Metal 2 The Masses London Heat 12
Arriving at the shockingly early time of 5 pm to the hallowed Big Red on Holloway Road, one of my personal favorite pubs in London (Street Fighter 2 Cabinets and an AC/DC pinball machine along with an excellent menu/Juke Box) not that any of those things would matter today for we were here to compete in the Metal 2 The Masses competition to win a chance to play at Bloodstock Open Air... Heat Twelve.
We arrived and dumped our gear in one of the booths and did the things that bands tend to do before gigs; vague small talk, awkwardly try to describe how each other's band sounds, talk about gear, try not to get too drunk before it's your turn to play. My bandmates and I started on our usual ritual of a pre-gig Shandy (so again, as to not get too smashed before going onstage) and we were off!
The first band on were the excellent and excellently named Lung Fluid, a delightfully noisy three-piece band bringing punk energy and influence to an overall Alt-Metal sound. The three-piece set-up really did this band some favors; a single blistering rhythm guitarist, leaving ample room for some big fat bass chords and drumming that I'd like to describe as "loud and smash-y" made for a great punchy sound.
Next up in the line-up was my band, the self-described "World's one, and only 'Thrash Cabaret' band" The Fascinators, now as my integrity as a journalist prevents me from reviewing my own band, I shall instead compile a few critiques and comments from the night;
-"Great to be on the same bill as you lot. Really enjoyed your set" - Bass player of Lung Fluid.
-"Your music reminds me of early 80's Thrash" - Not gonna lie, quite happy about that one.
-"You guys Slap" - I've been assured that "Slap" in this context means "good."
-"You're being very distracting" - Myself, to the provocatively dancing members of the audience.
Next up we had Phobetor, a bit more of a straight forward metal band, but nonetheless a very tight and technical one with some really interesting musical ideas. With a dual vocal arrangement from both their lead vocalist and bass player, Phobetor managed to not fall into the typical stereotype of having one vocalist provide the clean vocals and have the other bring the noise, this was a double vocal assault and it really added to the band's overall heaviness. The best band of the evening in this reviewer's humble opinion.
Finally closing the show was Seven Main Sins, the Death/Black Metallers who have been together for over a decade now and it really shows, this is a band of professionals. Brutal riffing and guttural vocals crushed over blast beats and the occasional orchestral backing tape, I know this use of tapes is disliked by many, (purists perhaps?) but for me created an engrossing atmosphere and the end results created what I can only describe as a Death Metal Symphony.
Out of everyone on the bill, Seven Main Sins was the band that I could most easily imagine seeing onstage at Bloodstock, which makes perfect sense as to why they got through to the next round, along with the equally excellent Phobetor, the two bands shall continue to compete in future rounds of the competition. This reviewer (and M2TM runner up) wishes both bands the best of luck in the future. Both easily deserve the opportunity.
My personal favorites of the night were Phobetor and Lung Fluid.
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