Miguel Rojo
Metal goes Mental
Khaldera - Rozetta Stone – Coronach – Kuru –
Oceanis – Killaflaw
Zanzibar
8.2.13
Another superb
night at the Zanzibar not that I expected any different but this time it seemed
to be the icing on the cake! Despite my camera refusing to do its job and
failing miserably, so no pics to be had here which is a shame but nothing I
could do about it. Big thanks to Ian
Laver and Paul Bigley for trying
to revive it – to no avail.
Khaldera were the first band who started but
played covers and the vocals seemed strained and not in keeping with the music
however the musicians were good and there were some good guitar solos and the
drumming was excellent from a guy called Aaron (I think)
Nothing is
known about this band, so there are no links, no set list, not even a Facebook
page. They played the likes of Anthrax and Pantera if that is any use. The band
did not stop around after their set and just faded into the background – so none
the wiser as to what is happening with regards to them.
Rozetta Stone (8.45)
Links:
Genre: Rock
with Psychedelic tendencies
Well not a
bandana in sight - since last seeing Rozetta
Stone play and also Chris Dixon has now left the band – so down to four
members and with a big change in direction they have finally become a more
solid unit.
I liked Chris’s
guitar but between him and Dil they were more like a two man show with the
other members not so heavily featured. Sometimes a bit tongue in cheek but now
they seem more serious about their goals and with new songs have surged ahead
adding to the more psychedelic feel. The only thing that remained of the old
Rozetta Stone I could see was Dil’s socks!!
Their new brand
of rock/psychedelia certainly works! It is trippy yet heavy and the vocals
although still had the Louis Jackson Payne stamp on them also produced something
new and exciting to listen to.
Jay has
excelled as a bass player and looked a lot more confident on stage than he did
previously and Ash looked a lot more pleased with his efforts behind the kit
and as a whole looked like they really enjoyed their set as much as the crowd
goers did watching and observing.
Be interesting
to see what happens further down the road with Rozetta Stone as I think this change in direction will be the
making of them.
9½/10
Set List:
Untitled
Stag
Believe
So Blind
Mantra
Members:
Ashley Janes – Drums
Dil Lewington – Guitar
Jay Lashbrooke – Bass
Louis Jackson Payne - Vocals
Coronach –
Wirral (9.30)
Links:
http://www.facebook.com/CoronachUK
Genre:
Technical Death Metal
Well despite
not getting a set list due to a pisser of a week for the band they still
delivered a great set and played my favorite track “Hobo with a shotgun!”
Chris’s vocals
although extreme and pushing the boundaries was not up to par – sound wise,
until the second to last track when he finally asked Pat to turn it up a notch
or two, then you could hear him properly, but with spider fingered Benn doing
the frets and Liam really smashing it last night the set was a success.
Chris always
introduces the tracks in death metal style which usually means you can’t hear
what he is saying and this time was no different, but it is all in keeping with
the bands tremendous stage repertoire although I do wish (and this goes for
most bands) that when the vocalist is talking that they stop playing their
drums/guitars/basses for just one minute so we can hear what is being said or
introduced – Please take note bands this is so annoying!
I could not even
move my fingers on my air guitar as fast as Benn was throwing out those riffs
and now with Mike on guitar and Ryan on bass replacing John they too seem to
have upped their game and become a more solid band than previous with a lot
fuller sound.
Benn was not as
vocal as he normally is probably due to the bad week they had had, but everyone
seemed to enjoy the set and they certainly did deliver with the usual
resounding ferocity that we all know and love when we see Coronach play.
9½/10
Set List:
To be added in the next few days
Members:
Benn Freeman – Guitar
Chris Furlong – Vocals
Liam Edwards – Drums
Ryan O’Quigley – Bass
Mike Cliffe - Guitar
Kuru - Wirral (10.15)
Links:
http://www.facebook.com/kuruband.kuru
Genre: Heavy
Metal
Kuru is a force to be reckoned with – last seen
at Metal to the Masses at the Lomax last year.
Their intro
brought smiles to the faces of the heaving crowd as the band waved their arms
in the air to a little ditty until the ferocity began then all hell broke
loose.
All their songs
although slow with a lot of crashing cymbals really carved out another notch on
the metal bedpost so to speak and their rendition of “Gangrape Style” was just
superb and had the audience trying to do gangnam style dances around the place
which added humor to the set as well.
Jon as ever
smashed that kit so much that I thought he was going to break it as the heavy
vibes resonated around the Zanzi. The band just oozed professionalism on each
and every track they played – absolutely superb!
Tom and Pete
were brilliant both working well together on stage and half way through the set
swapped instruments but this did not deter from the intensity or passionate set
the guys did last night – but it was done as different members write some of
the tracks so it is quite fitting that they should take on the instrument for
their said track they have helped to create.
I was enjoying
the set so much last night it seemed to fly past and the seven tracks played
seemed to just be like three or four. Kuru
has indeed made their mark on the metal scene and worth checking out if you get
the chance.
10/10
Set List:
Intro
Red Sea
Defunkt
Hell Confinement
Gangrape Style
Selfish Existence
World of Sin
Bloodgrudge
Members:
Pete - Guitars,
Jon - Drums,
Craig - Vocals,
Tommy – Bass
Oceanis –
Liverpool (11.15)
Links:
http://www.facebook.com/oceanisuk
Genre:
Technical Metal/Post Hardcore
With things
hotting up Oceanis took to the new improved Zanzi stage which has now been
widened and so allowing band members to get nearer to the seated audience and a
real benefit to both band and punters.
