Sábado 19 Abr 2008, 2h:11
First off a quick capsule review of the 5 bands on a scale of 1-5. 1 being a band I hate…like Linkin Park, and 5 being a band I love…like Iron Maiden. This is based purely on their performance and content.
High on Fire - 4
Job for a Cowboy - 2
Children of Bodom - 4
In Flames - 3
MEGADETH!!! - 5
I got there a little late and only caught the last song by High On Fire. Who starts a concert on a Thurs at 5pm? My friends have real jobs cause they're suckers, and no one can meet me at 5. The one guy that can is late…so I missed most of the set. I've seen these guys a lot. In my opinion one of the best metal bands I've ever seen live. It really pissed me off to hear people talking shit about them just cause they don't have 4 guitar players and don't sound nu-metally at all. Really thier sound is closer to Motorhead then thrash and Mat Pike slays on that 9 string. So all the HOF haters need to listen to Orgasmatron a few times before they can hate on a really kick ass band. Divilution sounded awesome, but at 5pm…no one was really there, so it sounded kind of flat. Really cool song though.
Job for a Cowboy reminded me of late nights at Fitzgeralds, watching some high school metal band with only their girlfriends in the audience, all getting soggy over mediocrity. I had never heard a song by this band before tonight. The singer kept on attempting this really ill advised interpretation of King Diamond (who rules!), by mixing a high pitched shriek with his low octave growl. Really didn't work for him. Maybe their recorded stuff sounds better. My buddy kept on saying to me that they sounded like an impromptu jazz band that just made it all up as they went along. Or maybe we're just too old and just don't get it anymore. Anyway, not very good.
On to a more pleasant surprise. I am now a Children of Bodom fan. Had only heard Blooddrunk and read an article in Decibel before the show tonight, but I was really impressed. Its thrash with a keyboard. Like if Kreator covered The Final Countdown. They mixed samples with furious thrash in a way that didn't make it sound all melodicly gay. I think alot of bands think that by introducing an open guitar rift it makes them progressive and more accessible, but it can be a disaster for some bands (see In Flames). COB still had an edge, but as my buddy said, weren't afraid to sound a little gay. The soloing was vintage thrash mixed with some NWOBHM, very good, and very technical. They were kick ass. I would certainly pay to see them again. Oh, and the singer wasn't afraid to write a song with the word fuck in it. Always something I respect.
Now In Flames, or as I call them…the Korn tribute band. Again, never heard this cover band before. Not only does the singer bear a startling resemblance to the frontman for the nu-metal icons, but they used breakbeats and I think he stole Jonathan Davis' voice effect pedal. I thought I was watching a cover of Freak on a Leash. I don't hate Korn, I'm not a fan, but they're not exactly screaming to be emulated…especially in the world of metal. The first two songs were good, very straight ahead. Then I think they started listening to DJ Shadow and got inspired to make dance music. To their credit, if I was still in high school they would be my favorite band. Its always embarrassing to watch 30 year old men express themselves like angst filled teenagers. If I wanted to watch that I'd go to a NIN show. I don't like it in my metal…especially before I witness MEGADETH.
Not much to say here…it was MEGADETH. They reminded everyone in the arena what real thrash metal is. Its like your dad beating you at basketball when he's 50. He's just played longer and he's always gonna be better than you. They played for an hour and half! All the greats, a lot of the new stuff. Dave's new band is really good, even though the guitar player looks like he should be in a softcore showtime porno. They should have had a fan setup to blow his hair when he soloed. Anyway, great show, you should have been there.
philo