Take
Warning presents:
The Atlas Moth, The Proselyte & Rat King
The
High Line
Capitol
Hill, Seattle
12.10.14
Band pictured is The Atlas Moth
Overview
It isn’t often that I get to review any bands outside my home town
of Liverpool but today I finally got the chance to see how they do things on
the other side of the pond.
The High Line
is a metal club, run by metal heads, so it was a natural thing for me to go
down and check it out.
I had no idea of what awaited me as I walked up the stone steps to
the club. Inside it is warm and welcoming and you feel at home there instantly!
Well I did anyhow!
The place is considerably larger than a lot of Liverpool clubs and
the stage is just amazing.
Jeffrey
the High Line’s resident Sound Tech
actually built the Sound System for the High
Line and at one point was running The Vera Project, which invites people in
to learn Sound recording and sound techniques all under the shadow of the super
structure in downtown Seattle called “The Space Needle”
The Head Barman Alan runs
the High Line with a relaxed vibe,
whilst Nick works the door and Dylan serves behind the bar and what a
formidable team they make.
The club is 100% Vegan and make their own brand of beast-less
delicacies – well the beastliness actually comes from the bands who play there,
and there is no shortage of those, and the drinks have metal names that only
metal heads will appreciate!
MDF Maryland Death Fest
Documentary Screening:
Like with most good intentions the screening at the High Line of this formidable fest
didn’t go strictly to plan but for most part the film was interesting and gave
an insight into how the fest is run and documented by several famous people
including Phil Anselmo.
It is a large operation and started out in Baltimore as a gore-grind
jamboree in 2002. The MDF is a four day event running from May 21st
to May 24th with a host of bands (around 80) from all corners of the
globe and have included Godflesh, Morbid Angel, Ghoul, Absu, Demigod, Autopsy,
Archgoat, Winter, Mortuary Drape, Disma, Morgoth and many more.
The Fest has been running for near on 12 years and quickly developed
into a premier Metal Festival that is most talked about internationally.
Started by Ryan and Evan – two ardent metal heads in 2003. The duo have strived
to bring together some of the most legendary bands from the extreme side of the
underground and professionally organised.
Rat King – Seattle, Washington
Links:
Genre: Sludge Stoner Metal
Tonight, it was the turn of The Atlas Moth, The Proselyte and Rat King
who dished out the savagery, although I have to say Rat King did it for me, despite there not being any vocals but just
three screams that were forced out in quick succession to accompany the
towering grooves that ate you up from the inside - I kind of dubbed them “The
Pied Pipers of Seattle!” Rats? Get it?
Daniel stood hunched over his bass, his eyes very rarely leaving the
harsh chunks of groove that left his fingers.
Their unique sound is one of barbarous ferocity and hidden in the
shadows of the High-Line was a
drummer called Tyler who knew the spots to hit to keep the room a gasp.
The sound quite simply washed over you and ran through your veins
until it simply engulfed you. From start
to finish this trio enthralled and mesmerised the highly excitable audience at
the High Line.
Great performance that was highly charged and overwhelming with
irresistible chunks of groove that more than kept the ‘buzz’ alive!
Definitely recommended!
10/10
Members:
Tyler
- Drums,
Ricky
- Guitars,
Danny
- Bass
******
The Proselyte – Boston, Massachusetts
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Theproselyte
Genre: Post Grunge Metal
The Proselyte on Gypsyblood records from Boston were chunky there was no getting away from that.
The music and accompanying vocal surges of sheer hate rang out, but there seemed a lot for just one set of ears to be engaged in and so it is what it is – a rampage of extreme noise.
The Proselyte’s sound rang with angular awkwardness however, the band members did work extremely well together as a unit and did, on all accounts stun quite a few members of the growing crowd.
Combined with energy and chunky rhythmic persuasion the band unleashed their tracks in an array of slow malice that manifested in a sultry haze until the end and making way for The Atlas Moth.
Combined with energy and chunky rhythmic persuasion the band unleashed their tracks in an array of slow malice that manifested in a sultry haze until the end and making way for The Atlas Moth.
8/10
Members:
Alec T. Rodriguez - Vocals/Drums
Bradford J. Macomber - Bass/Circuitry
Nicholas G. Wolf - Vocals/Guitars
******
The Atlas Moth – Chicago, Illinois
Links:
Genre: Sludge, Psychedelic, Metal,
Doom
Atlas Moth although
far from being light-hearted and cutting a groove so thickly laced with venom,
they were extremely hard to ignore, although their sound was very angular and
didn’t have quite the same appeal as Rat
King for me personally. They had spent a lot of time putting together their light show which added to the textures of their crippling slab of doom rhythms.
The psychedelic aspect was vehement and highly charged with a rich hue that hung in the shadows. The titles of the tracks were interesting although I didn’t actually get set lists.
The psychedelic aspect was vehement and highly charged with a rich hue that hung in the shadows. The titles of the tracks were interesting although I didn’t actually get set lists.
The set was imposing and lavish with a scornful note! It consolidated a rich and deep ambiance of malicious and rugged potency that lingered on the ears and sparked an expressive delivery of seductive essences amid eerie outlines of the band members slightly hidden from view.
Delivered and executed with a potent twist of solid enterprise, and
plenty of room to manoeuvre on the large High
Line stage, just right for a 5 man strong army.
9/10
Members:
Andrew
- Synth/guitar
Alex
- Bass
Daniel
- Drums
David
- Guitar/Vocals
Stavros
- Guitar/Vocals
******
** A big thanks to The
High-Line, Jeffrey for his
amazing and skillful sound techniques, Alan
for keeping things running like clockwork, Dylan for moistening the dry lips of the dehydrated crowd at the
bar and Nick who extracts the
dollars as people strolled through the venue. (Dylan had finished his shift and gone home before I could snap a shot of him)
Jeffrey
Alan
Nick
Also thank you for the friendship from Jim and Lynne and of
course Trace, whom I met during the
buffering breaks for the screening of The Maryland Death-Fest or (MDF) as it is
known, and of which we all sadly happened to miss out on during the final 7
minutes. (Damn buffering!)And not forgetting The Proselyte, Atlas Moth
and Rat King for a mesmerising array
of inflamed grooves and passion that fed the hungry onlookers with sheer
delight.
