Cynic Live

It has been a long held metallic ambition of mine, since I first discovered the band in 1993, to see these technical death metal legends in a live setting and finally I can say it's done! Actually I had always wanted to see the tech death triumvirate of Death, Atheist and Cynic and having seen Death in 95, I have finally managed to complete the triangle this year with having seen both Atheist and now Cynic.

Now was it worth the wait? Well hell yeah it was but with some minor reservations. The band has now moved on a little from the Focus era. The comeback album was good but not fantastic for my taste and the new EP is almost a complete departure. It seems Masvidal and co now want to be Eclectic dreamy prog metal and the metal word you have to use very loosely indeed. I guess they've grown old and their intellectual leanings have driven them further and further away from metal.

A little about the support band, Chimp Spanner. An English instrumental djent band to give them their due no less.. The lead guitarist spoke with a very posh English accent and was very polite which sort of pandered to my particular prejudice that djent is played by A-grade students from university who don't really actually like metal.

Any way Chimp Spanner played monstrously heavy syncopated djent with thunderous thudding and mind numbing riffs in the typical djent fashion. They also had some decent atmospheric arrangements interspersed with those mammoth riffs. Some people seemed to love them and others seemed to be tortured by the crushing noise coming from the speakers judging by their faces. I had my plugs in thankfully otherwise my ears would have been fucked and even with the plugs I could feel my ribcage rattling. Chimp Spanner were ok but not something I will ever listen to by choice. These guys are probably a metal musos dream, with constant guitar changes from 6 to 7 and even 8 string guitars for the boring tech freaks to wank over. I managed to get a few ok photos of Chimp Spanner but I could barely get close due to the rather packed crowd when Cynic were on and the back lighting didn't help me and I barely got a usable shot from Cynic.

Finally the Floridian legends took to the stage in their relaxed manner. I think it helps them no end that the second guitarist is able to do the growled lines whilst Masvidal does the cleans and improvises the computer voice. His voice is actually quite pleasant in all though can be a bit whiny. The set list was drawn more heavily from the newer material. However it was the Focus material which went down the best of course. Personally I wanted to hear all of Focus but I knew that wasn't going to happen though only three Focus tunes were played overall. A real shame indeed. However the Traced in Air tunes sounded much better and punchier live than I recalled from the album.

The sound was completely amazing with plugs on. The bass was crystal clear and both guitars played the multi-layered lines on the songs to perfection. God damn the band sounded tight and played with almost very little effort whilst the material was obviously beyond complex in reality. This made the stage spectacle very cool to watch although the drum location to one side made it impossible to see the drummer. However when concentrating on the sound the band created it was almost like putting on the albums on a big fuck-off speaker. Some would say this is not what they want from a gig and they want it to be personal however in the case of Cynic I want to marvel at their ability to recreate the records to the minute detail and this they did with seemingly precious little trouble. Really amazing to watch and hear to be honest.

I am not sure Cynic really want to be associated with metal any more, but they are still a very cool relaxed live act with wonderful effortless musicianship which will blow you away every time. Worth going to the gigs for that if nothing else.

1. Amidst The Coals
2. Carbon-Based Anatomy
3. Evolutionary Sleeper
4. How Could I
5. Adam's Murmur
6. Celestial Voyage
7. Elves Beam Out
8. King of Those Who Know
9. Veil of Maya
10. Wheels Within Wheels
11. Integral Birth
12. Box Up My Bones
13. Encore:
13. The Space For This
    

Cathedral's last ever UK gig.

Despite Machine Head playing to many thousands at Wembley Arena tonight, the final ever Cathedral show was suitably packed out with around 1500 people turned out to pay homage at the altar of Cathedral one last time. I used to be huge into Cathedral back in the early 90s when they got fully going with The Ethereal Mirror album and the great albums that followed. I was never into the first album though and some of the throwback albums that followed after in the noughties however I have lost count how many times I've seen Lee and co live although it's been many years since the last time probably in the late 90s early 2000s maybe. When this show was announced I thought I better make one last hurrah with the band. I am not a big fan anymore but who can resist a fat groove riff and Lee Dorrian's madcap lyrics and fun stage movements. One of the support bands namely Grand Magus was also a draw for me as I really like their recent output.

There were two other bands playing who I didn't care about. One of them, Comus, didn't actually play due to illness so a band called Cressida stepped in. I missed the first band Gentleman's Pistols altogether as they had finished as I walked into the rather packed out Kentish Town Forum which is a very nice sized venue. The turn out was very respectable indeed and a big send off for Lee and crew on what is billed as their last ever show in the Northern Hemisphere at least. They must have some gigs in the southern half of the world to come obviously.

Anyway I saw Cressida who were a bunch of old man playing prog rock like a mix between The Doors and psychedelia of some kind. They were not my cuppa but if you enjoy Doors-esque keyboard you could get something out of it. I think most of the Cathedral crowd were totally bemused by these gentleman!

