Review by Richard Henry for MPM
Well here we are at the end, last time you will see these guys on stage, stacked line up tonight though before we get to the finale!
Jesus Piece
Tunnel vision
Rumbling on to the stage, at the ungodly hour of 6pm, immediately you are getting Roots vibes from that riff, then a bit of Chimaria only with a lot lower vocals, good sized crowd appear in at this point to greet the guys when they ask for the hands in the air, good aggressive start to the night, that’s a serious slab of a riff and a guitar sound to match it!
Neuroprison
When they hit the floor toms at the start of that it’s a serious thud, slow and grinding riff on this one, slow and deliberate groove, then the middle section has a real d beat feel to it, demanding a circle pit to happen in the place the a pogo session from the crowd, they are looking a real workout from us tonight!
Fear of Failure
Damn that is a nasty grinding riff to start this, really slowing it down on this, well I say that and the double kicks start in, the vocals are nearly more death metal in parts than metalcore, the bass player adding in the higher screams!
The Bond
They are ripping through these songs at some pace at the min, more of a hardcore feel to this and then some blast beats, this night up my street this song then into a crushing breakdown section straight after it, great use of the double vocals on this track, love all the shifts in tempos, that end breakdown gets slow, love it!
FTBS
Nice groove to the start of this one, the guys have really given it all out there to the crowd, not a lot of room up there but prowling the stage whipping the place up, great stage presence, nice song to end the set with, low and grinding with the double vocals, really nice Slayer sort of riff in the middle part of that, and again a real slow breakdown at the end of this one, lots of noise and stops and then into more groove and breakdowns mixing a bit more hardcore vibes in there as well!
Last song and I didn’t catch the name of it, really dissonant guitar part and groove to the start of it before it gets into a really slow slab of a riff and the drums are slamming to it then you get a sort of drum breakdown groove then a really grinding riff with everything else dancing around it, then a lovely double kick riff pattern hits and it slows down again, breakdown central with these guys!
Not a band I knew of before tonight but I will definitely check them out after seeing them, worth a serious listen!
Obituary
Redneck Stomp
It’s a bit of a flex coming on to a four minute instrumental, but they did it earlier in the year and why change it, if you wanted a masterclass in what Obituary do, it’s this song, groove for days, variations on the riff and it just keeps expanding but it never loses interest, a lot of Florida bands brought the speed, Obituary always brought the groove!
Threatening Skies
From the back from the dead album, these guys are certainly not because they are a massive ball of energy musically, the crowd really enjoying this one and the band thrashing away, always loved the sort of d beat drumming though this and the toms hammering away, some sound problems with the vocals, the sound in here is absolutely mint though from the crowd perspective!
By the Light – Off to Back from the Dead, that’s a disgusting riff at the start of that one and then a punishing slow groove comes in, it’s like a sledgehammer to the knees, Donald is beating the crap out of that snare drum, he does not hit light at all, when the double kicks come in for the middle it just slams, Johns voice hasn’t aged at all, just brutal, love this track!
The Wrong Time – New album gets hit for this one, now that intro reminds me of Bodybag from Cause of Death, just heavy head banging groove on this one, the riffs are just so simple and it’s the groove behind it that just gives it the heft, the guys are pretty in place bar John, just standing head banging and laying it down!!
Deadly Intentions – From Slowly we Rot, that riff slams into double bass groove that drips into the slime when the other riff rears its head, it’s so god damn heavy live as well, then it kicks into high gear, then it’s solo time, lovely ESP camo guitar there, some really nice little fills from Donald in there as well!
Chopped in Half/Turned Inside Out – One two from Cause of Death, love the break they put in to hear the crowd sing back to them, I love that build up from slow to double bass kicking in to that fill into the fast beat, it’s just an absolute masterclass in building up a track!!
Solid State – From the World Demise album for this one, every song is like getting in a boxing ring, just getting slammed in the face with the brick wall groove, the sound is so punchy in here as well, great mix, everything really clear, then the pick up in the middle, no sign of a pit yet in the place is the most surprising thing, Ken pealing off a lovely solo before that slamming double bass groove part comes in!
War – New album again, opening with the sound of guns and the stobes, crushing is the best word to describe the song as kicks in, you would think they would mellow with age, not a bit of it this is as heavy and as crushing as anything they have ever done, in fact the new album may be the best album they have ever done and a song like this proves it, first crowd surfer of the night bloody love this track!!!
Dying of Everything – One two punch from the new album, and just to prove that the new album is unreal, you get slapped with this one, the tempo is up there, flying double kicks, and John screaming all over the top of it, so glad I heard this track again, slamming tune!!!
Slowly We Rot
From that ominous intro guitar riff and the slow drumming this is really an absolute classic of the entire death metal early days, and despite the fact I heard it less than a year ago it still gives me chills, I’m not sure what else I can write about these guys apart from death metal royalty!! Not many people can end a set with a song so iconic!!! In case you can’t tell, I love these guys, have been listening to them since the first album and they never disappoint!
