Sergei Dovlatov's novel "The Zone" (1982), in May 2012 (in an English translation purchased from the rather nice Russian Bookstore at Waterstone's Piccadilly). The book comprises short stories about prison camp life in the former Soviet Union, linked together with brief letters to a putative publisher. The stories deal with relations between guards and zeks (prisoners), the author having been a prison guard. Nothing really happens in any of the stories, and it is rather difficult to keep track of the characters, who are numerous and all very similar, or why the paragraphs follow one another in the order they do. Although in simple language, and apparently without literary pretensions, I could not understand what was actually meant to be implied by many of the sentences. Such as, at random: "The girl's lips were warm and rough as a small leaf warmed by the sun" (p. 85).  "The over-laundered flag hung limply,"... etc. The book is not satirical, unless it is a great surprise to you that relationships exist between people in prisons. The list of "shocking" things he says he "could have written about" is rather unlikely to shock anyone.  Unless it is a sort of double-bluff. Who knows? Who cares? I would suggest the book would have been better written as a classical novel with a plot, and some well-defined characters. If the book is not a critique of the specifically Soviet prison system, admittedly a well trodden path, it is not easy to gather its purpose. These are the words of Melachi!

Paradise indeed Lost, at the Scala

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did grant an audience to Vreid, Insomnium and Paradise Lost, at the Scala, London, on 29 April 2012, and hereby bring my report. Of Vreid, I saw but a little, having been delayed by an extremely long queue, the Underground, and an entirely new station having been erected at Kings Cross. They were playing a little marching music when I arrived, with growling vocals. I could not make much of it. Next up were Insomnium, a melodic death metal band, melodic being a relative term in this sort of company, referring to the inclusion of audible chord changes and lead guitar solos, both of which this band did include, and rather well. I thought they were extremely good and particularly crushing towards the end with a number "one for sorrow". They did not get to the joy, but this is also not unusual. I shall certainly look them up in future, though their headbanging could be better synchronised.

The main act were Paradise Lost, who seemed to take a long time to get on stage. They were OK, though I would not have known they were a "doom metal" band had I not so heard previously, since a surprising number of the songs resembled covers of Depeche Mode. The singer appeared to have a sore throat, and was not projecting very well. I heard them once before, when they were outclassed by the support band (Ghost), here I am afraid I also felt it was Insomnium's night. Paradise Lost suffered from a lack of killer numbers, which, considering how long they have been around, is probably irremediable. I have four of their albums, and can only remember one track, actually, "As I Die", which isn't really very good either. Here they played it somewhere in the middle, which left the audience audibly musing what they would finish with. Also this was one of the few times I have known a crowd stand in bored silence waiting for the band to return for the "encore". Could be everyone's favourite support, though.

Let you kneel before the ears of Melachi!

Melachi at the feet of the Electric Wizards

Melachi at the feet of the Electric Wizards, 31 March 2012

2 Apr 2012, 19:29

Sat 31 Mar – Electric Wizard, Witchsorrow, Age Of Taurus, Purson

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did attend the Electric Wizard Concert at the HMV Forum in London on 31 March, 2012, and hereby bring my judgement. I had not previously heard of the 3 support bands.

The first act, Purson, most mighty merchants of the metal-riff, were befittingly bearded. The lead guitar could have been higher in the mix towards the end -- to more fully manifest the majesty of such a regressive woolly mammoth of an axe-wielder! I will most certainly be seeing them again.

The second band, Age of Taurus, I originally thought were all female, but upon closer examination it became apparent that probably only one was female, the others merely wearing coloured clothes, though who knows what a still more thorough investigation might reveal! They were accompanied by an odd sitar-like instrument, but to my ears were neither fully witchy or properly progressive, nor well-structured, nor even free-jazz, in the neo-Opethian sense, but merely rather confusing. I would say I was rather puzzled by them and not too inclined to repeat the experience.

The third band, Witchsorrow, all 3 members, had an extremely loud bass playing rather banal riffs so that at times the feedback drowned out the rest, though there was in truth not much more there to hear in any case. I suggest in my mind that they write some more interesting riffs.

