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July 20, 2008 |
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w/ SOULSCAR/CRACKWHORE/ANTIQUUS
April 16, 2005
The Brickyard - Vancouver, BC
By Tony Antunovich
All photos Copyright © 2005 METALEATER - Do not use without permission.
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Canadian metal has a strong roster of talent that continues to grow every year. Great acts like ANNIHILATOR, KATAKLYSM, EIDOLON, and CRYPTOPSY have all rightfully earned their place in the metal ranks, but don't count out rising sensation INTO ETERNITY. Nearing the completion of a successful North American tour (aside from being plagued by illness in late March), the band (Stu Block - lead vocals, Tim Roth - guitar, clean/death vocals, Rob Doherty - guitars, clean/death vocals, Troy Bleich - bass, clean/death vocals, Adam Sagan - drums) treated hungry fans to a memorable performance at The Brickyard in Vancouver.
Sharing the bill were local hometown favorites SOULSCAR, CRACKWHORE, and ANTIQUUS (meaning "Ancient" in Latin"), who started things off with a taste of the old school. Now, I've seen my share of true, sword and steel, hammer and anvil, battle axe-swinging heavy metal traditionalists in my time, and ANTIQUUS (Jesse White - vocals, Geoff Way - guitars, Trevor Leonard - guitars, Scott Unger - bass, Andrew Bak - drums) fit the role just as well. Armed with plenty of weaponry, ANTIQUUS delivered a high-energy 30-plus minute performance, playing a selection of tracks from their debut album "Ramayana" as well as some new ones like "Elutheria" and "O Captain, My Captain". Judging from their on-stage ability, these guys have the potential to make waves if they play their cards right.
ANTIQUUS/SOULSCAR/CRACKWHORE
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SOULSCAR followed shortly thereafter with an onslaught of their own. I first had the chance to see what these guys are capable of back in July of last year when they answered the call to serve as back-up support for the mighty DIMMU BORGIR. Not surprisingly, Andrew Staeling and Co. served up yet another dish of ear-punishing morsels, including the fan-favorite "Fatalist Mantra", newer tracks "To The Pain" and "Hell Bitch", and even a brand new song, entitled "Epik". The crowd responded to SOULSCAR's impressive 40-minute set with a thundering roar as expected. This being the band's last performance for a while (to concentrate on the new album), I'd say that Vancouver fans were filled up with enough adrenaline to last them until the next gig.
SETLIST
Self-Mutilation
Fatalist Mantra
To The Pain
It Takes A Wolf
Relentless
Epik
Hell Bitch
Anal Rhino
Character Assassination
Grind-core enthusiasts CRACKWHORE had the opportunity to celebrate the release of their new album, "Inner Piece", by playing all 13 songs from start to finish. Like most bands that embrace the more brutal form of the metal genre, these guys unleashed a gore-infested trip into eternal chaos all within a mere 35 minutes. CRACKWHORE (Offal - vocals, Violator - guitar, Mister Nasty - bass, Bitch Slapper - drums) pummeled the audience with a crushing display of grind-core mastery, bludgeoning through songs like "Feeding The Pigs", Beaver Cleaver", "Beware Of Dog", and "From Torture To Climax" (don't you just love the title?). All the players put 100% into their performance, but I have to say that Offal's hilarious stage antics were entertaining to say the least. When he wasn't grunting or growing, he would either be lost in a headbanging frenzy or making funny sounds (ie: pig-squeals/oinks) or mimicking a damsel in distress, all appropriate to each song.
There is something to be said about a frontman's ability to both sing and entertain the audience at the same time, and Offal does it well.
INTO ETERNITY
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The main event of the evening was of course INTO ETERNITY. Century Media must certainly be proud of these guys for going out there every night and giving nothing less than 100%, despite having gone through some recent illness in the band (Stu Block, Rob Doherty, and Tim Roth all suffered from pneumonia). Tim Roth still had a slight case of strep throat, but do you think that would stop him from wanting to give the Vancouver fans what they wanted? Not a chance. This, the second to last date on this leg of the tour (Victoria was the last stop if I'm not mistaken), was indeed a show to remember. The 5-piece Regina, Saskatchewan-based quintet delivered a high-octane performance filled with plenty of dynamic musicianship, INTO ETERNITY style. New vocalist Stu Block (also of Vancouver's very own OMEGA CROM) is the perfect fit for this band. His amazing vocal range blends in perfectly with the accompanying duties of Roth and Doherty.
Block can easily hit the highs, the lows, the death growls, the melodic passages, and yes.... those Rob Halford-like screams he does so well. Doherty and Roth provided non-stop axe-chopping riffs/solos while Sagan and Bleich provided the steady backbone rhythm that drives it all. Songs like "Splintered Visions", "Distant Pale Future", "Paralyzed" and "Beginning Of The End" were executed perfectly, and with heads-a-banging and fists raised in the air, fans soaked up every last drop of INTO ETERNITY's performance. Hats off to the boys for pulling-off what I would call one of the finest shows in a long time. What more could you ask for on a Saturday night in spring time? More metal perhaps? Patience, my friends. Vancouver has a slew of great shows coming your way this Summer/Fall. Prepare yourselves!
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SETLIST
Splintered Visions
Embraced By Desolation
Elysium Dream
Point Of Uncertainty
Distant Pale Future
3 Dimensional Aperture
Shallow
Beginning Of The End
Selling God
Paralyzed
Identify
Our thanks go to Heather Smith from Century Media for providing us with the press pass, and also to A.M. from Goddess Productions for accomodating us during the show.
» Official INTO ETERNITY Website
» Official SOULSCAR Website
» Official CRACKWHORE Website
» Official ANTIQUUS Website
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