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October 12, 2008 |
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w/ IMMOLATION/SKINLESS/DESPISED ICON/WITH PASSION
June 13, 2005
Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
By Ciaran Meeks
Photography by Tony Antunovich
All photos Copyright © 2005 METALEATER - Do not use without permission.
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Well, I'll be damned! '05 is certainly shaping up to be quite the year in Vancouver as far as 'Live' Metal is concerned. It would seem that the world at large has started to realize that not only does this world-class city exist, but furthermore, that it is also a hotbed of starving Metallurgists eager to experience in the live setting, the power and intensity of acts who up until recently have always passed the city by in favour of neighbouring Seattle, Edmonton, or Calgary. Thanks to the hard work of the folks at House Of Blues, such an oversight appears to be a thing of the past.
The most recent guests to grace the stage at the Commodore Ballroom here in Van were Death Metal legends DEICIDE, along with guests IMMOLATION, SKINLESS, DESPISED ICON, and WITH PASSION on a bill which definitely put the 'Heavy' into Heavy Metal throughout the course of a bludgeoning and unforgiving evening of relentless extremity. That said, it should be stated that - efforts of the promotion team aside - the end turnout was somewhat...well...disappointing...at least until just before DEICIDE hit the stage when it seemed that the majority of ticket buyers decided to arrive, pushing attendance to a more respectable level. Better, but still not great. At best, the venue reached perhaps two-thirds to just under three-quarters capacity. Personally, I feel this has more to do with the fact that a) the show was on a Monday, and b) again...this is a very busy summer and even year for 'Live' Metal in Vancouver.
Simply stated, not everyone can throw around the requisite $30-$40 a ticket every couple'a' weeks - regardless of the quality of the acts in question. So yeah...it would have been a more dynamic evening had the turnout been greater. Oh well. On a positive note, for the most part, the folks who DID show up were obviously Death Metal purists who were there to enjoy the extremity on offer to the fullest! On to business then!
WITH PASSION
First to hit the stage were Sacramento, CA's WITH PASSION, in support of their recent release 'In the Midst Of Bloodied Soil' now out on Earache Records. WP play an eclectic blend of Technical DM with haunting, acoustic interludes and odd, ambient orchestral flourishes. Now, this sounds interesting indeed on paper, but frankly I felt that in practice the odd mix of sonic influences fell somewhat flat in the live setting. The band certainly play with hunger, drive, and yes...PASSION...but nevertheless a certain focus, or perhaps 'tightness' seemed to be lacking which resulted in a performance that was lukewarm at best...and sadly, I must say forgettable at worst. It just seemed as though every band member was playing a different tune at the same time. Judging from the audience reaction, I was obviously not alone in my opinion. Whether or not this was all the result of the lack of reciprocal enthusiasm generated by the 'smallish' initial crowd, or simple 'newness' on the band's part I don't know.
Suffice to say though that - with all due respect - these guys have a ways to go before transcending the role of 'opening act'.
DESPISED ICON
Anyways...next up after an impressively efficient stage turnover were Montreal, Canada's own 'Deathcore' merchants DESPISED ICON, also currently supporting a new release on Century Media - 'The Healing Process' - to a much more welcoming crowd response. DI's high energy stage performance of 'Deathly' Hardcore/Metalcore hit hard and took no prisoners, eliciting a small but frenzied pit by the second half of their set. I don't mind this sort of fare, but frankly, as much as I have been an admittedly big booster of some of the more innovative acts in the whole Metalcore subgenre that has blown up over the past year or so, I have to say, that in retrospect IMO only a very few of them have what it takes to lay the foundations for any kind of longevity and growth (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE anyone!?!). So where then do DESPISED ICON fit into said scheme!?! I honestly don't know as this show was my first DI experience to date.
Based purely on their live performance I can attest to the band's energy and enthusiasm, but as far as chops and overall musical innovation and originality are concerned...honestly this is pretty basic, nihilism-fuelled, I-hate-my-parents-school-society-and-all-politicians-type 'Angst-core' of which there is a tiringly high amount these days. I mean, it's competently delivered and all, but man...does no-one under 30 remember the days when Metal was expressive of a wider range of emotional experience than merely directionless suburban rage!?! Really. Why is it all about how angry guys are nowadays...how 'tough' they want to appear??? I just don't know. It's a bit of a head-shaker to say the least. Me thinks these lads need a clinic in old MAIDEN, PRIEST, ACCEPT, and SAXON amongst others if they are ever to transcend their current mould (mold???) of sonic behaviour. But yeah...that aside, the moshing masses seemed to dig 'em so who am I to offer anything less than a cautiously optimistic 'thumbs up'!?!
I am intrigued to see how their 'raison d'etre' translates on the CD format when I review 'The Healing Process' recording in the very near future.
SKINLESS
Next to deafen were Upstate New York's SKINLESS, a band who enjoyed a good fifteen minutes or so of almost unanimously positive press (strangely even outside the circle of strict 'Metal' journalism) back in '03 for their 'From Sacrifice To Survival' release on Relapse Records for whom they will soon apparently be delivering a highly anticipated and as-yet-untitled followup later this year. Playing highly Technical and intricate Death/GoreGrind chock full o' groove n' nuance, SKINLESS were surprisingly energetic onstage, taking a firm, unwavering grasp of the crowd's attention as they ripped through a scorching set of ominously groovin', hyperblast Death/Grind that left a definite dent in one's psyche by the end of their performance. This is an act in possession of a very tangible cerebral intensity that does not let up. The personal highlight of the evening...for me at least.
