Not many
here tonight – and indeed RTM must offer its apologies to support band
Aloeswood, who we miss altogether. There are major roadworks in Birmingham,
meaning a long detour around the city to get the venue and whether this has put
people off who knows? It is just as likely, though, that many just don’t know
who the bands are.
Of all
metals underground genres, doom is still very much an acquired taste and when
it has a blackened tinge and the bands are largely singing about historical
matters, it is especially niche.
Cnoc an
Tursa (or “Hill of Sorrow” in English) might have a collection of poetry on
their website but are from arty and by some distance the heaviest of the bands
we do watch this evening, with Alan Buchan largely eschewing clean vocals. Most
of the songs come from their “Giants of Auld” album although they play a new
song which is faster still, before ending their set with a crushing “Lion of
Scotland.”
Appropriately
for a band whose name means “In hiding” in English, Falloch don’t do communicative.
They are content to stand behind their instruments and let the music do any
talking that needs to be done.
It helps
they have such a stunning record as “Where Distant Spirits Remain” to plug. A
former MSN metal album of the week no less, it is an absolutely glorious slice
of Gaelic doom – imagine if Paradise Lost were scots or Mael Mordha didn’t have
a flute and you are somewhere close. It is atmospheric, haunting and fabulous.
They do
manage to be heavier live than they are on record and attack their instruments
as if their life depends on it, they also play a track which singer Tony Dunn
introduces as “I Shall Build Mountains,” whether this is on some new record,
however, is unclear as eager to maintain mystery to the last it seems, he
offers no further elucidation.
In hiding
they might be, but for an hour tonight Falloch are so glorious you are glad you
sought them out.
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