Rampage
Gates of Purgatory, Poets of Anarchy, Bombshell and
Coronach
Zanzibar
13.9.13
Overview:
Well for
extreme diversity this has to be the mutha of all gigs! Danny really played a
blinder here, although Poets of Anarchy
were chosen by Tony the Zanzi owner to perform but looking back it really gave
the audience something to think about – like broadening their horizons,
something a lot of metal-heads including myself, really seem to struggle with,
but slowly my list of genres is increasing. Of course you can’t like everything
you hear, but if you don’t give them a chance you may miss out on something special.
Music is what we feed off, it helps in times of stress and can bring the finest
rewards possible!
Gates of
Purgatory - Wirral
Links:
Genre:
Experimental Metal
For fans of System of a Down
Having seen Gates of Purgatory for all the three
gigs they have played now, I can safely say these young guys have really
stepped up their game somewhat and even losing their guitarist two days before
the Rampage gig did not perturb them
from putting on a good show. Their last gig was played with Luke the bands
drummer struggling with a broken wrist as well, although you could not tell,
apart from the cast on his arm!
The vocals were
superb both from Wes and Josh. Josh himself seems a lot more confident on stage
since their first gig back on 12.4.13 also at the Zanzi and the growls were a
lot more structured and sung with more conviction.
Wes, Josh and Aaron
Josh
Wes
‘Nom Eye’ is
without a doubt my favourite track from Gates
of Purgatory and I always listen out for it. This time again, but a lot more powerful and
the band really got into their stride performing it. It’s melodic and catchy
and really a great track to finish the set with.
The only change
track wise was that the band had dropped ‘Chop Suey’ from the set but they
certainly put everything into their performance and paved the way for the rest
of the acts that followed.
9½/10
Set List:
Nothing Matters Now
Yndig Tortur
Open your Eyes
Capture the Sky
Tyranny of a Brick Wall
Nom Eye
Members:
Josh - Vocals
Luke - Drums
Aaron - Bass
Wesley – Guitar/Vocals
******
Poets of
Anarchy – Liverpool
Links:
Genre: Funk
Rock and Roll band or Frock!
Record label - Legend
Records
Brief History:
“A local band
to Liverpool consisting of David McGirr on Front Box, Graeme Roderick on
Guitar, Stephen Leach slapping the Bass and Chris Tweedle with the big backbeats. Producing their own music.
A four piece
Funk Rock and Roll band from Liverpool. Originally formed by Stephen Cusack and
Graeme Roderick. In November 2012. Then a within days Chris Tweedle and David
McGirr joined to create Poets of Anarchy.
Just eleven hours later Poets of Anarchy
performed their first ever gig at the Zanzibar. Since then the Poets have
swiftly raised their game becoming tighter and writing even more original
tracks. The Poets signed to a label from San Diego in July 2013 with a single
release on the way”
Well with
conflicting stories here, some liked Poets
of Anarchy some did not – and I must admit I was not convinced – that was until about five songs in and then no matter what happened I could not stop
tapping my foot and really got into the groove!
Clearly four
gifted musicians at work and worked their music (and banter) into the crowd and
the only signed band to play at Rampage
being with Legend Records.
Their name
would suggest maybe something heavier was in store but there is no getting away
from the professional way in which the band executed their tracks and even more
startling to find out they have not been on the scene all that long – not even a
year and they have managed to get signed!
Graeme, Dave and Ste
Dave on vocals
is utterly fearless and can handle himself on stage in more ways than one!
And by this I mean handling his most prized possessions! Steve on bass was
utterly amazing, he made the bass come alive, in fact the bass seemed to just
be a part of him. Graeme the guitarist was exactly the same and looked at ease,
even going as far as to playing the guitar behind his head (no not standing on
his head but I bet he could do that too!
Graeme, Dave and Ste - getting funky!
The first few
tracks in I found a bit ‘samey’ and felt I needed a ‘metal fix’ but thought, “I
will stay till the end of the set and see what happens!” and I am really glad I
did, as the music just seemed to get into one’s head and soon the feet were
tapping along and that was it!
Dave and Ste
Certainly NOT
easy to play to a different crowd and a metal crowd too! So all in all they did
extremely well and the hecklers seemed to know the band anyway, but Dave ate
them for breakfast with his sharp witted comebacks!
As much as I
can’t believe I am writing this but I think I have just added another genre to
my list of likes! ‘The Funk,’ ‘Flex’ and ‘Feeling your Love’ were clearly
superb tracks that stood out for me on the night!
