Sat 11th Sep '04

Sun 12th Sep '04

Metal Weekender!!

Saturday

Sunday

(AGHAST)
 

Football Club, Hitchin
Sat: Doors 4pm - 11pm
Sun: Doors 4pm - 10pm
£4 (£3.50 members) per day
or £6 (£5.50 members) for
the whole weekend!

Isor (click for site!)

ISOR embodies a state of mind that results in a metamorphosis of sound. Total musical freedom will ensure that they will continue to defy the expected and allow the diversity within their songs to create an impression of musical mayhem of a different order.

Perfecting the Vegan Death Grip (MP3)

We Are the People That Watch You Shower (MP3)

Bio

2003 witnessed the final metamorphosis of the bands line-up with founder members Dave Merricks & Nick Hemingway making the brave decision to write & perform solely as a duo.

ISOR's debut album 'Post Mortem Peep Show' is receiving rave industry reviews, gaining such comments as :

• "England’s ISOR has made an album that restores my faith in the metal/hardcore genre.", "I haven’t heard an album this creative in a long time. ISOR has only two members, but what these guys lack in numbers, they make up in sheer brutality. This album has to be the musical equivalent of being beaten with pool sticks and then set on fire.", "Nothing is overdone, and nothing is underplayed.", "I sincerely hope this is the future of metal/hardcore. There is literally something for everyone here...", "This album is superb, and I don’t think there is a single song that is weak. ISOR has found the perfect blend of everything that is fun and angry about metal and hardcore alike. If you happen to be a fan of Drowningman, Deadguy, Converge, and the Dillinger Escape Plan, then you'll want to hear this album." - [85] Lambgoat - (USA)
   
• "Incredibly fierce mathcore mentalness." METAL HAMMER - (UK)
   
• "...the most exciting extreme metal album of this year.", "...Isor are f*cking incredible and this album will tear your head off. Absolutely bottom line essential!!" [4.5/5] WALLS OF FIRE - (Germany)
   
• "Surely one of the greatest albums of this year 2004", "Buy! Buy! Buy this record!" SENSORIUM.IT - (Italy)
   
• "...ISOR have landed as the saviours of the Brit metalcore scene.", "...A landmark debut release." [4/5] TELETEXT - (UK)
   
• "ISOR show that a new generation is coming up from the undergrowth and challenging just what noise should be all about.", "'...Coping With Your Ginger Secret' and 'Swimming On Chief Brody's Day Off' aren't just witty titles, they've got the power to match." ROCK SOUND - (UK)
   
• "...undoubtedly one of the most exciting metalcore debuts in recent times." [4/5] I ATE YOUR MICROPHONE - (USA)
   
• "Two People? You'd imagine this music was created by an army.", "...the matter of relentless death-thrash touches the anti-matter of acoustic passages and emo undertows to create nullifying explosions..." TERRORIZER - (UK)
   
• "...contains some of the most furious, chunky, pummelling riffage I've heard in ages! Go buy, right now." [9.5/10] ULTIMATE METAL - (UK)
   
• "A brutal yet intelligent concoction of sounds '...Peep Show' is an extremely strong release and could be one of the biggest sounds of the metal core scene this year." SKRATCH THE SURFACE - (UK)
   
• "...it's hard to imagine a more pressuring and crushing sound.", "This is how an ultra brutal bastard of the most extreme styles has to sound..." [9/10] THE METAL OBSERVER - (North America & Germany)
   
• "...totally awesome sound and easily the best release I have heard this year..." AUDIOCRATIC - (UK)
   
• "A band to be on the look-out for, and surely a worthy addition to any Extreme Metal or Hardcore festival!" [95/100] CONCRETE WEB - (Belgium)
   
• "...pure genius ideas that retain a real freshness and innovation that a lot of bands don't possess." QUINTESSENCE - (USA)
   
• "...arguably the best new metal sounds to come out this year." [4/5] ANEMIC MAGAZINE - (Australia)
   
• "Fans of noisy, harsh, dissonant metalcore need this. Isor mix it up so well, and need your attention." RAW NERVE - (UK)
   
• "...damn fine release and one that threw me totally with its ferocity, and this is definitely not to be missed...", "Recommended!" COLLATERAL DAMAGE - (UK)

The duos material breaks new ground with an exiting fusion of musical textures blended with the intensity of math-core. Each song contains diverse changes in style, tempo & signature thus setting the band apart from many of their peers. The Album titled “Post Mortem Peep Show” was recorded & mixed in Philia studios late 2003 with renowned producer Dave Chang and was released worldwide in February 2004.

