Bury the Fallen, Guardians, Scare Tactics and
Incassum
Krossfire Live
The Krazyhouse
20.12.12
Having got to
the venue early I was witness to some great sound checks – the K normally not
sounding 100% really came good making the night one to remember.
Twice a couple
of “Pops” happened making Geoff think that there was not going to be a gig, as
he thought the main fuse had blown – and poor Sharleen thought it was her
hair-straighteners causing the panic – this however was not the case and the
show did go ahead thanks to the techies who knew just what to do to put it
right.
Also having an
early start meant that everyone could enjoy the bands and get home again after
the event – another plus!
Bury the Fallen
– Liverpool 20.45
– 21.15
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/buryTF
http://www.reverbnation.com/burytf
Genre: Metal
Bury the Fallen is as down to earth as you can
get. A metal/rock hybrid originally formed by Duffy, Sam and Starkey and then
recruited a bassist in the shape of Jacob and then vocalist Paul joined them in
June 2009.Although they are now a four piece but that doesn’t mean they are any
the less “noisy” These guys know just where to hit the spot with their great
blend of unique melodic but chunky metal.
Having seen
them perform live on several occasions I knew what I was in for and that were a
jolly good dose of pure metal! And they didn’t disappoint.
On the dingy
little stage of the Krazyhouse these four guys pulled out all the stops and
really did a superb set.
Roj removed his
shirt after a couple of the tracks to shouts of “Get your nipples out!” and Roj
took a bow. The fact he is taller than a block of flats makes him look like he
is playing a child’s drum kit! But child’s drum kit or not he knows how to play
and also plays guitar. Further on in the set he took the acoustic guitar and
started playing all the little Christmas tunes from behind his kit, then the
rest of the band joined in and gave it that more meatier, heavier feel and
adorned their own special Christmas hats into the bargain.
Roj - without shirt!
The guys played
my favourite track “Messages” my fave because of the harmonies – the track is
so well balanced and catchy and deftly played to just a pocket of people who
had taken the time to come down and support some great talent.
I will never
tire of seeing Bury the Fallen four
talented guys who indeed enjoy what they do and do it with style and ease.
9/10
Duffy
Jacob
Midd
Set List:
Sever
The Unknown
Messages
Through Shadow
The BTF Christmas Time “Specialness of awesome”
Forever shall they Burn
Members:
Sean Duffy - Guitars & Screamed Vocals
Ben Midd - Guitars
Jacob Walsh - Bass Guitar
Sam Roj - Drums & Clean Vocals
******
Guardians –
Wallasey 21.35
– 22.05
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/GuardiansUK
http://guardiansukstore.bigcartel.com/
http://www.purevolume.com/guardiansuk
Genre:
Alternative Rock
Guardians, strive
on giving their fans a 100% best at every show. 5 years together (formally as
Hippy’s on the Hill) they have formed their own catchy, fiery brand of
alternative, high voltage rock, as well as one of the best stage shows in the
North West.
Having bagged
support slots alongside The Blackout, The Automatic and Twenty Twenty,
headlining HUB festival 2010 and being featured in Kerrang! And Classic Rock
Magazine whilst still unsigned, Guardians
are definitely aiming high.
Don’t be put
off by the name – these guys are not Indie! Despite their appearance, they are
a hard edged rock band with a melodic twist in the tail. Superb on stage and
excelled with a high calibre sound, one minute ferocious the next smooth and
crisp – you get it all!
The music is
catchy, rhythmic and powerful. Red Eyes
is just a fantastic track – the intricate guitar work will leave you mesmerised
and a track that once you hear will have to be repeated over and over.
The guys really
did a fantastic set although they said they messed up the first track a bit but
pulled it back – however not seeing the band before I was none the wiser and
thoroughly enjoyed their set anyway!
Caught in the
Crossfire and In/Out were also very memorable with the first aforementioned
track offering some crisp guitar and harmonies with a pleasurable rhythm.
The thing I
love about Guardians is the way they
mix hard edge with melodic it’s really interesting hearing the backing tracks
and the vocals although clean are also brute-edged.
I am looking
forward to getting a CD from this band to review separately. I can’t believe
they only have 1,094 likes on Facebook after five years playing, but check them
out, like the page and listen to Red Eyes – it’s an amazing track.
9/10
Sean
Brad
Brad and Craig
Sean and Brad
Set List:
Intro
An enemy of my enemy (is my friend)
New World Order
Long like the King
Red Eyes
Make it out alive
Caught in the Crossfire
In/Out
Members:
Brad Doné [Vocals, Guitars]
Craig Henderson [Guitars]
Sean McMinn-Davies [Bass]
Mike Priest [Drums]
******
Scare Tactics 22.25
– 22.55
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/scaretacticsuk
http://www.reverbnation.com/scaretactics
http://www.youtube.com/user/ScareTactics
Genre: Groove
Metal
Formed by
brothers: Stuart and Andrew Barker from the remnants of three of Liverpool’s
most recognised underground metal bands: Hollow Point, Ogun and Obsolete. They
take influences from many styles, a new sound mixing classic thrash and metal
with hints of progressive and grunge and as a result 'Scare Tactics' emerged!