As usual Joe
started to do his morphing act – his face distorting into evil glares. His
tongue leaped out of his mouth in such a demonic way it half scared the people
there that had no idea what Oceanis
were all about. I knew, but I was still
scared shitless as there is always that “oh shit what are they going to do
next!” feel about their gigs.
Joe did not
disappoint and after jumping off the stage started pushing people quite harshly
provoking them to form a pit and savagely mosh each other half to death. Joe
removed hats and screamed at people face to face, and then after jumping back
on stage used the widened part of the stage to make his way to me sitting on
the seat at the front. Without warning
and little be known to me at what was about to happen, he grabbed a handful of my
hair and with such force pulled my head down to the side. I could not move – totally powerless to stop
him – not that I wanted to as the music was just so violent and savage – I waited
for his grip to loosen and felt the pain thereafter burning in my skull. It felt like acid had been poured over me.
Joe moved round
the crowd to pick on his next victim and moved to two girls sitting not far
from myself, he also grabbed the hair of one and she clearly enjoyed it judging
by the look on her face and the girl sitting next to her - and grabbed her blouse
and pulled at which point Andy from Killaflaw
was looking a bit anxious and told Joe to back off. I thought there was going to be a boxing
match after that but luckily things returned to “Oceanis” normal and Joe went on his rampage further into the
building, knocking people out of the way like toy soldiers and then he appeared
on the steps where Andy was and pushed him around a bit but Andy gave just as
good back.
Dangling from
the old Zanzi beams Joe’s foot slipped and a monitor turned over as bodies
continued to be thrown around the floor like bits of discarded paper, but a
friendly hand was always there to pick them up again – one good thing about a
mosh pit!
The funny thing
is Joe is Mr Nice guy off stage and I am sure he goes to cookery classes and
helps the elderly in his spare time! His
face is happy smiling and his eyes ooze that “Love thy neighbor!” look – but on
stage – he simply gets carried by the force of the Oceanis rhythms and I really don’t think he knows what he is doing
as he is led by the evil but yet compelling ferocity that surrounds him.
The band played
extremely well with Stu doing backing vocals it sounded crisp and clear and in
between the rampaging the band offered a bit of banter to Joe’s questions like “Who
has not been to a metal gig before?” At least two of Oceanis answered “Me!” which was funny in itself.
The band have
gained this evil reputation but a venue will always be packed out when they
play as people love to see this kind of brutality – it is something that brings
out the beast and the best literally in all of us and we want to see more!
10/10
Set List:
Collision
Of Flesh
Ghost of Man
Ethereal
Prevalence
Brotherhood
Ergo Proxy
Members:
Joe Maryanji - Vocals
Stu Donachie - Guitars & backing vocals
Dave Waite - Drums
Craig Miles - Bass
Phil Dyer - Guitars
Killaflaw –
Liverpool (12.00)
Links:
Genre:
Electronica/Rock/Blues
Well the finale
had now arrived and after a 45 minute delay of the proceedings to the gig (for
some reason only Tony seemed to know about) - Killaflaw
took to the stage at 12.00.
The handful of
people that remained gathered at the front of the stage and as soon as those
resonating pulses began immediately started dancing on the beer stained floor
of the Zanzi myself included.
Nobody could be
still as they listened to these sounds as Ben and Andy got to work and produced
a mind blowing set.
Seen last year
and totally blown away with their performance as mentioned by Pat who quipped
to me “You will love these guys!” and love them I did so much so I went out and
got a T Shirt made and something I think the band appreciated and I am certainly proud to wear that shirt as well. These guys just controlled the crowd with
their amazing tracks.
Broken Idol is
so catchy you can’t help but sing along and your body just took on some unruly
and merciless steps that warranted the body to move in time to the beats and
rhythms being played.
There is a lot
of soul in the way Ben sings each track and like all the bands that played
tonight it was clear on his face that he lived and breathed each track.
The floor was
filled with mainly women although a few guys were down there getting into the
vibes and “strutted” their stuff with smiles on everyone’s faces – and certainly
a fitting end to a tremendous evening’s entertainment.
For me Broken
Idol and Set me on Fire are two tracks I could never tire of – they simply
carry the listener/watcher to another realm and I can’t wait to experience this
all over again when they play next and hopefully it won’t be too far away!
10/10
Set List:
Broken Idol
Revolution
Already Dead
Milk & Whisky
Happy Daze
Glass of Water
Holy Funk
Human Life
Set me on Fire
Members:
Ben Helm – Vocals/Guitar
Andy Paton – Keyboards
**Special
thanks to Mike Hardy as ever the guy
behind the night. Tony, Pat for the
sound and Paul for looking after us
all, plus Tottie for being charming! - Ian Laver, and Ganikah Brown, for being my good
companions during the event. Dave Dixon
and Dave Purcell (Grind Horizon) for being there and supporting the other bands, Dil Lewington and Hannah Lloyd for helping to mend broken bridges – good seeing you both again – Paul Giggs – lucky sod
having a camera that worked! Paul Bigley
for his camera tips, Danny theLash – from Solitary
Confinement and Rich Lashbrooke for
their input and not forgetting all the bands, Khaldera, Rozetta Stone,
Coronach, Kuru, Oceanis and Killaflaw for a great night’s
entertainment – you really blew me away!
The only thing left are the memories of a superb night and a faded blue Jack Daniels stamp on my wrist!
