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May 21, 2012 |
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w/ OMEGA CROM/ANGELGRINDER/PARIAH
October 23, 2004
The Brickyard - Vancouver, BC
By Ciaran Meeks
Photography by Tony Antunovich
All photos Copyright © 2004 METALEATER - Do not use without permission.
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It's a sad fact that wherever you go - with the exception of some of our larger cities like Toronto or Montreal - that in Canada, while there is certainly a fairly sizeable and growing Metal community present, not enough Metalheads seem to realize just what a hotbed of LOCAL talent currently flourishes in the darkness of the underground scene. That's right. I'm not talking about the MEGADETH's, and the DIMMU's, and the ICED EARTH's who all make their once, maybe twice a year appearances at the larger venues of our fair burgh's. No. As killer as all of those great, high profile, major-label acts are, they are just the tip of a very large iceberg that descends deeper than many are aware. I'm talking about the mass of unsigned, and signed-to-smaller-label acts who make up the true backbone of both the national and international scene.
The bands who exist just beneath the radars of all but those devoted few who are willing to make the trip, weekend after weekend into the depths of the most diveiest of local dives for nothing more than the love of cheap beer and the chance to bang their heads and throw the horns to the sound of raw, underground METAAALLL played with conviction, heart, and, and pure blue-steel love of the music.
Saturday, October 23rd in Vancouver, B.C. provided just such an opportunity for us here at METALEATER to sink our teeth into some straight-up meat n' potatoes local Metal talent, so naturally we were more than willing to brave the brutal West Coast downpour that drenched the city that night to check out the riffage on offer.
After a couple'a' slices of 99 cent pizza, I showed up outside the doors of local venue The Brickyard with my better half in tow. It was about 10:15 PM and like most nights in Vancouver's downtown eastside, the - ahem - 'less than savoury' element was out in full force. So after, making a wide berth around some guy screaming at his imaginary friends, and avoiding eye-contact with a pair of panhandlers we got ourselves inside from the rain and settled in for a night of great underground Metal. First to greet us was none other than Andrew Staehling of SOULSCAR himself, seated at the band's merch table. I've had the pleasure of knowing Andrew for some time now, and it has been great watching both he and SOULSCAR progress over the years to the point where they are now signed to Galy Records in Quebec, and starting to make a name for themselves in both the national, and even international underground Metal scene.
First on the stage was a band I have only heard of in name up to this point; Victoria B.C.'s PARIAH. I was unsure of what to expect from this act, but from the opening salvo of heavy-as-a-tonne-of-bricks riffs exploding from the stage, I knew that something interesting was about to begin. By this point, the room was beginning to fill up, so after grabbing a beer, I made my way to stage right and leaned back against the bar to witness whatever ensuing mayhem might be on offer. After several tracks had passed, I have to say I was duly impressed. PARIAH have definitely earned the positive buzz I had been hearing about them prior to their arrival onstage. Playing in a style that can best be described as a cross between SHADOWS FALL-style Metalcore with elements of Death/Grind thrown in to the mix, the band soon had heads bobbing (and even a few fists pumping!) enthusiastically to their hooky, HEAVY, well-constructed riffs and aggressive vocal onslaught.
An impressive act to say the very least, who definitely provided a high energy adrenaline kick to get the crowd pumped up for the remainder of the show. Their guitarist was kind enough to share a few words with me after their set and even gave me a copy of their self-titled demo CD. A damn solid and engaging live act, PARIAH are a band I have no doubt we will all be hearing more from in the future. Check them out at www.pariah.ca. You won't be disappointed.
SETLIST:
Withered
Carthage
Stabbed Beyond Death
Septic
Abaddon
Birth
The Truth
Upgrade
So anyways, while ANGELGRINDER (not to be confused with the Swedish band of the same name formed by ex-EINHERJER members on Native North Records between 2002-2004) started to set up their gear I had another beer, and shot the breeze with some friends and acquaintances including buds Stu, Tom, Johnny, Vince, and Colin from OMEGA CROM. That's another band by the way who - having known the guys personally for some time - I must say definitely deserve all of the positive attention they are receiving. Just a great bunch of guys. They were all pretty excited that their set was next and revealed to me that a new song would be revealed tonight. At this point though, our conversation was interrupted as ANGEL GRINDER took to the stage. I've seen these guys play a couple of times before, but even though I knew what to expect to a great degree, I was - as ever - quite floored by the sheer energy and vitality they bring to their shows.
Playing a style of crusted, thrashy Death/Black/Grind, ANGELGRINDER remind me a lot at times of 'As the Palaces Burn' era LAMB OF GOD, although with again, a darker, more sinister vibe that on some level taps into the occult spirit of DARKTHRONE in a manner I can't quite put my finger on, yet which exists nonetheless. The singer was sheer chaos personified, leaping in a screaming frenzy into the crowd and contorting painfully through track after each hateful track. I mean, the guy is just frighteningly mesmerizing to watch. The crowd seemed to agree too, as a pit of some size began to generate to the black vibes this band so effortlessly spits forth. This is one untamed, raw, vicious act. A true personification of the underground.
