Gig review: Tier 1 Metal Final @ Red Lion, Gravesend - 31/05/09
Finally after 4 months of heats, semis and todays final, Band Quest 2009 (Metal) is over.
The competition over this period has seen the bands involved put in some excellent performances, enhance their reputations (or in some cases split up) and for one particular band, be picked to play the Bloodstock festival.
At the unholy early time of around 1.45pm FALLING EMPIRE (8/10) kickstart proceedings with a ferocious dose of pumped up metalcore. The guys are on form today and put in their best performance of the competition. If a wake call was needed, Falling Empire just rang, trashed and disintegrated the phone.
Some of SILENT DESCENT (8) seem to have a lot on their minds of late. Their brand of metal has never been everyones cup of tea but the string of successes over the past 2 years is testament to all their hard work. From the excellent album to a well received Bloodstock performance along with being the latest addition to the Download Festival line-up, this fourteen legged trance metal monster really have no need to worry about some petty local attitudes. Today the sloppy air which marred some of their semi final set is replaced with a slick and professional 30 minute lesson on proving some people wrong.
COLT.44 (6.5) have been the odd band out from the beginning, which is just one reason why they deserve credit for navigating their way to the final. Their alternative metal is more Reading than Bloodstock but that doesn't stop them delivering an enjoyable set.
They must have been pouring something in the Bromley water the past month as the likes of SILAS (7.5) seem to have a new lease of life. Via the playoff, Silas have been carried through the competition by the sheer quality of their songs. The marks of a successful transission from their previous singer were marked down on their excellent demo release earlier this year. Today they push out some well played contemporary metal, mixing the sounds of Gojira with Down, but with a rawness that enhances a set already radiating positive and fun vibes.
Lookwise, it could be an indie band on stage but in terms of solidity REASONABLE DOUBT (7.5) are spot on. An energetic metallic performance keeps the crowd packed in the venue, resisting the sun outside.
Performing with their third line-up in three heats INTO EXILE's (8.5) decision to recruit an extra guitarist (in the form of COLT.44 man Adam Jerome) was both well timed and well needed. Their first heat performance was one of the best in the competition while the second lacked the heavier, southern feel that returned with this performance. The strains of the likes of 'Gorefields' bitch-slapped every member of the even bigger crowd that was now jammed inside the Red Lion.
A quick look outside on the second stage (non-competition) saw VENXIA (7) prove that alongside SANITY BURNS, they are the most exciting new band to emerge from Band Quest.
Back inside the intensity created by INTO EXILE meant SHADOW ASPECT (7.5) had a battle on their hands to keep things at such a high level. What followed was a slick set of well delivered metal, thrash and southern rock which helped showcase a band which have obviously played together many times.
A possible boring wait in the long burger queue was averted thanks to the distant sound of ZOCALO. Thanks guys!
As part of the invading force from Bromley SNAKEBITE (8.5) had a huge army of fans on hand to witness a rip-roaring set of groove-orientated metal. The whole band are on top form today and vocalist Jason Smith once again rules the stage. Andrew Matthews slays the crowd with some of the best, big, sweaty southern riffs of the day. Their performances in the first heat and semi were ones of quality, but both are topped by todays Bloodstock slot winning set!
The blackened metal of CARPATHIA (7) fails to ignite the crowd today. The long intricate songs are there in some limited glory but the set never recovers from the poor melodic vocals in the first half of the opening song. They sound much better when Tom Sullivan unleashes the growling vocals which mix so well with the dark undertones from the rest of the band.
You may of heard a massive thud throughout Northfleet/Gravesend on Sunday. This would have been the collective dropping of 50 jaws from those who had witnessed the first few minutes of the almighty SANCTORUM (9). Nicely positioned just after CARPATHIA but on the outside stage SANCTORUM make the most of a healthy crowd and proceed in blitzing everyone with one of the best metal performances of 2009. With an album as good as 'Ashes of Redemption', a guitar god in the form of Ash Lewis, as well as the Rob Flynn/Nick Holmes vocal style of Aaron Sly they are armed with such a heavy artillary of weapons only a nuclear blast will stop them. Expect them to fly!
Back on the main stage DENOUNCE (8.5) bring the Band Quest competition to a close with a usual set of solid as hell death metal gems. They claim the Band Quest title with a gleaming example of quality musicianship and crowd battery.
After the announcements are out of the way (the aforementioned Bloodstock slot going to Snakebite), special guest headliners PANIC CELL (8) take to the stage to end one of the biggest days ever seen in this region. With tracks like 'Save me' and 'Away from here' they were always going to go down a storm. They have come a long way since they played several cover tracks to fill up an extended set at Flamingo Park in Sidcup 5-6 years ago. Since then they have received acclaim from all quarters for their two stonking albums and various live performances, including Bloodstock. After pummelling the crowd into submission and finishing off the last few drops of the jagermeister PANIC CELL end the day and Band Quest 2009 (Metal) is over for another year.
Now, go buy your Bloodstock ticket to see the likes of Carcass, Arch Enemy, Satyricon, Saxon, Fear Factory, Europe, Enslaved and oh.... SNAKEBITE...
Review by Alan Hicks