The Electric Wizards themselves played from 9:35 to 11:05, against projections of Italian and Dutch horror films. There were three guitarists, backed by a splendidly lugubrious drummer. They were almost static, and I hope at their next seance to see them staring down, upstanding on pillars, in the manner of the ancient stylites. After a few songs the music was turned up to an acceptable level, and the riffs became too distorted to hear clearly. The overall effect was not unlike Hawkwind, back in the day.

Aye to neo-psychedelic experience, and Italian girls banging and lighting up all around me (I was near the front). Nay, that I could not recognise the tracks, as the music fundamentally sounded all the same. Be warned - all bands played extremely loud, and I wore earplugs throughout except at the end. Also, the clear 7" single on sale at the back turns, preferably, at 33rpm.

Behold, ye mighty! For I, Melachi, have spoken!

Melachi and The Acacia Strain, who were not pretty

Melachi survives a band that were not pretty                                           

Sat 17 Mar – The Acacia Strain, TRC, Brutality Will Prevail, Honour Is Dead, Chorus of Nine

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did attend a concert of The Acacia Strain at the Underworld, in Camden, London, on 17 March 2012, and hereby bring my report. I missed all the support bands, having to see a man about a dog in the nearby Burger King, a filthy place where they were refusing to give trays even to customers dining in. Furthermore, although I ordered an Aberdeen Angus burger, there was nothing on the packaging to suggest the unfortunate creature had grazed in the highlands, and was not actually from Uruguay.

On wandering to the Underworld, I found that there seemed to be a party going on outside, where the enterprising youth stood around upended crates sipping a weak beer. A strangely early curfew meant that the gig was almost over. The venue itself was only partly filled, but with very old people, including grannies and crusties with walking frames. My companion ordered a Guinness, it being St Patrick's night, which was decanted into several glasses before arriving, and the taste of which, he remarked, left anything Irish much to the imagination.

We ventured to the pit, where the band began to play. As they announced, they were not a pretty band, and I would not disagree with that. I was not familiar with their oeuvre, which resembled a sort of punky music but played on detuned guitars rather than the nasty jangly ones. I did not notice any guitar leads and the songs all sounded quite similar. Among the bands I know, it was most similar to Lamb of God, but less dynamic rhythmically, maybe. The volume level was rather low except at the end. They also said they were all about aggression and nihilism; I could not hear the lyrics (although many of the audience were singing along to them), but I have no reason to doubt that either. There was some dancing at the front of the stage, and quite a lot of stage diving. Unfortunately, I had damaged my knee in the Cannibal Corpse mosh-pit the previous weekend (what nobler reason could one give for such an injury?), so was unable to take part on this occasion. There is also a pillar in front of the stage in that venue, which may as well have been expressly designed to break the neck of any stage diver. Though there were some flailing fists (or at least windmills) I would not say the atmosphere was particularly aggressive, though I understand someone twisted his ankle.

I say yea to... well, not a lot really, though I quite enjoyed it. Nay to random fists, however well-intentioned.

Behold, ye mighty, for I, Melachi, have spoken!

A-le-storm, and the Vet

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did attend the gig of Alestorm and associated Pirate Metallers on Saturday, 18 February 2012, at the Islington Academy. The first band I heard were "Claim the Throne". They were intoxicated before playing their first note, and continued to drink through large funnels, which they passed among the crowd. Their tunes were folkish, though they seemed to lose their way and guitar strings somewhere in the middle. The band Alestorm sounded quite similar, and were greeted by a great waving of plastic cutlasses and eyepatches from a youngish and equally intoxicated crowd. I could hear every word they said, and the lyrics were indeed quite witty. Very much a party band, then, and I would not mind another party, though cannot imagine actually listening to their records in my living place.

Returning to that place, at the bus stop I met a young lady, returning from the concert, dressed in black, with folded head kerchief, saying that she had been to see "A-le-storm", which she pronounced in three syllables and in an American accent, as though she were unaware that "Ale" is, in England, a common beverage, a bit like Coca-Cola; and there she encountered two others, but dressed with colours, indeed stylishly, and it transpired that they had known one another before, in Hong Kong, and had not met for many months. Finding myself seated alongside this latter couple onto the bus, they announced how much that first lady had changed, that she used to dress like a normal person, but now looked like a freak; that they had never heard of where she had claimed to go to Veterinary college (London Met) and that she had always been strange, though that it was good she had adopted a strange and new character, in a strange land.

