And yet that is the rather
odd spectacle that greets us on the way to the Academy 3 tonight. It is a shame
that more of these flag waving saps hadn’t made their way to the venue instead,
as for the second time in two weeks five local bands are gathered together
under the Emma Scott Presents banner.
Tamworth’s Chemikill are
first up. Playing music for over 20 years, the five piece are interesting
affair. Frontwoman Natalie is growling one minute and hitting high notes the
next, indeed it is hard not to think of Arch Enemy’s Angela Gossow on occasion,
except the music is more heavy than death metal. Set closer “Psycho” is perhaps
the high point, but it’s not a bad start at all.
If you judged Zombie Xtras
by their name you might think they were some horror punk outfit out of the
Mifits school. If you judged them by the appearance of their bass man Rich you
would think of a Black Metal band (he is wearing something approaching corpse
paint and a t shirt urging us to “smoke crack and worship satan”.)
Well its time to think
again, because Zombie have a sound that veers from groove metal, moves through
some Saxon-esque chops (“Killing Fields” and the Jack the Ripper homage “Fry In
Hell”) and ends up at hard rock with “Redneck Agenda” and “Devil in the Flesh.”
Their’s is a set to confound expectations and they are band worth checking out.
It is perhaps a surprise to
see Point Blank Fury this far down this type of bill. A while ago they were
amongst the most promising of the unsigned Midlands metal crop, but then they
split and are almost having to start again. However, since a triumphant return
in March, they seem to be taking a serious stab at things. Not even the loss of
their bass player to Chris Appleton’s post-Fury UK band has perturbed them
(tonight’s replacement has had one rehearsal with the band).
So what of the songs? Well
“Ashes” sounds as good as ever, “Change Tomorrow” is the type of trad metal
epic that gets White Wizard selling records around the world, and signature
tune “Night Skies” is just a brilliant five minutes. Lets hope the second time
around is a good one for Fury.
On our notes for Captain
Horizon, we have written just one thing: Witty. This is not a reflection on
their joke telling abilities, more the man christened as Steve Whittington.
Witty is just about the best frontman in the Midlands. He could sing the phonebook
and make the damn thing entertaining.
Less straight ahead metal
than the other bands on the bill, with some almost prog and poppy elements to
their sound, they draw the evening’s biggest crowd by quite a way. Indeed,
there is an argument to suggest they could have headlined this thing, but no
matter. “Light Years” is a fine rocking moment and the new EP (available for
free download on their website) is a statement of intent. They will be back.
The first time RTM saw
Hostile was when they opened for Hatebreed a couple of years ago. The
intervening period has seen them make some headway. Having the patronage of KK
Downing (the Priest legend produced their album) and Alex Hill the son of
another Priest man, Ian Hill, on bass, has helped them gain a double page
spread in Metal Hammer and plenty of hits on Youtube. What it hasn’t given them
at this stage – if we are being honest – is any great originality.
In the changeover between
bands the PA is playing Lamb of God and it is from them and groups like Pantera
that Hostile take their cues. That is of course not a bad thing, and both are
great bands. However, second song in singer Jay Mills is encouraging us to “put
our middle fingers in the air” over a song called “I Don’t Give A Fuck,” which probably gives some clues about
where we are headed.
"Addiction” is an attempt
to bring the tempo down mid-set, but just plods along, but after that Hostile
do hit their stride and begin to show what the fuss is about, “No Salvation”,
“Blood For Blood” and set closer “Dig Up The Power” are free of angry clichés
and much better for it.
Hostile could be pretty good if they could
channel their anger a little better, you feel, and maybe that will come with
time. But on a night that started with the Olympic torch relay, it was Point
Blank Fury that took the gold.
Cheers for the review, glad you enjoyed the set. we are at vagabonds 6th July and Judgestock at the public 7th July.
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