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Artist: Breed 77, Susperia, Illuminatus, Sworn Amongst Venue: 02 Academy, Newcastle Date:
25 May 2009
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This
was a gig review that nearly wasn’t with the car troubles on a Bank
Holiday weekend being the last thing anyone needs, but at the last
moment things got sorted so we made the gig after all and after
interviewing both main bands I was really looking forward to the show.
Both main bands were in a very positive mood pre-show and believe me
when I say, both bands kicked some serious ass tonight. But
before all that we had the pleasure of two support acts, first up were
Yorkshire quartet Sworn Amongst, who obviously idolised Mr Hetfield and
Co’s early years, as they looked like they have watched every
Metallica video and stage performance, so much so they could have been
the band twenty years ago. The
bands short but heavy hitting set opened up with ‘Rules Of
Engagement’, where the band really showed their metal credentials from
the beginning as the twin guitar assault rocked the venue and those who
have come in early got a real wake up call from the guys. They
continued to push the PA to the limits with ‘Denounce’ and
‘Exploited’, again both songs were definitely Bay Area metal, which
I must say was a little lost on some of the crowd on a different night
with a more sympathetic crowd the boys would have went down a storm. However
the lack of crowd reaction didn’t bother them as they pushed on and
with the last two songs of their set, they really went for it and gave
it their all. The band were out to enjoy their short but
impressive set and I would highly recommend checking them out if you're
into the likes of Metallica and Megadeth. Next
up were Illuminatus who were plagued with tech problems from the off as
guitarist Jon Martin's equipment just gave up the ghost, as the tech
guys tried their best to sort out what was wrong the rest of the band
continued with ‘She Said’ By
the third song the problems had been sorted as they continued with the
set with the title track of their album 'Wrath Of The Lamb'. Because
of the ongoing tech problems the set was cut short and the band rounded
off with ‘The Rising Tide’, which was the best of the bunch, such a
really pity because the band really were firing on all six but I’m
sure that they will take this on the chin and the next show will really
kick ass. Now
on to the first of tonight's main bands Norway’s own Susperia, who
were without frontman Athena for this tour due to his recent quadruple
bypass, However a suitable replacement for this tour was found in Bernt
Fjellestad, who brought a whole new side of the band with his more
melodic vocal style. The
band really were up for tonight as the opener ‘Chemistry’ reflected
as Fjellestad powered though the vocals and the guitars of Cyrus
and Elvorn just lit up the venue with spellbinding monstrous licks,
whilst the punishing back beat of bassist Memnock and drummer Tjodalv
kept the power surging through the set. The
crowd really got into the band's music from the off, many of whom were
returning after first seeing the bands tremendous support slot for
W.A.S.P. last year at this very same venue. The
band powered through with ‘Release’ again Fjellestad
being just superb, but it was Memnock’s bass that really showed the
band still have that power behind them, while still remaining as melodic
as ever. The
band's new album was brought to the attention of the crowd with the
massive metal of ‘Elegy and Suffering’, a thunderous metal monster
on album and live even more so, featuring big licks again from Cyrus and
Elvorn and an even bigger double kick storm provided by Tjodalv, all
going to make this one of the highlights of the night. After
the torrent of metal in 'Devil May Care' it was back to the new album
for 'Attitude', with what else but the title track again. Fjellestad
was giving this song a great melodic metal edge and it was not
surprising to hear that this is actually one of his favourite tracks off
the new album. The
band continued with more from the new album with ‘Character Flaw’,
before retuning to the bands 2007 opus 'Cut From Stone' with the title
track ‘Cut From Stone’. By this time the crowd were just hyped
up to the max enjoying this very metal moment, only they like me were
about to be totally blown away with the bands next song. Yes
the band must have taken great joy in supporting W.A.S.P. last year as
they gave us a stomping version of ‘Wild Child’, which sent the
crowd into a frenzy of head-banging and moshing. This
fantastic set was rounded off in typical Susperia style with the
thumping metal of ‘Home Sweet Home’, which ended what was a
tremendous set and one that warmed up the crowd no end. Susperia
had really managed to send the right vibe around the room about the band
who have thrown away the shackles of their Doom/Black Metal days and
show that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Metal world. The
main event for many tonight was to be Breed 77, who return to the stages
of the UK with a promising new album in the pipeline, which we were
informed is to be heavier than what has gone before. So would the
new stuff go down well with the diehard fans in tonight, you bet your
bottom dollar they did! The
band opened up with ‘La Ultima Hora’ and instantly the crowd just
exploded and a mosh-pit formed in the centre of the room and continued
throughout the show. It
was clear to all the band were really fired up as they gave us a taste
of their new material with ‘Wake Up’, a hard edged metal song with
that typical Anglo/Spanish feel. This was quickly followed by 'Son Of
The Father’, which again had the floor started to make some serious
movement as those down the front leapt up and down, while those behind
moshed the night away. The
band kept it hard and heavy all night with the likes of ‘Alive’ and
another new song ‘The Battle Of Hatin’, which frontman Paul
announced was available as teaser via the bands website. Yet
another great metal track that received a massive thumbs up from the
crowd and showed that this new album is surely set to take the world by
storm. But
the older material was going down a storm as well with the fantastic
‘Floods’ and ‘Remember That Day’, both superb tracks.
However it was the angst filled metal of ‘Revolution On My Mind’ and
'Worlds On Fire’ that incited almost riotous scenes, as the mosh pit
just exploded as bodies were thrown from side to side in absolute metal
ecstasy. There
was a salute to the bands before and the road crew before they gave us
the title track to the new album ‘Insects’, but there wasn't any of
that daft go off stage and then quickly come back tonight for this band,
instead they kept the tempo going right up to the very end with the
excellent cover ‘Zombie’, which rounded off a great night of no
holds barred metal from all bands concerned. |
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