SOIL, Puddle Of Mudd, Dear Superstar @Coventry Kasbah 15/10/11

RTM first came across Dear Superstar around two years ago when they supported Buckcherry in Wolverhampton. Initial impressions were pretty unfavourable. Skip forward and they have improved slightly. Singer Mickey Satiar remains their trump card, but with new album “Damned Religion” all set for release, they have matured a little and moved to a more muscular Skid Row type sound. Destined still, one suspects to be also-rans in the Brit Rock pack, they have nonetheless got more of a coherent vision this time around.

                                                     Soil in action

Casualties of the early 2000s nu-metal scene – which they were unfairly linked to due to their association if Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst (who had signed them) - Puddle of Mudd burst onto the scene with a couple of hit singles – notably the Stone Temple Pilotsesque “Control” and the awful “She Hates Me.” The crowd’s reaction to both shows they still have friends in these parts – and if American radio metal is your thing then there is much to enjoy here. However, the years have not been kind and it says much for the bands confidence in their own slightly dated material that they choose to pad out their set with two rather pointless covers, AC/DC’s “TNT” and The Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.”

Chicago’s Soil are making their first visit to UK shores in a while and their first in a very long time with original lead singer Ryan McCombs. The vocalist apparently had a difficult relationship with the rest of the band before they spilt. He alludes to this, saying: “It’s the second night of the tour and we are still speaking to each other.” It is a strange performance, though. The volatile frontman by turns racing round the stage, sitting on the drum riser and passing out drinks to the crowd. It is during the latter hiatus that bass man Tim King gets irritated, asking: “Are we gonna play a fucking song?”

Soil’s other issue is a rather more prosaic one and it is this: Whilst their debut album, “Scars” – from which most of tonight’s set is drawn - is a very decent slice of Pantera meets Corrosion of Conformity metal, the fact remains that it contains 12 good and one magnificent song. And when that song, the faultless “Halo” is delivered (with McCombs in the crowd) the gig takes on a whole different dynamic.

It is, arguably, a good problem to have. And they may yet write a better track, as McCombs hinted a new album might be on the way. Whether the band stays together, or they can ever find a way to top their signature tune both remain to be seen.