DRAGONFORCE + SABATON + SYLOSIS + GLAMOUR OF THE KILL
Hall for Cornwall, Truro – 24/11/09
Gods and Goddesses, did I feel old and severely out of place at this ‘youngsters’ gig! I reckon I was one of about 50 people who were over 40 years of age there! The rest of the 1100-plus crowd were solidly between 13 to 25. Now when I were a lad…
First things first – what a truly great venue! My guess is it holds between 1600 – 2000 capacity. Shame this is the ONLY metal gig scheduled there at this point in time – though Hawkwind are playing in Falmouth next month… perhaps the word will now spread that Truro is THE place to come and play… well we can only hope!
Allegedly a Metalcore/Post Hardcore outfit, Glamour Of The Kill sound and look (to these jaded old ears anyway) more like a tight and competent Screamo mob. I truly am far too old for such angsty teenage stuff – but if this is what hardcore is now? Gods help us! Bring back Sore Throat, Deep Wound, Siege, Heresy etc… REAL fucking Hardcore! Sorry kids…but I HATED them!
Next up were Reading-based Sylosis. Describing themselves as playing technical thrash/melodic death metal, in truth, they sound more Metalcore to me – but are very good at what they do. They’re young, aggressive, hard-hitting, and leagues ahead of GOTK. The crowd takes to them with ease, and a bruising set leaves the young crowd well satisfied. Job well done lads!
Next up were the band who SHOULD have headlined… the mighty Swedish war metallers… Sabaton! Describe them in two words? JUST FANTASTIC! Here is a band that ‘has it all’, and really ought to be headlining gigs of this size all over the UK. Falling somewhere between trad metal and thrash metal (albeit with keyboards), their set was simply a pleasure to experience! Blessed with one of the most charismatic frontmen I can think of these days, in Joakim Broden, they have a singer with a pure metal voice, and the kind of charisma found in the likes of Rob Halford/Bruce Dickenson/Phil Anselmo/Burton C Bell/Blaze Bayley etc. He’s a natural star, with all the moves and style – yet remarkably likeable with it. The band is supremely tight, have killer songs with nary a weak link in sight, and their love of what they do simply radiates through… an utter delight! Catch them at every opportunity if given the opportunity!
- Herman Li is a nice guy – make no mistake, but his band? Oh dear me. He (I’m certain) would describe me as a ‘hater’ (whilst I just call you ‘qualified staff’ – Ed) – I simply can’t help it though. Dragonforce (who I also know to be called Dragonfarce, Dragonarse, or Dragonfarts by numerous other ‘haters’) are simply dreadful ‘Pantomime Metal’ of the worst order. One thing you will be sure not to hear – are songs of ANY description! Hateful hyper-widdly-diddley-squealy-squonky-wanky solos by every instrumental member and dreary lightning fast utterly one dimensional epic ‘not-songs’ are the order of the day, and as for those dreadful helium/falsetto lead vocals? Where is a world class singer like John Bush (Armoured Saint/Anthrax) to show him how metal is REALLY sung!? Wail…shriek….operatic howling…just shockingly naff!
- Yet the kiddies present lap up the trampoline bouncing nonsense and histrionic music mangling with slavish adoration, I do my job, take the photographs as ordered, and then gratefully head to the foyer, to wait for my compatriots, and sit alongside numerous parents and grandparents, all waiting for their offspring, and suddenly I don’t care that I’m old in the least!
- SATANIC MUTTLEY
