Helrazer II
Spires – Savage Outlaw, That Æon Familiar, Skyline Ablaze, Pandemik and Sa Da Ko
Zanzibar Liverpool
23.9.11
Spires - Progressive Metal – Manchester – Stage time: 8.15pm – 8.45pm
From the “off” Spires warmed everyone up for the start of Helrazer II, with their blend of progressive technical style of brutality!
The Zanzi had an air of coolness about it, as the pleasant strings just glided through the atmos!
The crowd as few as it was at the beginning of the evening had already started to edge towards the stage in awe of Spires.
Beginning with “The infinite Descent” a Spires Classic, and heard several times by yours truly, never lost its crispness or finesse on hearing again.
Due to the lengthy tracks, Spires played just three songs: the second one being the bands “newest” called “The Fevered Spirit” which was indeed just as long as the previous track but none the less not lacking in detail, which is what Spires are about! Attention to detail being the operative word here!
I lost myself in the music, as it was so easy to do when listening to and watching Spires.
They have the knack of engaging an audience, and leaving them spellbound and open jawed no matter how many times you see them live.
I loved the way the tracks can start off mellow and then explode into something quite brutal. The balances of their tracks are really amazing!
Their professionalism glowed at Helrazer II, despite being first on and it set the pace for what was about to descend upon us...
Great show – come back soon!
Set-List:
The Infinite Descent
The Fevered Spirit
Broken Hour Glass
Members
Paul Sadler - guitar / vocals
Paul Cuthbert - guitar
Alex Jolley - Bass
Chris Barnard - Drums
Savage Outlaw – Rock – Birkenhead – Stage time: 9.00pm – 9.30pm
Before the dust could settle, Savage Outlaw was ready to … well Rock! These five guys know how to get the audience’s attention as soon as they strike a chord heads turn.
They managed to squeeze seven tasty tracks into their thirty minute slot with ease.
Straight away the atmosphere changed and as the Zanzi was filling up the guys kicked in with “Devil’s Seduction”
You can’t help but “like” Savage Outlaw as they are good old down to earth rockers with that old school feel about them.
Their chords are rock chords and deftly played by Mark and Karl. The good old school sound keeps pumping and just lifted the spirit of the Zanzi to a great level.
Stuie commented on being a single man, and a guy in the audience believed to be Stuie’s dad, shouted back “It’s not your fault you are gay!” to the amusement of the crowd.
As much as I love all the tracks from Savage Outlaw, it has to be said that “Twisted Romeo” is my favourite for its “sing-a-long” lyrics and catchy chorus and worth a slot at the end of the set to leave the crowd wanting more!
Always good seeing this band just to take you back to humble beginnings. Not a still head in the house, damn straight!
Check out the dates below to catch Savage Outlaw Live! Great rock extravaganza!
Set-List:
Devils Seduction
Bad Women
Fire
Broken Outlaw
Addiction
Halo (Soil Cover)
Twisted Romeo
Members:
Stuie Thomason – Vocals
Mark Mounsey – Guitar
Karl Carey – Guitar
Ian Walsh – Bass
Jon Dawson - Drums
Next batch of gigs for Savage Outlaw are:
16-10-11 - Swinging Arm
22-10-11 - Highway 2 Hell 2, Grand Central, Glasgow
28/29-10-11-Manchester's Metal-core & Alternative Rock Festival (Bar 38)
12-11-11- Stanley's Cask, Wallasey, Wirral
10-12-11 - Snatch Rally, Vauxhalls
That Æon Familiar – Metal-Core – Liverpool – Stage time: 9.45pm – 10.15pm
Always loved watching these guys live! That Æon Familiar (or TÆF as they are also known as) just oozed energy and aggression and lifted the highs to a greater height!
Some people dislike metal-core but I have to say that it is a genre I quite enjoy, as I like the amazing screaming vocals and power that it portrays. Then again I like a lot of various genres from across the board.
Karlis stood at a good height and once he was in full swing there was no stopping him.
His spider like dreads tucked into a white cap, which he later lost in the pit due to his extreme antics were something to behold.
Danny and Tommy on guitars moved aggressively in time to the “beat me - eat me” blast from Jay with Mike’s bass lines ringing out of the speakers left you awestruck!
My favourite track has to be “Incoherent” as first heard at the Zanzi at the first Metal Assault and really stuck in my head.
The energy from Karlis was tremendous, he didn’t let up except in between tracks, and got right up close and personal with the crowd as I have seen him do on previous occasions.
Karlis goes into some sort of trance like state and becomes this monster on stage that has no limits of endless aggression and was great to witness live! (Again)
Give these guys some support if they are playing near you... be warned “it’s brutal!”
Set-List:
Amendments
Russian roulette
Art of Persuasion
Engulf the Sun
Breadwinner
Incoherent
Members:
Jay Parkins: Drums
Tommy Beeh: Guitar
Danny Jackson: Guitar
Michael Lamb: Bass
Chop Chop: Vocals
Skyline Ablaze – Metal – Liverpool – Stage time: 10.30pm – 11.00pm
Forth up was Skyline Ablaze five power hungry guys really stormed the Zanzi stage with a dose of brutal metal. They have gone from strength to strength musically and always produce a great set, with sheer drive and enthusiasm. By now the Zanzi was awash with sweaty bodies. (A lot of late comers looked clearly happy at the prospect of witnessing Skyline Ablaze at their best.)