9/10
Set List:
Intro
Burn
So far she’s a star
On my way
Set me Free
The Funk
Groupie
Flex
Feeling your Love
******
Members
Dave McGirr - Vocals
Graeme Roderick - Guitar
Stephen Cusack - Bass
Chris Tweedle – Drums
******
Bombshell –
Liverpool
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/BombshellOfficialPage
Genre:
Combining genres from hip-hop to electronic
For fans of Senser, Subsource, Street Sweeper Social Club, OMS, Skinny Puppy, Skunk Anansi, Pitchshifter and Die Krupps.
Bombshell was the only female to play Rampage and ‘alone’ I might add,
bringing even more diversity to an already diverse line up. Some like myself
may know Jen from her Goacore days
and whose last gig was 13.1.2011 at
the Zanzibar.
Jen is the most
quirky act of them all. After reviewing Dataset Beta just one of her EP’s (not
forgetting Alpha and Gamma) the latest EP offerings, available on Amazon and
iTunes, I knew I had to see her perform live, so was really glad of the chance.
Jen is indeed a
one woman act – setting up her laptop and keyboard and produced the meatiest of
beats from hip hop to rap and dub-step with everything in between. Plus her ’Battles’
and for metal-heads not familiar with this, is where two people get together
and insult each other in a rap style – it’s really hard to do, but Jen is a
master at it and her talent has taken her all over the country.
Concentration - Bombshell
Bombshell decided to drop ‘Grief Bacon’ from her
set which was a shame but it did get a bit of reaction from the crowd when she
mentioned it. Apparently it means
excessive weight gain from emotional overeating!
Bombshell
‘StFOMB’ and ‘Schadenfreude’
were my outstanding track likes from Bombshell
both catchy and memorable in their own right
Bombshell
With hues of
red, black, purple and pink Bombshell
went to town on the crowd and although she did have a few problems with one of
her stands on which her laptop was sitting, managed to entertain everyone at the
Zanzi with her unusual style singing, dancing, programming and it is all her
own stuff too!
Molotov Cocktail - Bombshell
Catch Bombshell doing one of her legendary ‘Battles’
at the White Lounge in Wallasey at 9pm tonight – the air will be blue by the time she
has finished!
9/10
Set List:
Blue n Blue
Rendering
Electric Incubus,
Labyrinthitis,
Gremlins,
StFOMB (stay the fuck outta my business),
Schadenfreude
Member:
Jen Catterall
******
Coronach –
Wirral
Links:
Genre: Death Metal
For fans of Suffocation,
Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel
So from hip hop
to death metal in the blink of an eye, to finish off this unusual evening Coronach made a headline appearance,
and once more we metal heads could mosh the fuck out of what was left of a
thoroughly entertaining night.
Chris - wondering if the ceiling will give way! and Ryan
Lee Soady
vocalist with Ensorrowed ‘now I
think, the sixth member of Coronach as
he is a staunch supporter of the band, furiously moshed and growled into the
mike when Chris the bands rowdy vocalist gave him the opportunity!
Lee - growling comes naturally!
As you know I
don’t ask for set lists from these death metallers anymore, as they are just
numbers and I do not do numbers! But it is always a pleasure watching Coronach perform as there are very few
death metal bands around Liverpool now, since the sad untimely demise of Sclavinia – so Coronach now hold the crown for being probably the most heaviest
band in Liverpool – death metal wise that is.
Benn, Chris, Mike and Ryan
Ben, Liam, Chris, Mike and Ryan
Benn never
ceases to amaze me with that fast spidery fingered riffing, and Mike just
stands like a mountain of hair occasionally showing his man boobs when asked,
to an endearing crowd of metal heads!
Fast nimble fingers - Benn
Chris takes
everything in his stride as do Liam and Ryan but together they make up a strong
compelling act that really has to be seen to be believed.
9½/10
Members:
Chris Furlong –
Vocals
Benn Freeman –
Guitar
Liam Edwards –
Drums
Ryan O’Quigley
– Bass
Mike Cliffe -
Guitar
***Special mentions to Danny Hell – Gods of War for a great line up! Tony, Totty, and Pat at
the Zanzi. The legendary Chris Simpson
of Mersey Metal Madness, Dave - Photography, Josh Carvell – Thunderground, Kali – Deathwave, and Lee Soady - Ensorrowed not forgetting the superb bands who played at
Rampage - Gates of Purgatory, Poets of Anarchy, Bombshell and Coronach. Watch out for the next one
it’s only a month away!