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IMMOLATION
As the proverbial corpses were dragged offstage in the wake of SKINLESS' assault, IMMOLATION took to the stage. This Buffalo NY powerhouse are currently supporting their latest Olympic Recordings release 'Harnessing Ruin'. The guys had actually been circulating amiably among the crowd prior to their performance. I was frankly a little afraid to introduce myself given that these are large dudes and I think I only gave 'Harnessing Ruin' a '7', my objective justification being that hey, it's a pretty damned good album, but at the end of the day Death Metal in and of itself just isn't my preferred subgenre of Metal choice. As a result, while a respectable grade must be given...I'd be lying if I said I was personally knocked off my rocker by the album. Anyways, potential menacing avoided (j/k!)
I settled in to watch the band 'immolate' the crowd within the flames of what was a tight, technically-adept, and visceral performance of classic, old-skool-style DM in the 'vein' of CANNIBAL CORPSE, although with just enough hints of almost Black Metal construct and ambience to elevate the proceedings a notch or two higher than the average. Again, much as was my opinion of their recorded output, IMMOLATION came across as 'pretty damned good', but just not my preferred cup of enemy's blood. Still...respect. Judging by the energetic crowd response the masses agreed...and then some. So golf-claps all around to IMMOLATION for a successful debut at The Commodore. I'm sure we'll see them back in Van again.
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DEICIDE
Finally, as the clock ticked closer to midnight, headliners DEICIDE appeared. I have to say, despite being a fan and more recently, a researcher, writer, and all-around enthusiast of the international Metal 'scene'...I have never really been exposed to the work of this infamous and controversial act. I mean, like pretty much everyone else I've read the endless tales of over-the-top Satanic mischief; the various internal band personal and legal woes; the whole upside-down-cross burned into Benton's forehead debacle...but in all that time I've never actually listened to the music. Well, once the band were about three songs into their set it became obvious that - and here's where I honestly just don't care what anyone says - that these guys were - IMO - truly just another fairly competent, fairly average Death Metal act. Sorry, but that's how I feel.
If DEICIDE have reached 'legendary' status within DM's ranks, then personally I am of the opinion that a lot of it has to do with the fact that a) they were admittedly the first such band to refuse to pull their OTT Satanic lyrical/ideological punches, thus garnering a certain degree of media and fan attention and b) Glen Benton is inherently good at drumming up publicity for himself, and, by proxy...his band. As far as any intrinsically unique or emotive musical statements are concerned...sorry again, but no. There. Said it.
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Again, if one lives, breathes, and dies purely by DM, or by scaring the Ned Flanders-types living next door then yeah...I'm sure you'll be among these guys' bigger boosters as they are certainly very tight and competent musicians with an undoubtedly extreme and blasphemous stage presence to be sure...but for everyone else - including myself - I just fail to see the big attraction. Oh well. What do I know, right? All I can say is that I didn't hear anything coming offstage beyond fairly typical, monodrone DM, and a few mildly amusing, rhetorical, Christ-hatin' remarks c/o Benton the likes of which, quite frankly I've heard delivered from about a dozen other similiar acts. Being anti-Christian just isn't that radical these days I guess. That's my honest, personal OPINION of DEICIDE's set that night though.
Objectively speaking, based upon what I witnessed that evening, IMMOLATION and better yet, SKINLESS appear to be - in terms of skill level - at least equal to or greater than DEICIDE and IMO could likewise have done as equally good, or better a job in the headlining slot. So, that said, in a sentence, to my eyes and eears, DEICIDE proved that they are an 'okay' DM act still capable of rousing a half-decent fanbase to their feet with a reliably tried n' true formula. I did not, however, see anything demonstrably greater than that. No more, no less. I guess I just don't 'get' the whole DEICIDE 'mystique'. But again...what do I know? I'm just being honest here, guys. Believe me, I have nothing but respect for such a long-running act, but at the same time, I'm not here to kiss ass. Whatever. Most of those on hand did indeed seem to 'get' it though, and Benton and Co. were received with enough frenzied and 'hellish' approval that I'm sure we'll be seeing them around these here parts some time in the future.
And although I doubtless won't bother making an appearance, I will still gladly applaud their return to entertain their loyal Vancouver fanbase.
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So there you go. Overall not a bad night as far as a Death Metal show is concerned. Obviously - to reiterate - if I seem in any way less than supremely enthused with it all, it's because, well...I'm not. I DO like DM to a certain degree yes, but it simply isn't a subgenre I can take in more than measured doses. Too much monotonous blosh I guess. Give me some ICED EARTH or CHILDREN OF BODOM! So consider my views/opinions/etc. to be more a reflection of personal taste than anything else. Had I been a diehard DM freak, this may very well have been an entirely different kind of review. Any Vancouver fans who were in attendance and wish to offer point/counterpoint to my opinions are of course more than welcome to post an alternate view of the evening's events in the 'Comments' section of our forum.
In conclusion, personal disclaimers and whatnot aside, although the material on offer was not really this scribe's 'thing', I can objectively say with all honesty that the majority of those around me seemed to really enjoy the proceedings. As stated, this was a straight-up DM show for straight-up DM fans, and on that level it was a definite success. Let's just see MORE of you there next time. Without support, shows like this will not continue to happen! So once again, on behalf of METALEATER and the Vancouver Metal scene, many thank-you's and 'horned' salutes all around both to the bands, their labels/management, and to first-class promoters House Of Blues Concerts Canada for continuing to bring quality and varied Metal entertainment to Vancouver. I look forward to throwing in my two cents worth many more times in the future. [FIN]
Our thanks to Jamie Teske from House Of Blues Concerts Canada for providing us with media passes to cover the show.
» Official SKINLESS Website
» Official DESPISED ICON Website
» Official WITH PASSION Website
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