Jinjer
Sit Stay Roll Over
Blast beats and screams to kick this off, a wall of sound on the stage, when it kicks into the bass and drum groove the vocals change to clean, guitar sound is not coming though and there are issues, there we go he is back on, the mix has gotten sharper and the clean vocals anrre cutting though, lovely little drum flourish’s going on up there as well, that’s a heavy ass riff in the breakdown, what a track to open with!
Ape
Love that thumped bass line at the start of this, the vocal switching back and forward, then the breakdown hits and there is dancing riff going on with the heaviest bass sound right underneath it, then the blast beats come back and they are super clean sounding, decent reactions from the crowd as well, everyone starting to push up to the front, the strobes are out for these guys, really good light show!
Fast draw
Do we like hardcore is the question, this one to be fair is pure agro punk in feel, then the breakdown has a lovely double bass shuffle sort of thing going on, if it wasn’t for the vocal this is in parts proper NYHC in sound, the main focus is Tatiana at the front and centre of everything, when the breakdown at the end hits it gets proper low and rumbly!
Retrospection
Sort of cleanish guitar intro to this and the clean singing comes in, almost ballad in like then this big swinging mallet of a groove comes in and belts you round the face, crowd surfing is starting a few coming over the top for this song, brutal when the blasts come in and then back into the groove!
Teacher Teacher
That’s a meaty riff to start this one, that snare is like a sniper shot, it’s tuned really high, then a lovely choppy riff comes in with a serious groove right underneath it, there should be an epileptic warning for this, that is some light show, the crowd are well into this with the security guys having their hands full, I go back to the mix again, the sound is spot on in here tonight!!!
Lovely bass tapping at the start of this one, with a build up starting, some really good vocal range in there as well from Tatiana, I am loving that bass line though, before there is a brutal djenty riff that comes in!
Colossus
No intros, just one into another there is a real mix on this one of styles, one min it’s djent and then the next it’s more like a metalcore or hardcore song, the one thing every part has is tonnes of groove and when it gets heavy it gets properly heavy, there’s a real driving riff with Tatiana growling over the top and then the blast beats and doubles kicks come in and fly, love that part, so aggressive!
Someone’s Daughter
As tender as we are getting tonight, lots of clean vocals on this one which is actually really nice to hear, still the whole thing is underpinned by a really heavy groove, and the drums and bass are just carrying this one, when it builds up a bit then goes into that nearly SOAD down groove, you can hear it picking up, epic track!
Kafka
That’s a bass and drum groove to kick this off, love the dissonant guitar part going on as well, the tempo is down a bit at the start of this one, definitely tracks going on with this one as I can hear a vocal female harmony in it as well, the middle of this song does not sound like the start, that’s aggressive to say the least!
Copycat
That’s almost like a Periphery riff at the start of that one, really angular, oh hang on we have a circle out in the building, well done Belfast, always good to see, and the right song for it, uptempo and lots of breakdown riffs and screams it’s the vehicle for it, again the sound it’s so brutal, I love the switch to that hardcore beat section as well!
Perennial
Clean guitar comes in, almost orchestral in feel, then you get slugged by the most aggressive part right after it, as the vocals enter though it gets brutal, slow rolling drum groove and mental riff, you only get a reprieve in the chorus where we get the clean singing coming in, again she has a great range in the clean vocals, nice break in the middle of the song!
Rouge
Slam into the last song, there has been no let up and this is just as schizophrenic, bouncing around between syncopation and all out thrash tempos, the vocals aggressive from the off, middle of this is so off the wall tempo wise as well, it’s like Primus, then that breakdown in the middle, it’s just slaps, now that’s a tune to end on! First time seeing these guys, they put on a great show!!!
Sepultura
Refuse Resist
Absolute Classic from Chaos Ad to kick us off, I mean what can you say about this that hasn’t been said before, the start of groove metal, is this not a massive metal anthem, how many people said Oiii in the break, that chaotic Andreas wah solo, I have heard it live a good few times and it never fails to still make the same impact it did when I first heard it!
Territory
Sticking with Chaos AD, Grayson getting the intro drum part, I have watched Igor play it not too long ago and this is spot on, again it’s different with Derrick but he is an ominous figure up there staring at the crowd, again, the sound mix is absolutely crisp in here tonight, everyone is singing back “war for territory”, it’s loud in here tonight, as it should be for these legends on the stage!
Slave New World
We are going for the treble, the starting riff then that crack of the snare and it is a lot more aggressive than I remember it being before, real urgency from the band tonight on the stage, everyone really putting 100% in, Andrea’s is just a flurry of hair and Derek pounding the stage from one side to the other, for a farewell tour these guys are as vital as ever!!!!
Phantom Self
Machine Messiah album for this one, jungle beats are in for the start of this one, Grayson flying around the kit before the main beat comes in and it slows right down, the groove to this is savage, Andreas centre stage for the wah solo, Derrick bouncing around on the spot just spitting out the lyrics!