The main support was of course going to be a treat although they barely played 40 minutes or so in the end. Grand Magus have been kicking ass for a good while now with their heroic manly songs and they make a hell of a noise for a three piece. The baldy guitar toting front man has the crowd eating out of his hand as he thunders slow and heavy riffs alike whilst the bass player head bangs for Sweden. Hammer of the North was the best song of the night with full participation by the very rowdy crowd. Final song Iron Will also killed. The crowd was a little too rowdy for my liking as a few drunkards were getting a bit too full of themselves a few rows from the front where I was standing. Having moved back a little I could enjoy the show a bit more and finally wait for Lee and co to take to the stage which they did do at 9.20pm to rapturous cheers from the excitable crowd.

Vampire Sun is a great way to start any Cathedral gig with it's insistent groove and thumping lyrical play with ample lines to sing along to. The sound was a little bass and drum heavy but Lee's vocals were surprisingly clear. In fact the band sounded in fine form. Gaz Jennings mammoth riffs were yet to cut through well in the mix but it wasn't too long before those heavy as hell groove riffs would get everyone banging grooving. Lee's legendary stage movements and face pulls are very fun to look at indeed and he seemed to be having a lot of fun. The set list was always going to be a crowd pleasing one with all the Cathedral hits that every one loves played to perfection.

The first five songs of the set were in fact my favourite of the whole night barring the encore song of which more later. Midnight Mountain has always been my favourite Cathedral song ever with it's fat grooving and it never disappoints live and it was good to hear it played to perfection one last time. North Berwick With Trials is a newer Cathedral classic and very catchy to boot. Cosmic Funeral was also amazing as it always is with it's slow melodic doomy build. The second half of the set featured songs which are less my cuppa and more doomy until of course the groovalicious final song of the set namely Ride picks things right back up and got a tremendous response from the crowd. For the last five or six songs I took to the balcony were the sound was actually much crisper and better funnily enough and I enjoyed the band as more of a spectacle from above where you can watch Lee's funny doom walking and dancing antics!

There were two encores first was Utopian Blaster a killer riffed up song with monster grooving. And finally perhaps the ultimate Cathedral anthem Witchfinder General without which no Cathedral gig is complete. The crowd was in full participation during that one and the band played with complete abandon like they didn't give a shit any more as this is it for Cathedral forever. A perfect song to end with and a funny and apt end which I will recount. On the last line of the song which Lee sings he garrotes himself with his mic cable and lies dead on the stage floor as if to indicate that yes Cathedral is finally dead. Whilst two red hooded men shuffle slowly on stage, check for signs of life and drag Lee slowly off stage as if to show that the band really has nothing more left to give. I'm sure it'll be on youtube sooner or later. It was a funny and understandable end to the band as live entity as the instrumentalists played out a final crescendo and left to rapturous cheers. Of course there will be a final Cathedral album as well though I don't hold out much hope that I will like it as I didn't like The Guessing Game at all. I think it's the right time for the band to go out though Cathedral remains a much loved, it's time for the Cathedral to crumble to dust...until the reunion that is!

Vampire Sun
Stained Glass Horizon
Voodoo Fire
Midnight Mountain
North Berwick Witch Trials
Funeral of Dreams
Cosmic Funeral
The Carnival Bizarre
Sabbadaius Sabbatum?
Ebony Tears
Melancholy Emperor
Autumn Twilight
Corpsecycle
Ride
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Utopian Blaster
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Hopkins (Witchfinder General)

Orphaned Land Live Report

My first time with the Israeli kings of Oriental prog metal and when I saw that the support would be Myrath and Arkan, a ticket had to be purchased pronto. Even if it was for the tiny 250 and it's rammed, Borderline Club. Much to my disappointment Myrath could not make it into the country due to the promoter not being able to get them visas apparently. A big shame as their new album is totally fantastic.

Still we had 3 bands to get through. First up was a band called Artweg who I have not even heard of. They had two vocalists both screaming and barking. The music was heavy groovy modern metal or nu-metal if you like with a few funky riffs thrown in with rumbling bass. Some sections were full on double bass speedy thrash and then the songs settled into chugging grooves. The vocals were rapped or screamed in French. The band was not my cuppa but they weren't completely horrible either.

Next up were Arkan, a band I've somehow managed to ignore up till now. I had known that they were also Oriental death doom but had never given them the time of day or if I had done, the songs had obviously never clicked with me so I was completely unaware their songs going into the gig. The band mixes growls with lilting female vocals all backed by heavy slow riffs and beautiful middle eastern motifs and musical patterns. They didn't have a keyboard player so all those parts were relayed via tape. Now onto the beautiful girl fronting the band. She really was an Arabian princess to be hold. Not the best English but acceptable and what wonderful dancing. The mix was slightly off at times and I could barely hear her charming vocals but eventually it settled down. Like I said I don't know the songs at all so it's hard for me to judge but they were very good and the crowd loved them.

Finally at 9pm Orphaned Land took to the stage one by one to loud cheers and finally front man Kobi Farhi took to the stage in long Arabic under garment and bare of feet! Interesting indeed, I guess you might as well look the part and of course he himself made the Jesus joke pretty early on in the set. Yes he did look like Jesus but he promised us he wasn't the Messiah to much laughter in the pretty packed out crowd.

