As 2018 draws to a close, it was fitting that I finished my gigging year in the same venue that I started in back in January when Bloodshot Dawn kicked off 2018 in ferocious style. Having travelled back from a welcome mini-break in Portugal earlier in the day, the damp cold evening was a crushing reminder of the difference in weather several hundred miles makes. Nothing damp about the action inside Fuel though as a reasonable crowd attended to raise some funds for the charity Music Minds Matter. www.musicmindsmatter.org.uk
Opening the evening were Bloodstock heroes Cranial Separation (7) who have been regulars throughout the year in these pages. There’s not much I can write about these guys that I haven’t written before, but Ray, Chris and Sam were tight and as usual bone splinteringly heavy. Whilst there is always an element of chaos about Cranial, they can write a death metal tune and battered the venue with 30 minutes of their bludgeoning approach. Bound In Barbed Wire, Separated From The Cadaver and of course, the band’s love song Fucked With A Jackhammer are all now familiar favourites and it would be great to hear some new material from the band in 2019.
I hadn’t seen Cardiff’s Blind Divide (9) for a few months and many felt that they were unlucky not to be travelling to Bloodstock in the summer following their efforts in the Metal To The Masses final. The band has regrouped since those heady days of early summer and were in fiery form from the off. With new material written, the band were razor sharp and snarling like an angry pit bull. Tracks from their EP were greeted like old friends, guitarists James Ponsford and Adam Duffield riffing with focused intensity, whilst Dellan McCabe and Anthony Ellis ensured the groove that underpins this band was maintained. Vocalist James Birkett remains the focus of the band, hyperactive and restless as he roared through a magnificent 30 minutes with a new track sounded impressive. As the band hit Pathfinder I reflected that 2019 could be even better for Blind Divide.
Few bands have had as good a year as Democratus (8) who are almost a house band at Fuel. Their set at Bloodstock rightly earned several new fans and the band have been gigging as often as their commitments allow through the rest of the year. With some new material ready to be released on their forthcoming EP, this was a run through some of their well-known tracks with the bonus of new track Divided They Fall added into the mix. Steve Jenkins lasted two songs in his Christmas jumper which was one more than I thought he would, but as always, his performance remains high in energy and motivation. With Joey Watkins recovering well from some nightmare amp technical challenges, the band roared through their set, Kerrin Beckwith once more demonstrating some fine guitar work. With Stu ‘Spoon’ Rake adding some death growls to beef out several of the tracks, and drummer Zac Skane rock steady as always, Democratus are starting to expand their onstage approach. Divided We Fall didn’t really grab me, but I think it will with a few more listens. As always, the closing Life For A Life got the dedicated crowd roaring along. With 2018 being such a momentous year, it will be interesting to see how these lovely guys push the boundaries in 2019.
Having travelled from the West Midlands on a pretty miserable day, it was disappointing to see fewer people in the room for Ashen Crown (9) who were superb. The Birmingham five-piece hit Bloodstock hard in 2017 and demonstrated their credentials with a sweeping set that combined the groove of Pantera and LOG with the crushing power of Bolt Thrower. Twin guitarists Jay Rogers and Ste Fowkes throw down the riffs, frontman Kieran Scott is a bundle of restless energy whilst the rhythm section thunderously anchored everything with ease. Drummer Mike Ellis has only been with the band this year but looked very comfortable as he battered any remaining life out of the kit and Phil Milman laid down the bass lines with ease.
With their demo Fall Of Thine Eyes providing the backbone of their set, it was time to stand back, nod the head and just enjoy the sheer power and drive of the band. Confident and slick throughout their 40-minute set, Ashen Crown are a band that I will certainly be keeping an eye and ear out for in 2019. A solid choice for the headline set, and a great evening catching up with bands who have also become good friends. Whilst the crowd could have been bigger, kudos to all those who made this event a success. 2018 is now complete. 63 gigs in a year which saw the Welsh metal scene roar with fire. 2019 is on its way, so see you somewhere at the back of the room then.
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