Attitude
Roots album for this one, that ethnic instrument sound kicks off this one, then the droning guitar kicks in, he has a massive guitar sound tonight, I then that groove just kicks in, the circle pit is in for the first time tonight, love the tribal visuals on the screen, flicking between that and the band members, can you take it the crowd scream back at the guys, then that sledgehammer of a riff kicks in, what a track!
Means to an End
Off to Quadra for this track,now that is a groove to kick off with, Grayson nailing Eloys part at the start and that’s not easy, Jesus actually watching the verse part, that is not easy either, Andreas pearched centre stage headbanging away, then takes a lovely solo before that mental drum groove comes in again, that’s a tricky number!!
Kiaros
From the album of the same name, ok I think the tuning just went down, that’s is a nasty riff with a really slow groove underneath it, then the tempo picks up, Andreas jumping in on backing vocals, Paolo helping out on the other side with vocals during the chorus, love the tribal groove under the solo, the people are coming over the top now!!
Spit
Back to Roots, that riff and then the drum accents before that Criminally Insane ride patter kicks in, before the tempo ramps up, love that harmonic part with the drums underneath, love crowd surfing but there was a fella just took out a bouncer into the speakers, watch out folks!!
Guardians of the Earth
Quadra album again, now for you guitar fans, not only is Andreas playing a lovely nylon string but he has a Bumblebee EVH strapped around him as well, lovely nylon string intro and it’s clear the guy has technique on the nylon string as well, then it kicks in and there are some dizzying riffs in there, almost a Celtic feeling guitar melody in this one now that I think of it, then into a
Lovely shredders of a solo that tops of with melody and a fast run and back into the chorus part!
Choke
Off the Against album, groove groove groove at the start of this, Derek over my side now punching the air and screaming at us all, I forgot how heavy this song actually is live, especially when the tempo picks up a bit in it, Andreas and Paolo over the far side adding the backing vocals, atmospheric middle section, then bang, straight back in again!
False
A track from Dante XXI, octave riff to start and the cymbal accents, then a growl from the depths before we hit a proper old school d beat section, love the addition of the vocals on the screen behind the band, heavy ass song live!!
Escape to the Void
Old school andback to the Schizophrenia album, now this is my era, Grayson battering the kit, now it kicks in, then flys up to that break, 4 count and we are in, there is the right tempo there, Derek doing a damn good job on this, I love the stuff from this album, all the tempos and the breaks, Andrea’s certainly has his signature sound and you could hear it back then!
Kaiowas
Chaos Ad for this one, it’s a nice break in proceedings to be fair to add this jam into the middle of the set, it definitely breaks up the set but still keeps it going, really nicely placed in the set!
Dead Embryonic Cells
First one from my favourite Sepultura album, that is an absolute headbanger of a lead in then you are into the thrash part and the break and we have a pit going on behind me as Andreas takes his solo, fast runs and tapping then into the break, I forgot how many parts there are in this one, another absolute classic from my favourite album!!
Agony of Defeat
Quadra album again, clean guitar intro with a synth piano backing to it, lovely staccato riff to this with a Tom groove under it, really melodic actually, again they have really paced the set well, love that melody guitar part going on and you can hear the synth parts still in the background, another great solo here pealed off in the middle by Andrea’s, banger!
Orgasmatron
The Motörhead cover, didn’t think I was going to hear this, I mean it does exactly what it says in the tin, never heard it live so was very cool to hear this!
Troops of Doom
Back to Schizophrenia for this one, now I literally watched the other version of the band play this last year and it was awesome but I have to say this is a bit slower and it actually really benefits the song cause when it gets fast it’s not so manic, that solo, Andreas just pulling that off with ease, it’s a quick slap around the chops and it’s over!!
Inner Self
Beneath the Remains, what a banger, after the riff the build up and then the double bass onslaught, crowd screaming back at the band, before we get into the verse part and the driving beat, the pit is indeed right behind the guys on this one, the that dirty chorus section and beat, looks like the security are getting busy here!
Arise
From the album of the same name, and this is 100% my favourite Sepultura song ever, and it is as aggressive now as it was in 1991, Grayson is absolutely killing it back there on the drums, that solo, from the bar dives to the pull offs to the tapping, there was a wee moment there after the drum break, but it’s an absolute classic, love it!!!!!
Ratamahatta
Roots jam up next, starting with a Grayson drum solo, now trad grip jazz I was not expecting, then it kicks up, literally, snare rolls and the feet come in before we are moving around the kit, some nice hi hat tracks there and some Donati sticking patterns, the guy had chops, that’s for sure, and the the Tommy Aldridge hand drum solo, then into the actual track, lots of people are singing this one, it’s a fun track!!!
Roots Bloody Roots
Well I mean, as much as it’s not my favourite Sepultura song, I am pretty outvoted by everyone in the building tonight with a deafening roar of the chorus line coming back at the band from the crowd, last chance for a pit and crowd surfing and the crowd definitely oblidge; what a way to end the set and what a song to end with, very glad I got the last chance to see these guys in this form, my last words, absolute legends!