SETLIST:
Counting Zygote's
Shades/Mutilated
A.S.F.U.
Doom
I, Empiricist
Morbid
All Hope
OMEGA CROM
Next up were OMEGA CROM. As mentioned earlier, just a really great bunch of guys in this band. One hell of a talented bunch too, playing an explosive mix of classic, IRON MAIDEN/JUDAS PRIEST-influenced Heavy Metal with a modern Death/Thrash edge. Before these guys even took to the stage the buzz had been growing in the room, as they have quite deservedly worked their way up to being one of the more widely-known and respected local acts in the city. The crowd grew as soundcheck began - Stu teasing everyone with his impressive high-end vocal range during mic-check - and then the show began, and man...what a show it was. Guitarists Tom and Johnny set the fretboards on fire with their impressive display of dual-harmonic leadwork overtop of Vince and Colin's bass/drum battery. Colin is simply a machine. One of the best drummers Vancouver has to offer.
Stu's voice was in epic form as ever as he belted out tale after tale of battle, bloodshed, and glory in an unearthly, Halfordesque tone that quit literally never fails to make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck every time I hear it. Just a phenomenal vocalist. That, in conjunction with the band's overall matured, seasoned sense of confidence, amazing, energetic stage presence, and flawless tightness resulted in a performance that no-one in the room could ignore.
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Highlights included rousing anthem 'Metal Revolution', 'Battlefield','The Passing Of Azazel', and the brand new ravenous track, 'Sundering Blades' (also the first time the band has ever played this song live). The show peaked with a particularly mind-blowing, note-perfect cover of PRIEST's legendary 'Painkiller'. Frikkin' amazing stuff! These guys are definitely destined to go places. Really. Galy...Century Media...Nuclear Blast...Someone! Send a rep to Vancouver to check these guys out! NOW! You truly have no idea what you're missing out on! Check out the band at www.omegacrom.com.
SETLIST:
Darker On The Steel
Metal Revolution
Battlefield
The Passing Of Azazel
Sundering Blades
Painkiller (JUDAS PRIEST Cover)
SOULSCAR
Finally, after a brief setup, the headliners took the stage; none other than Galy Record's own SOULSCAR. Everyone was on their feet as the band burst into action. While OMEGA CROM was definitely a hard act to follow, SOULSCAR left no-one in any doubt whatsoever who owned the the stage that night. From start to finish, the band were nothing less than the peak of confidence, focus, vitality, raw cerebral presence, and utmost professionalism. Vocalist/guitarist Andrew Staehling commanded center-stage, effortlessly leading the band through a set of blistering, AT THE GATES-inspired Melodic, Technical Death/Thrash. Each member of this band (also including bassist/vocalist Brent Mackenzie, drummer Igor Chefoit, and guitarist Stas Mikheev) are just so talented, you have to shake your head in amazement at the sheer technical prowess on display.
Despite their relatively young ages, they play with an air of confidence that mirrors the work of much older, more seasoned professionals. It's no mystery at all why Galy snapped this promising young act up.
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From start to finish SOULSCAR belted out a perfect set heavy with material from new Galy release 'Victim Impact Statement', highlights of which included the title track, 'To the Pain', 'Without A Shadow', and 'Ultimatum', as well as classics from their debut release 'Character Assassination' such as the title track, and 'Fatalist Mantra'. Bonus treats included a couple of great AT THE GATES covers in the form of 'Blinded By Fear' and 'Cold' from the now-legendary 'Slaughter Of The Soul' release. Just a great, great performance from SOULSCAR who I am sure are only at the beginning of what will one day be remembered as a long and fruitful career. If you live under a rock and have never heard of this criminally talented act, check them out at www.soulscar.com, and if you like what you see/hear, please buy both 'Character Assassination', and now 'Victim Impact Statement'. You won't be disappointed.
SETLIST:
Self Mutilation
Fatalist Mantra
Ultimatum
Without A Shadow
Antifaith
To the Pain
Lost In Life
Relentless
Victim Impact Statement
Character Assassination
Unmade
Blinded By Fear/Cold (Covers)
Python
SSRI
So in conclusion, I don't know what more I can say. Truly this was a great night for local Metal talent in Vancouver. I'd like to thank first and foremost - the bands and promoters - who put so much effort into creating such a memorable and enjoyable show; I'd like to thank The Brickyard for hosting the event and helping to provide a live venue for Heavy Metal in Vancouver; and last but not least, I would also like to thank those who braved the rain and cold to come out and check out what was honestly one of the better lineups I have had the pleasure of enjoying in recent months. Shows like this one are a reminder of why I love this form of music so much. Everyone involved...give yourselves a pat on the back. You are what keeps this music alive. Hails and Horns to all...I'll see ya all around next time. Stay Metal. [FIN]
» Official SOULSCAR Website
» Official OMEGA CROM Website
» Official PARIAH Website
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