Since Danny’s
departure to the land of Kangaroo’s and Koalas – Big brother Alex has stepped
into the breach and he really completed the Barker family line-up – all we
needed was Geoff to get up there and we would have the full set – maybe changing
the name from Scare Tactics to
Barker Mad! (Maybe Barking Mad would be more appropriate – although Paul would
have to change his name)
Having seen the
band go on to win Bloodstock and countless other gigs I have to say I love
every minute of their performances. They have a way of getting the crowd (as
small as it was) eating out of their hands with jokes a plenty, mad hats and
the poking of each other’s anatomy! It’s always fun-packed but once the band
starts playing the seriousness begins.
Paul Charnock
the band’s rhythm guitarist (never without his cheeky grin and mad repertoire)
becomes Mr Serious and it shows in each chord he plays – as with all of Scare Tactics members. They deliver but not forgetting that a sense
of humour is paramount to their sets.
Paul
Stu the band’s
drummer wore a lovely Christmas hat and got into the Christmas spirit as he
bashed away on his kit and as Geoff told me before the set – Stu never stops
drumming he constantly taps on anything that is available whilst Andy the man
behind the sound of Scare Tactics as
well as the lead on guitar wore a surfing outfit which consisted of a pale blue
T-shirt and Hawaiian shorts this was to remember Danny who is taking a short hiatus
from the band whilst coming to grips with all the Sheila’s in Oz. (Say no more!)
Stu
This was the
first time I had seen Alex play bass for the band and he did an amazing job –
they all did considering they hadn’t practised for a while, but for these guys
it’s just like riding a bike – you never forget how to do it! Sounding tight
and producing a brilliant set! With Drunk Fuck being one of my favourite tracks
– singing along to it is a must!
10/10
Alex, Andy, Stu and Paul
Alex, Andy, Stu and Paul
Andy
Alex and Andy
Set List:
Right Hand Man
False Power
Not Again
Wrong but Righteous
We Live
Drunk Fuck
Members:
Andy Barker - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Paul Charnock - Guitar/Vocals
Alex Barker - Bass
Stuart Barker - Drums
******
Incassum –
Manchester 23.15
– 00.00
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Incassum
http://www.myspace.com/incassum
http://www.incassum.com/
Genre: Metal
In 2004 five like minded
musicians became acquainted at the University of Salford, Greater Manchester,
all shared the common goal of creating original and exciting heavy metal, and
from this ‘Incassum’ was conceived…
After being
unable to stay for the band’s last gig at the K due to being in agony with my
foot I was thrilled they were playing again to give me chance to write a review
for them.
Sharleen
mentioned they had, had to cancel a gig due to her having a bad chest infection
but tonight proved they were all on top form as they ploughed their way through
their extreme tracks.
The sound check
was superb and the K for once actually got the sound right – which is a
difficult thing with all the niches in the room, but definitely there was no “tinny”
sounds whatsoever on the night.
Joe, John, Chris, Sharleen and Andy
Although, it
wasn’t until Incassum were half way
through their set did someone actually turn some stage lighting on and so all
the band’s appeared in semi darkness making photographs near impossible all but
a few meagre spotlights above the bands head everything was dark.
However,
Sharleen growled her way through the set shaking her mass of black tresses to
the deep and evil rhythms. You can’t imagine someone as beautiful as Sharleen
screaming and growling like a woman possessed – and yet her clean vocal is
angelic – such a contrast.
Joe and Andy were
wind-milling to the extreme – the demonic growls and scathing rhythms kept the
now growing crowd mesmerised.
Another
scorching set and one I definitely want to repeat again – soon
10/10
Sharleen and Joe
Andy and Sharleen
Sharleen
Joe
Sharleen and Chris
Set List:
Redemption
Blood Soaked
Beckoning
Demons that Dwell
Walk Alone
Cut Loose
Divine Rights
World’s Fear
Members:
Sharleen Kennedy - Vocals
John Curran – Drums/Vocals
Joe Ratcliffe - Bass
Chris Taylor – Guitar/Vocals
Andrew Snowden - Guitar
If you weren’t
in the mood for Christmas at the gig on Thursday you would change your mind
afterwards. The atmosphere was just
superb with everyone having a laugh and getting into the spirit of things.
Thanks to CM
Woods for putting these brilliant bands on and for making me feel part of the
furniture, and special thanks to Bury
the Fallen, Guardians, Scare Tactics
and Incassum for the amazing musical
performances – Bring on the next one!
