Trivax, Nomos & Blasfeme, Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff
With Covid-19 cancelling events hourly, Fuel Rock Club and the black metal hordes of Wales, stood defiant ready to bathe the virus in the flames of hellfire. Three bands. 5 quid. Bargain. Ideal for gig junkies like me, when many of the higher profile shows this month have all but evaporated. Happily I knew at least one of the bands on the album having seen them before so I knew what I was getting into when I walked through the eerily quiet streets around Cardiff center before arriving at the centre itself which was full of dejected Welsh and Scottish rugby fans who had been told that the following day's game had been called off. (Though why this couldn't have been done BEFORE the Scot's fans had travelled down is anyone's guess). A quick stop in Head Of Steam (which was rammed) to meet up with my other half who had been having a drink with Agrona's frontwoman. We sipped some fine ales and then ventured into the mizzling rain to Fuel where the rhythm section of Agrona awaited us along with one guitarist (the other is a bit too old for late nights).
We caught up with friends (at a safe distance of course) and then we went into the back room for the first of three black metal acts of the night. Opening proceedings were Bristol's own Blasfeme (7) who's chaotic, progressive extremism was the perfect opener and also a great reflection of the defiance to the media maelstrom that has been whipped up. All thoughts of panic buying bog roll had been put to the back of your mind as this spectral trio ripped through some nasty black metal. The riffs were savage, Jake 'Mettle' Ettle-Iles' five string bass leading the charge as Matt Fothergill's Telecaster (an odd choice for black metal) brought depth, however almost hidden behind two banners drummer Striga Hell destroyed his drum set with a fury that got Agrona's sticksman salivating. As their set progressed they seemed to get angrier every song casting more shadows due to the lyrics conceptual nature, though when they are screamed at your face it's hard to pick out the nuances. Despite a sparse room they received a warm reception from the frozen hearts of the amassed black metal legions (and a couple of complete randomers) starting things off nicely.
Then things got meaty, very meaty. In fact if you're vegan or vegetarian you may want to stop reading. Next up on to the Fuel stage were Nomos (8) who bring a swirling cacophony of noise, spewing bile and intensity with every blast beat and six sting attack. What makes this dish even juicier is that Nomos are a two piece, the towering Abzuras handling the ferocious riffs and belligerent shouts as Metastatic works his drums like a demonic squid. With little recorded music, most of the songs here were new to the punters but there was something a little magical about Nosmos that got them a few excited fans down the front releasing this inhibitions. I meanwhile stood at the back, arms crossed, away from such revelry (talk about cvlt). Nosmos weren't going to be happy until they had destroyed Fuel goading the crowd for more action and to come closer to the stage. Despite the obvious reluctance Nomos stepped up the evening with just one more band left.
The final band of the evening were the only ones I've seen before, Trivax (8) have an interesting story with frontman/founder/vocalist/guitarist Shayhan conceived the band in Iran but due to the countries Draconian laws, he moved to the much more liberal Birmingham to put his idea for a black metal band into motion. Shayhan recruited Sully (bass) and Matt Croton (drums) and his triumvirate have since played shows at Bloodstock Open Air and Hard Rock Hell channeling the genre legends such as Celtic Frost and Venom for a slick black metal assault that features some guitar heroics from Shayhan along with venomous rhythms from the engine room. Songs came from their three releases and as more randomers came into the room many did stop to watch a very talented band blasting through their well rehearsed numbers as they wrapped up their set. Trivax put a stamp on the evening, in the face of a lot of angst and fear, whatever the genre music finds a way and people will find their way too it. If this is the last gig of the month (I hope it isn't) then it was great to spend it in the underground where we thrive.
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