Winter Slaughter
Bludvera – Ramraid – Gods of War – Reaper - Gates of
Purgatory
Zanzibar, Liverpool
01.02.13
Well what a
line-up! This was one gig that held a vibe all the way from start to finish.
The Zanzi was soon crawling with punters all eager to see their favourite metal
bands perform.
I had the
pleasure of witnessing four out of the five bands on previous occasions so I
had a very good idea of what was about to unfold, although I hadn’t seen Gates of Purgatory before but was in
for a shock!
Gates of
Purgatory – Wirral
Links:
http://www.facebook.com/GatesOfPurgatory
Genre:
Experimental Death Thrash Metal
The band looked
in the region of between 16 and 17 but still pretty confident on stage. Their
music was distinctly heavy and already a small crowd had gathered at the front
of the tiny stage to witness this young band in action.
Josh
As the first
song finished Wes announced that their vocalist had only been with them a week
to astonished crowd goers who let out a huge gasp and the faces around me were
ones of extreme admiration – although Josh sang only two of the tracks and sat
out for the rest whilst Wes continued.
Aaron, Josh and Wes
Next wow factor
was the band’s drummer Luke who was actually playing drums with a broken hand!
Drumming isn’t easy and Thrash drummers especially work over the odds to keep
up momentum so to see this young guy literally thrashing his kit with bandaged
hand was unbelievable in the circumstances.
Aaron, Luke, Josh and Wes
This is one
band I feel will make it a lot further due to their dedication in the eye of
what could well have been defeat, but they delivered, confidently and with
ferocity – What a superb way to open a gig! Well done guys!
Wes and Aaron
8½/10
Set List:
Open your eyes
Chop Suey
Nothing Matters Now
Tyranny of a Brick Wall
Foreboding sentiment
Yndig Tortur
Nom eye
Members:
Wesley – Guitar/Bass/Vocals
Luke - Drums
Aaron – Guitar/Bass
Josh - Vocals
Reaper –
Liverpool
Links:
http://www.facebook.com/RipRawReaper
Genre: Thrash
Well once again
I was fortunate enough witness this band some time back and they left me open
mouthed then, but now? Well I was on my knees with admiration. Another young
band who clearly loves what they do and practise every waking moment plus it
showed.
Ant
Ant
Their
confidence levels had risen by over 100% as they thrashed out some amazing
tracks. Dan’s banter went down extremely well with the punters and his facial
expressions were one of extreme seriousness once playing.
Pete the tiny
drummer who when you meet off stage is quiet and unassuming just flourished
behind his kit. Titch – so called because he is a giant as Dan pointed out gave
out some amazing bass hooks whilst Ant the band’s lead guitarist looked just as
amazing behind his guitar as he did the first time and really his fingers must
have been shred to the bone after last night’s performance. To say it was
blistering (Every pun intended here) is a kind of understatement.
Dan and Ant
Bludvera’s Scott and Patto were clearly enjoying
the set and decided to do some stage diving and I was so glad I wasn’t there to
bear the brunt of their sweaty bodies as they landed - although seconds earlier I may not have
been so fortunate!
Pete, Dan, Ant and Titch
It is clear
they are a strong team with Pete writing The Crypt and Ant writing The Sixth
Circle of Hell two very strong enjoyable tracks that left the crowd moshing
furiously in the pit (which I had to retire from as it got a bit fraught with
wind-milling hair and bodies being hurled around from one side of the venue to
the other) There was not one person there not moving their heads in
appreciation to what was transforming in front of them.
This is one
band that if you haven’t seen before then I strongly urge you to do so because
they are just superb on stage best I have seen them!
10/10
Set List:
Area 51,
Wings of Darkness,
The Crypt,
Into The Pit (Cover by Testament),
Possessor of Evil,
World at Redemption,
Sixth Circle of Hell
Members:
Daniel Moran - Rhythm Guitar/vocals
Anthony Dalton - Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals
Peter Cattle - Drums
Matthew 'Titch' Pruden - Bass
Gods of War –
Liverpool
Links:
http://www.facebook.com/godsofwaruk
Genre: Metal
Gods of War always great to see live with Danny
darting about the stage with a look of wild frenzied excitement in his eyes and
now with Matty on guitar they seem even stronger than previously seen with the
old line-up.
James and Matty
Matty and James
The band
decided to mix a few old tracks with a new track Gods of Old which had the
moshers out in their droves and Patto from Bludvera decided to jump on stage
and do stage surf to which an astonished Danny said afterwards “Wow we have
never had that happen at one of our gigs before?” Always a first time!
