A Thursday night gig with only one band I had seen before? Yeah lets do it.
First up Hollow Blessings (8), Cardiff hardcore/sludge noisemakers who impressed the first time I saw them at The Moon, and while that was one of their first shows as a band since then they have become a vicious, visceral and very loud addition to the Cardiff metal scene. It wasn't long before frontman Ben was in the crowd intimidating the audience with his roars, the distortion longing between the songs making any between song banter unintelligible. It wasn't needed though as they brought punch after devastating punch including a new song, which was their most dynamic of the night.
Up next were Gimic (8), hardcore punks from Bristol. Diving straight into their set, it was frenetic and furious. Screaming vocals and choppy riffs this was one for the oi crowd. What I noticed was the lack of distortion, the guitars were jangly and screamed with feedback as the propulsion came from the Flying V bass and the crazed drummer. While their singer had a broken rib she was in constant motions as they ploughed through short stabs of acerbic punk rock. While punk is not my thing, their stage presence and cleaner approach which brought some psychedelic leaning groove to guitars won me over and I found myself bouncing on the spot.
Finishing the evening was Philadelphia melodic black metal act Witching (9). I respect any band who drag themselves over from American and play to 25 people on a Thursday night as Crowded House brought the weather with them over at Cardiff Castle. In The Moon on this most special of pagan evenings, darkness descend and it was an overall more frosty atmosphere, inside as the twilight dwelled on Womanby Street in the last moments of the Summer Solstice. We were exposed to blasts of frigid black metal were counteracted by occult doom wandering as the influence of Myrkur could be felt. With blasts of extreme metal there was also proggy/doomy/atmospheric, especially when they played Damnation of their most recent record.
First up Hollow Blessings (8), Cardiff hardcore/sludge noisemakers who impressed the first time I saw them at The Moon, and while that was one of their first shows as a band since then they have become a vicious, visceral and very loud addition to the Cardiff metal scene. It wasn't long before frontman Ben was in the crowd intimidating the audience with his roars, the distortion longing between the songs making any between song banter unintelligible. It wasn't needed though as they brought punch after devastating punch including a new song, which was their most dynamic of the night.
Up next were Gimic (8), hardcore punks from Bristol. Diving straight into their set, it was frenetic and furious. Screaming vocals and choppy riffs this was one for the oi crowd. What I noticed was the lack of distortion, the guitars were jangly and screamed with feedback as the propulsion came from the Flying V bass and the crazed drummer. While their singer had a broken rib she was in constant motions as they ploughed through short stabs of acerbic punk rock. While punk is not my thing, their stage presence and cleaner approach which brought some psychedelic leaning groove to guitars won me over and I found myself bouncing on the spot.
Finishing the evening was Philadelphia melodic black metal act Witching (9). I respect any band who drag themselves over from American and play to 25 people on a Thursday night as Crowded House brought the weather with them over at Cardiff Castle. In The Moon on this most special of pagan evenings, darkness descend and it was an overall more frosty atmosphere, inside as the twilight dwelled on Womanby Street in the last moments of the Summer Solstice. We were exposed to blasts of frigid black metal were counteracted by occult doom wandering as the influence of Myrkur could be felt. With blasts of extreme metal there was also proggy/doomy/atmospheric, especially when they played Damnation of their most recent record.
Dreamy vocals and open clean chords that created a haunting soundscape as you just waited for it to get heavier and with a fuzzy riff it did exactly that, the unhinged banshee screams and crushing doom riffs creating the perfect peak. Saving this track until the penultimate song made sure that the pacing was just right for their last blast of blackened metal. The last but one show on a very long tour Witching were highly impressive showing no signs of fatigue when they stormed the stage in The Moon and they will be going on my watch again list.
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