These guys really pushed the boundaries at Helrazer II. Hel bent on delivering an awesome display of the brutal. Crisp, tight sound and amazing energy just ripped through the Zanzi, so loud the floor was shaking!
A lot of people now crowded around the front of the stage and focused clearly on the five musicians in front of them, who clearly meant business as they launched into their set all guns blazing! It was definitely Skyline’s time to ablaze!
Track after track just stank of brutality in the finest sense. Gut roaring screams and passionate chords blasted the airwaves.
Clearly the band of the evening! although you couldn’t fault any of them.
Great set guys loved it to death!
Set-List:
Hell Awaits
Been Too Long
Take what’s yours
Desert Road
Left for Dead
Shifts in Perception
Sever the Ties
Members:
Kenny Powell - Vocals
Paul Vixen - Guitar
Mark Seaford - Guitar
Andy Watson - Bass
Olly Silvester - Drums
Pandemik – Metal with a twist! – Liverpool – Stage time: 11.15pm – 11.45pm
First seen at the Death wave gig on the 8th September 2011. Pandemik (Yes Pandemik with a K) were already up on stage and blasting out their amazing tracks with extreme vigour, as I entered the Zanzi after taking a breather. It was only when the tracks stopped and Marc the band’s vocalist started to taunt the audience with his bantering’s that you realize that although serious musicians they do have their sense of humour up there on stage with them as well!
I did ask Marc to remove his newly acquired Sa Da Ko T-shirt, but he refused kindly by telling me to f**k off, as he didn’t want anyone seeing his cuddly frame! :P I was quite disappointed tbh... But not with the music! ;D
These guys just know how to capture the moment and contain it into such a great stage show.
The metal was indeed twisted in the most brutal way and had the crowd wind-milling and doing all sorts of strange and wonderful things.
It was at that point that John Deacon (my little Bro) from London got up and really freaked out on stage with the band, much to Marc’s amazement. (Well done John!)
Marc then announced they were going to play a Sepultra cover “Roots Bloody Roots” and that if anyone knew the words they could sing on stage with the band.
Ian McCormack from Entropy was right up there and a female member of the crowd bellowed Roots bloody roots, into the mic and then was helped on stage by Ian. Lil Bro John was up there again and joined by several others until the Zanzi stage was awash with head-banging bodies.
Great way end to their thirty minute set. Always worth catching Pandemik LIVE for that “twisted” experience!
Catch these guys out if they are anywhere near you! Guaranteed to please!
Members:
Marc - Vocals
Chris - Guitar
Lee - Bass
Mike – Drums
Set-List:
Porn for the Dead
Necrofleet
My Vendetta
Sickened
Satan Helps Me Kill
O.C.D.
Roots Bloody Roots (Sepultura cover)
Sa Da Ko – Groove Metal – Southport – Stage time: 12.00pm – 13.00am
Finally headliners Sa Da Ko hit the stage. The intro burst forth to an amazed audience and the guys kicked into action.
The five strong crew of Sa Da Ko wore “uniforms” of black shirts, black ties and black trousers. It kind of gave off the impression that you had walked into an Italian restaurant, but great gimmick – there’s no mistaking Sa Da Ko for sure!
The five tracks they did play were in the vain of Sa Da Ko true groove style! “Boom Shake the Room” was met with horror on some of the faces of the audience until the band started to play it and then they realized that this DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince' track had left its roots and turned brutal, which then put smiles on the faces of the confused crowd.
Great blended grooves and constant beats just blasted out, whilst Jim’s vocals took on a really evil sound. I had so been looking forward to seeing them again since the Helrazer I after them playing my favourite track “Red” and was convinced they would play it again... however, sadly they were unable to after having to leave before finishing their set due to some unfortunate news, which was a shame.
But catch them LIVE for the best effect!!!
Set-List:
Intro
Marionettes
Boom Shake da Room
Milwaukee
Five Shots
Fever
Members
Jim - Vocals
Simo - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Deano - Rhythm Guitar
Rob - Bass
Gregzilla - Drums
With special thanks to John Beeson for bringing the Landaners up here in his spaceship! Sis Carmel O’Hagan for some great pics as used for the review! :D John Deacon for being brave and getting up there with Pandemik – and for letting me stroke his hair!!!! :P and to my lil Cuz Ian Laver who was just awesome!
Also thanks to Tony, Pat for the awesome sound as usual, and Paul for his teddy bear qualities and to Dil – a great all-rounder!
Thanks to A Carnal Elect for travelling over from Preston, Faye Huxley for all her help on Facebook, Andy Deathwave for the awesome show of wind-milling whilst bare chested!! Jay Pipperell – (From Ninkharsag) for recognizing me outside. :D Special thanks to big bad ass Bo McBain who supports an awesome Mohawk and head banged most of the night at break-neck speed! And Dan and Agnes for supporting Helrazer.
Thanks to the bands and everyone for making it a memorable night!
PS: The pic of Marc from Pandemik was taken by Phil Vidamour and not from Helrazer. Unfortunately non of the pics turned out... all moving too violently for them not to have been blurred!