My knowledge of Orphaned Land songs and material is limited but that wasn't the case at all with the as expected diverse crowd. It seems they have a lot of devoted fans as a hardcore bunch at the front were singing or growling all the lyrics straight back at Kobi. The sound was much tighter and better for Orphaned Land than it was for Arkan. Great clarity and crunch to the mid paced riffing. The catchy parts in the songs when it gets all dancy and mystical were absolutely brilliant. I don't think Kobi has the best clean vocals I've ever heard by far but his slightly odd melodic voice suits the music down to the ground. He has great Messiah-nic hand gestures and pulls some funny Jesus Christ poses but it's all in good fun.

The band is very tight indeed and they all show great enthusiasm even when playing in a tiny but well attended show such as this. The sing along chant sections of the music were choreographed by Kobi so that everyone could happily join in which they did at the top of their lungs. Sapari off Orwarrior was catchy as hell and the song of the night for me. They played till more or less 10.30 with a acoustic section in the encore with just the guitarist and Kobi doing his light melodic vocals. Quite interesting but finally they finished with a sing along outro with the whole crowd chanting back at the Kobi and the band. The band left with huge cheers ringing in their ears and the Kobi and the band thanked us profusely for coming out.

An enjoyable spectacle and a cheap ticket price too making it a very worthwhile night of Oriental metal. It's a shame that Myrath couldn't play as well but I guess that meant and increased set from OL which the crowd loved from start to finish.

Iced Earth Live Report

Well with the new Iced Earth album being so well received with new boy Stu Block at the helm, I wasn't going to miss this opportunity to catch Schaffer and co when they hit town last night. This is my second time seeing Iced Earth. The first was with Barlow back in 2003 when they played a near 3 hour solo gig which was one of those legendary gigs for all who were there. Of course they weren't going to play for 3 hours tonight but I've been looking forward to tonight since I got my ticket a couple of weeks ago.

Support acts were named as Fury UK and White Wizzard, however due to some reason WW did not play as indicated on a notice on the club doors as you walked in. I think there is some trouble in their camp with personnel from what I read on forums here and there. I wouldn't have minded seeing WW as it goes but I'll get over it as I haven't even played their new album yet even though I do like the first one.

As for Fury UK, well they are a decent band. Very tight trio playing trad metal with tons of solos from the lead guitarist/singer. The only problem with them was that their songs weren't nearly memorable enough or catchy enough to get me and most of the crowd too excited to be honest. The lead playing is pretty shit hot though if you fancy watching sparky fret action though. An ok warm up band that needs tunes to back up the playing skill IMO.

Finally after quite a long and painful wait of about 35 minutes( yes I was counting everyone!) Schaffer and co took to the stage and were greeted like returning war heroes from the pretty packed out Islington Academy. It was not quite sold out but I'd guess a good 500 or so turned out seeing as it was a Friday night and a great way to start the weekend for sure with this being the starter for many and Manowar being the main course tomorrow.

Anyway on with the show and let's see what this new boy Stu can deliver live for the Icy ones. Well to say he was perfect would be slightly over the top but he was as close as it's possible to being perfect right from the word go when they launch into the opening track from the new album. Schaffer was pulling more mean faces than you can shake a stick at right in front of me as luck would have it and hammering those triplets out like there's no tomorrow. Stu mixed up his vocals between Barlow and Halford/Ripper screams to perfection. His screams were truly ear bustingly good it has to be said. The only department where Stu cannot match Barlow for me is in the emotional parts of IE songs. He does his best but Barlow just has something in his voice that makes those parts sound more melancholy and Stu doesn't quite have that in him yet though maybe it will come with age.

A lot of the new album was played with songs as such as the glorious Anthem, the manic V and the epic Triumph and Tragedy all sounding might fine and played with utter conviction. It seems Iced Earth are now a band reborn thanks to Stu's arrival. The guy has brought genuine enthusiasm to the band and you can tell they are not just going through the motions this time round. There is fire in their collective bellies and they mean business.

The show continued to it's climax with the encore of Dante's Inferno which was absolutely monstrous it has to be said and created the first moshpit of the night. Finally they broke into their namesake song, Iced Earth and the show was over at the rather early hour of 9.30pm with the curfew set at 10pm with a club night being held at the venue after. They played for nearly 90 minuted which was probably a little longer seeing as White Wizzard didn't play but that's all the better for the fans I suppose. The only thing I can quibble about slightly is the setlist which is of course the usual problem with fickle fans who miss their favourite songs at live shows. Yes and for me there was the lack of Stormrider and Pure Evil was quite a disappointment but I'll get over it.

The band was on shit hot form and perform with the kind of vigour that I didn't quite expect to be honest and it's all pretty much down to the new frontman. All hail the new Stu-iced Earth!

Oh and for those waiting for a report about Manowar tomorrow, alas I won't be going. I would have loved to go but the ticket price of £50 is just too much right now and I had to give it a miss. I would have liked to have seen Joey and co but it's not to be. Maybe next time if there is one.