I, Melachi, have no comment to make, other than such is many a mosher's lot. But this is a tale told by Melachi, and it is a true story.

Melachi Dreams of a Theater at Wembley Arena

Melachi Dreams of a Theatre

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Fri 10 Feb – Dream Theater, Periphery

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did attend the Dream Theater concert at the Wembley Arena on 10 February 2012, and hereby bring my report.

First, the tickets were somewhat expensive and the Arena was only a half full, and I was rather far from the stage. It was also rather odd standing in a seating zone, as it was not thereby possible either to sit in a disinterested manner or to move forward in a natural manner. I would recommend this band to book a smaller venue in future, particularly if they charge these prices; I for one would be reluctant to go to the Arena again. It was also rather cold.

The support band were Periphery, most sat to listen to them. I had not heard them before; they sounded remarkably like Dream Theater with some guttural vocals. They started and finished rather neatly and their last song did sound quite interesting, I would be happy to see them again. They might have played for longer, maybe started earlier.

The popularity of Dream Theater themselves is rather a mystery to me, with guitars and keyboards without a heart and a singer like the fabulous Freddy without the tunes. I have seen them three times; on this occasion they were I thought rather slow off the mark, however after a silly acoustic section they seemed to warm up, or perhaps turned the volume up, and it took off more. I, Melachi, am a great enemy of drum solos, and invariably use them to get a few drinks; however their drummer, whom I had never heard of until he appeared on stage at the High Voltage festival the previous year, then produced a splendid and listenable-to drum solo, and this evening was the same. He is without doubt the finest drummer I have heard. And I have even heard Phil Collins! Now I just have to learn his name. The final track the band played in the main set, Breaking All Illusions, did move towards the sublime, particularly the guitar solo, though one might have hoped for this level throughout the evening. So finally I walked the causeway to the station not dissatisfied.

Aye to the more relaxed compositions, leaving the performers and audience some room to breath. Nay to lack of opera glasses.

These are the words of Melachi!

Melachi and the Blood Ceremony

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, dd attend the gig of Blood Ceremony at Monto The Water Rats, in London, on 10 October, 2011, and hereby bring my report.

The venue is basically the back of a pub, which had the advantage of beer being served in glasses actually made of glass, at least in the first hour. I sat on the comfy sofa and read the Evening Standard until the first band began, led by a young lady in a hat with a large, round brim, which a person more stylish than myself could probably name more accurately. The music was pleasant enough, in a folksy style with a bluesy feel. There was also a synth/computer player, who seemed a bit redundant.

After a break, and dodging the smokers of the tiny pipe in the expedition to find the gents behind the building works, the Blood Ceremony themselves came on stage, the drummer clearly finding the space a little constrained. However, this did not affect the sound quality, which was very similar to the record, which I had thought was excellent (which is quite rare for me). As is commonly said, like Black Sabbath with a flute. Their lead singer does a very neat thing with her head, like a bat. The audience were receptive but not wildly enthusiastic and clearly not very familiar with the band, who I think would have been wildly successful forty years ago, but now? Who can tell, but I, Melachi, have spoken!

   

Melachi and the Prince of Panto

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did pay obeisance at the Ozzy Osbourne concert at the Hammersmith HMV Apollo on 21 June 2011, and have brought back this report. The support band Revoker played a short thrashy set that was well received. I would not mind hearing them again.

Mr Osbourne played a not very long greatest hits set from 8.30 to about 10. He seemed on excellent form, in good voice and to be enjoying himself. I was in the front standing area and the crowd were from the first song energetic in a non-aggressive way and clearly pleased to be quite close. There was a little surfing, though by rather old people. In fact, crusties and many young people and girls were present, though few in their 30s, I would say. The sound quality was terrible and I do not think it would have been possible for anyone not familiar with the material to follow the melodic lines and chord progressions. This was not such a big problem as everyone seemed to be familiar with them. I had the impression that the guitarist, introduced as Gus, was quite good, but I could barely hear him except in the long solo section. The drum solo was painfully loud. Musically I would say the earlier Black Sabbath material with the heavier riffs was most effective in this acoustic. Whether this was strictly a metal concert I am not sure, as the weight of the lyrics and music was not really reflected in the rather bouncy performance. More a Prince of Panto than a Prince of Darkness, then, but a good time was had by all.