With such a stacked line up this one was a no brainer for me. Headlined by a band I've seen in at least three different countries, along with one of the most impressive live acts around at the moment and a band I'd never seen before.
Heading there as early as possible due to the 6:30 start time, which was changed to 7:45 as I was already on my way. It was into The Fleece ready for the start of Swiss atmospheric prog rockers Impure Wilhelmina (7), their set was tight and well balanced, the four men in a great unison as they drew from their back catalogue to get the crowd ready for what was to come later in the evening. If you watch what the band do live it's very technical however a lot of their music was a bit too atmospheric for some of the crowd there so reaction was a little muted. However Impure Wilhelmina got things started well.
The muted reaction was probably to due to a lot, and I mean A LOT of the crowd being there for Danish firebrands Møl (9), fresh from an outstanding set at ArcTanGent just weeks before and with two previous sold out Bristol shows, they were welcomed like old friends, kicking things off with a volatile opening as the frontman prowled the stage, narrowly avoiding the disaster of smashing up a synth behind him as he swung from the pillars and raged with his raw vocals style. At times in opposition to the music behind him, but they are still one of the leading purveyors of blackened shoegaze, as the cleaner guitars ring out for some cathartic moments before the blasting comes back.
Heading there as early as possible due to the 6:30 start time, which was changed to 7:45 as I was already on my way. It was into The Fleece ready for the start of Swiss atmospheric prog rockers Impure Wilhelmina (7), their set was tight and well balanced, the four men in a great unison as they drew from their back catalogue to get the crowd ready for what was to come later in the evening. If you watch what the band do live it's very technical however a lot of their music was a bit too atmospheric for some of the crowd there so reaction was a little muted. However Impure Wilhelmina got things started well.
The muted reaction was probably to due to a lot, and I mean A LOT of the crowd being there for Danish firebrands Møl (9), fresh from an outstanding set at ArcTanGent just weeks before and with two previous sold out Bristol shows, they were welcomed like old friends, kicking things off with a volatile opening as the frontman prowled the stage, narrowly avoiding the disaster of smashing up a synth behind him as he swung from the pillars and raged with his raw vocals style. At times in opposition to the music behind him, but they are still one of the leading purveyors of blackened shoegaze, as the cleaner guitars ring out for some cathartic moments before the blasting comes back.
With balanced set of songs from both of their albums, it was great to see the tracks from Diorama aired live (I missed their ATG set). Møl cut a strange figure live Kim Song Sternkopf well dressed and clean cut as he unleashes his demon while guitarists Nicolai Hansen and Fredrik Lippert wear Hawaiian shirts, it's only bassist Holger-Rumph Frost who looks like he's in a metal band, drummer Ken Klejs spending most of the gig in just shorts but hey blastbeats are heavy work. It was a show with frenetic pacing, Kim especially using the entire floors as his stage cutting through the crowd whenever possible handing out hugs and screaming in people's faces. No wonder then why they are held in high regard, especially in Bristol as they delivered the goods yet again.
The headliners were a different breed to what had come before led by the steady hand of band founder and Yorkshireman Justin Greaves Crippled Black Phoenix (9) are a band who revel in mysticism, most of the band spent the show in shadow and smoke, their outlines visible for large parts as the light show was up there with bands such as Pink Floyd. In fact during the show there was the green laser that have become synonymous with the prog legends during the evocative Dead Is Dead.
The headliners were a different breed to what had come before led by the steady hand of band founder and Yorkshireman Justin Greaves Crippled Black Phoenix (9) are a band who revel in mysticism, most of the band spent the show in shadow and smoke, their outlines visible for large parts as the light show was up there with bands such as Pink Floyd. In fact during the show there was the green laser that have become synonymous with the prog legends during the evocative Dead Is Dead.
However going back to the beginning and it was the perennial 444 that opened the show before three from their new record Banefyre; the occult influence of Wytches And Basterdz, the brooding Bonefire and the anarchistic The Rising ( a song about hunt sabotage). All three of them saw the vocal duo of Belinda Kordic and new singer Joel Segerstedt (who adds additional guitar) combining well, Joel's lower register augmenting Belinda's more ethereal moments.
What amazed me is how both vocalists are fuelled by the music, both feeling every moment through them Belinda in constant motion behind the mic as Joel beats his chest and belts down the mix when he's not adding to Justin Greaves, live bassist Matt Crawford and live drummer Jordi Farré's rhythm section. The Floydian moments of Dead Is Dead and Lost given by the keening lead guitars of Andy Taylor. Just these music as alone would be enough for a huge sound but CBP add to it with Helen Stanley's piano and synths as well as the trumpet that unifies with Georg Paco L.Fleischfresser's sax for more Floyd moments, Georg also adding synths.
What amazed me is how both vocalists are fuelled by the music, both feeling every moment through them Belinda in constant motion behind the mic as Joel beats his chest and belts down the mix when he's not adding to Justin Greaves, live bassist Matt Crawford and live drummer Jordi Farré's rhythm section. The Floydian moments of Dead Is Dead and Lost given by the keening lead guitars of Andy Taylor. Just these music as alone would be enough for a huge sound but CBP add to it with Helen Stanley's piano and synths as well as the trumpet that unifies with Georg Paco L.Fleischfresser's sax for more Floyd moments, Georg also adding synths.
It's a massive sound that is heavy and enveloping but also introspective and haunting. Cry For Love upped the pace again as Blackout77 kept the heaviness as time got taken back to earlier releases towards the end. Rise Up And Fight still a favourite followed by You Take The Devil Out Of Me and We Forgotten Who We Are to finish the set to a big applause, the latter met with a understated "someone died today" comment from Greaves, nothing else was needed as this huge song closed the set.
A walk off clapping, the 11pm curfew expired, there was a little confusion but a chat for more, then from behind the stage the familiar chord of Burnt Reynolds rang out to a cheer, the band returning to the stage for this huge chant along closer, myself and some Greek members of the audience singing until our lungs started to burn (Greece is where this call/response began). It's a euphoric closer and put a final cap on what was a spellbinding performance that came in the face of a lot of adversity and numerous calls to cancel. CBP are one of the most innovative bands around, rulebreakers, hellraisers, wytches and basterdz come gather here the next time they show themselves.
A walk off clapping, the 11pm curfew expired, there was a little confusion but a chat for more, then from behind the stage the familiar chord of Burnt Reynolds rang out to a cheer, the band returning to the stage for this huge chant along closer, myself and some Greek members of the audience singing until our lungs started to burn (Greece is where this call/response began). It's a euphoric closer and put a final cap on what was a spellbinding performance that came in the face of a lot of adversity and numerous calls to cancel. CBP are one of the most innovative bands around, rulebreakers, hellraisers, wytches and basterdz come gather here the next time they show themselves.
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