“Post Mortem Peep Show” typifies the duos interpretation of modern life, the bizarre twists illustrate common paranoia found in today’s society born with the frustration of inevitable conflict & deceit. The intensity of vocal performance brutal guitar riffage & relentless percussion drive the songs to another level of insanity resulting in the listener finding it hard to believe that the mayhem unleashed has been produced by only two people.

Atakku (click for site!)

Stand Aside (click for site!)

MP3s and here, and here

Images from other gigs, click for bigger versions!

Reviews

.D. Review - STAND ASIDE, - 'Dance Of The Dragon'
Recorded 2003 mainly Criterion London and produced by Stand Aside. The Packaging as represented on their bio flyer looks pretty impressive with the lyrics to the songs and an acid trippy montage of skeletal activity. This is a band with a sound so fat – its difficult to escape its gravitational pull!, with ‘Testament’, Suicidal Tendencies’ to a ‘Death Metal’ approach. It opens with RAPTURES, which has an epic start, that leads into a gallop of guitar work that throughout is rich in talent. Don’t look to this band for repetitive cheesy lyrics more suited to commercial fare
that’s more poppier than bubble wrap; They have some intelligent and quite poetic lyrics, “Show me the way you grace the skies” and “Elysian denied” their take on an inability to go to heaven, providing some of the competent prose.
The vocals are delivered in a harsh ‘Death metal’ style barking out at times, with all the passion of an angry Chinaman. I can imagine this band inducing circle moshes and this C.D. I’m sure captures the intensity of their live shows.
DEAD IN MY EYES is more of the same, with intelligent lyrics and bursts into some amazing guitar work. Their songs in no way sound the same all the way through; - multi layered with different sections, its good to see that there are quite a few time changes and song structures in abundance. CONDEMNED, has a kind of ‘don’t judge others or you may be judged yourselves’ moral going on here and is able to capture the style and pace in the time it has; racing through in just under 2 minutes. THE NAME HAUNTS ME, doesn’t escape the great galloping riffs and time changes either. There’s a melodic riff in this song, not hiding the presence of very talented guitar work. I like the style of Death growling vocal bands in general which in this song at times has crow cawing reverberations and at times sounds a bit strained, but with the melodic and skilful guitar work it lends to a Maiden like sound albeit without Bruce Dickinson.
What I like about the next track LETS BE FRIENDS, is the way the vocals are broken up with some talking vocal section’s adding some diversity to the norm. Also- the doom-laden sound of the cool moody bass work that is apparent throughout, giving a Black Sabbath’y edge to the riffs. There’s also a kind of waterfall of cascading, brilliant guitar sounds. There’s no break in the intensity with 7 SEVERED, providing more of the enjoyable to listen to guitar work. I think the backing vocals included ads just a bit more to the song. It’s kept predominantly with Death growling and I would say, unless it changes the bands sound too much – could do with more of this inclusion of variation in vocal ranges, adding another dimension to their already perfect sound.
It’s quite a high praise compliment from me to say that END IN PAIN, which was recorded in the guitarists own room, has a Maidenesque edge to the song; still though, able to capture the individuality of ‘Stand Aside’. There’s some monk like chanting vocals included also, adding to the much welcome atmosphere.
I could imagine this band would easily go down and would have no hesitation in saying that their material would create a fantastic live and moshable atmosphere, with songs fatter than a fat arse that looks like two badly parked volks wagons
Review by Keith at www.Bedfordmetal.tk

"Raptures" has a very nice opening riff, firstly clean then heavier, then brooding, all around the same theme. When the whole thing kicks in, there is definitely a mid 90's Euro HC / Metalcore feel, not unlike Drowning, early Breach, 108, Dehumanize, with quite a nice stomp and addictive riff being the main focal point. Vocals are strong, a raspy shout, also catchy and definitely hooking well. A top starter and already I am impressed thoroughly with Stand Aside. "Condemned" sounds more straight forward old school heavy hardcore with moments reminding of Biohazard, but also there is a stoner / sludge hint in a few of the grooves and note choice. "Deadeye" has a little classical widdle before the early Slayer style trashings and Earth Crisis vocal hollers..
Stand Aside tip their hat to old and new school hardcore, mosh and thrash, and this ultimately makes their sound more interesting and original. The rocking and imaginative "The name haunts me" proves this, one minute it's Exploited, then Integrity, then Metallica, Disembodied, and "Let's be friends" continues the mixed bag trend.
Definitely worth a listen and certainly could well be a big name in the future if this is anything to go by.
Raw Nerve Promotions www.rawnervepromotions.co.uk