Kris, Matty and Danny
Kris and Matty
Patto joined
the band on stage and was making sure the dry lips of the band members were
refreshed offering them a sip of his pint whilst in full play mode, this was a
lovely touch, from the spandex wearing Patto and Scott also joined in the fun
on stage. There was great camaraderie
from most of the bands on the night though with many stopping to support the others
– this is always good to see.
Gods of War is gaining momentum as they have now performed
the Lancaster circuit and gained high regard for their unique brand of metal
and really upped their game. Tonight was
no exception. Totally superb!
10/10
Set List:
Mourning the Departed
Ignite
Pillage and Plunder
Foes who oppose me
Mourning the Departed
The Arrival
Gods of Old * New Track
Apocalypse
Termination Program
Members:
Danny Hell - Lead Vocals
Kris Dobson - Drums
Matt Hughes - Lead Guitar - Lead Backing Vocals
James Collins – Bass - Backing Vocals
RamRaid –
Wirral
Links:
http://www.facebook.com/RamRaidUK
Genre: Thrash
Dom, Ben and Joe
Well it was a bit
touch and go at the beginning when Ben said his guitar was “fucked!” and the
band hadn’t even got on stage! Fortunately the problem corrected itself and Ben
went on to smash the set with his frenzied finger fret approach. Joe also
excelled with some fantastic vocal repertoire – probably the best I have ever
seen Ramraid play, despite Joe’s low
self-esteem but I think Joe is realising now that what he is part of is a strong
thrash metal outfit that is certainly climbing further up the ladder and capable
of even better things to come with each and every show they play.
Ben and Joe
Into
Annihilation was expertly executed and one of my favourite tracks to sing-a-
long with it really gets the crowd going.
Ben and Joe
Dom was just
thrilling to watch behind his kit and the serious look on his face as he
angrily smashed those cymbals to death was absolutely superb.
Dom
With set
smashed and all having such a good time it was time for Bludvera to take the stage.
10/10
Set List:
Into Annihilation
Ramraid
Bred For Death
Murder in the Embassy
Deathlands
Members:
Joe Bromiley - Rhythm Guitar - Lead Vocals
Ben Gannon - Lead Guitar
Paul Hutton - Bass Guitar
Dominic Williams - Drums
Bludvera -
Liverpool
Links:
Genre: Thrash
Lui and Scott
Scott and Patto
This was Bludvera’s fifth anniversary and what a
way to celebrate it! The room was at fever pitch as the guys took to the tiny
Zanzi stage under a haze of bright lights, and the Zanzi was where the guys
first performed those five years ago.
Lui and Patto
Joey and Scott
The band gave
us a new song called Inhale the Rings of Saturn which was well in keeping with
their superb thrash set and one I look forward to hearing again next time
round.
I saw Bludvera in the early days, Scott was
certainly not as confident as he is now and I did say to him back then that he
would go far and since then the band has appeared at Bloodstock which proved me
right.
Scott
I thought it
was very fitting and apt that Scott invited the original members of the band on
stage to play Tools of Bloodshed and Seek and Destroy introducing Terry as the
founder member and the person responsible for the name “Bludvera” as well as Kristian Dobson back from his frenzied onslaught
on drums with Gods of War behind the
kit to thrash out a track he played with the band back in the old days – it was
superb watching.
Terry and Kristian
Finally the band
played Total Recall still one of my out and out favourites from the band as the
crowd could join in with the chorus on this one and joined in they did. That pit could just not have got any fiercer
if it tried. I watched it all unfold from a safe distance away; the look on the
mosher’s faces was sheer delight and ecstasy with fists held high and the sound
of Oi Oi Oi! Amid a sea of hair!
Scott
Lui and Patto
Baz
Just before the
end of the set saw a few jumping on stage to make the most and get everything
they could out of the finale that Bludvera
had carved into their five years on the circuit – what a fitting end to a
magnificent show – here’s to the next five years of Bludvera carnage. May necks continue to be broken.
Set List:
Terrorform
Reanimate
Inhale the Rings of Saturn (New Song)
Citizen Monopoly
Tools of Bloodshed (Old Song w/Original Members)
Seek & Destroy (Metallica Cover w/Original Members)
Voyage beyond the System
Powerhouse
Total Recall
Members:
Scott - Vocals
Patto - Guitar
Joey - Guitar
Lui - Bass
Baz - Drums
*Special thanks
to Tony, Pat and Paul as always. Thanks to Ganikah Brown Cuzzy (Ian Laver) Mike
– who I thought was Patto most of the evening. Good finally meeting the elusive
Paul Ennis and Wendy as well as Kim Jones.
Thanks to
everyone for making this a special night to remember including Gates of Purgatory, Reaper, Gods of War,
Ramraid and Bludvera – superb sets!
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