STAND ASIDE - DANCE OF THE DRAGON (3 song CD)
This is a three song promo sampler for the bands forth coming CD which will contain seven tracks total. These guys play a really strong & powerful Hardcore/Death metal hybrid style of music. They do toss in lots of Grindcore type elements as well. I loved the really crunchy guitar sound as well as the hard hitting Hardcore type grooves. These guys have everything that is great about these two styles of music. The vocals also cross over between these two styles of music with low death growls & mid ranged harsh Hardcore screams. These guys are going to be big in the underground scene!!!
Review by Burt at www.beowolfproductions.com

Stand Aside - An excellent, raucous four piece that create something of a mosh pit - and that is just the band members! There is a thrashy, and at times almost punky ethic about the band - though the music itself is damn good metal with a rawck edge to it. Much banging and crashing from the drums sees things hurtle along nicely, with all members supplying much energy.
This is a brilliant and original act that we hope to see a lot more of.
Neon Promotions www.neon-promotions.co.uk

Finally, an unsigned British band that rocks!
Stand Aside play a thrasy style Heavy Metal/Hardcore similar to bands like Stampin Ground' and Unite, and play it very well indeed. Guitarist JT churns out riff after riff, mostly heavy chugging riffs but there is also plenty of melody to keep things interesting, vocalist Spanky's almost "Converge"
vocals suit the style perfectly, both backed by the rock solid, faultless foundations of Swets and Adam on bass and drums. I can just imagine the band live, it would be total mayhem on and off the stage, if Stand Aside don't reach success, it would be an absolute crime, because music this good should be heard!
Metal Mayhem www.metal-mayhem.co.uk

Niroth (click for site!)

Download MP3s

Reviews

Niroth - Iconoclasm (review by The Welkin)

This isn't bad at all. Letchworth, England-based black metallers Niroth have put together the three-track "Iconoclasm" demo, a showcase of their "old school" style reminiscent of the original Norwegian groups haunting the scene in the early-to-mid 90s. As most classic black metal should be, "Iconoclasm" is full of truly bone-chilling, darkly atmospheric stuff with gut-wrenching growling and rip-'em-apart riffage, such as in the mouthfull opener "Mysterium Daemoniarchon". Nothing particularly innovative really, but then again, not bad at all.

30/11/03 Location: The Verge, Camden (review by Alliance for the Diabolical Annihilation of Mankind)

I had heard the tracks on Niroth's website and thought they were pretty good, but it had not prepared me for this ear-blistering assault!
The first thing that struck me about this band was how much the vocalist reminded me of one of the hobbits (Sam?) from Peter Jackson's version of Lord of the Rings. But this was blown away (and so was I) as soon as he launched his vocal assault upon the unsuspecting crowd. These vocals were harsh!! Incredibly powerful shrieks that were enough to make your ears bleed!
Niroth's music is mostly fast-paced Black Metal bringing to mind bands such as Taake, with the occasional slow/mid-paced section now and then.
The sound was generally pretty good throughout, though at times the guitar sounded a bit thin. I think the bass could have been slightly louder in order to rectify this, but it was only a minor detail and did not cause any kind of detraction in the overall performance.
The band were consistent throughout in terms of tightness and power, and, although appearing somewhat reserved at first, they seemed to gain confidence as the set went on and the crowd responded more. A damn good performance, and definitely a band worth keeping an eye on.

Six Devils High (click for site!)

From the smouldering remains of Casket Rodeo, comes Six Devils High, featuring Paul March (aka Wilda Beast from Gilla Bruja and Mixi Bunny from Skag Bunny) plus Sean (fuzz from Skag Bunny and ex The Home Wreckers Club) along with Mark Monkfish from Black Eye and Andy Kiel from Gilla Bruja.

If you liked Casket Rodeo then you'll love Six Devils High. It's in a similar vein although the songs are mostly quicker with a more psychobilly feel with a lot of different influences ranging from the Misfits, through to Devil Driver, White Zombie and Iron Monkey!

They've also got a track on the free cover mount CD in the June/July issue of Terroriser magazine (was out at the end of June) which is unheard of for an unsigned band!

Baseborn (click for site!)

More Pics

MP3s

Bio

Baseborn originally formed in 1999 and the current line-up (Steve Molden - vocals, Graeme Baldwin - guitars, Neil Dawson - drums, Andy Agnew - guitars and Sanna Rönngård - bass) has been together since late 2002.

Specialising in producing original heavy music, Baseborn offer a fresh alternative to the pop orientated and over produced bands that typify the heavy rock genres at the present time. Our aim is always to create a song with a strong groove alongside original, powerful and inventive melodies.

Our music is based around memorable hooks and melodies while not being overly simple - each instrumental member wants their parts to be challenging and interesting in their own right. While writing songs with these twin aims is often painful, the results are more than worth it.

Although we take great pride in our songwriting, we are also passionate about performing live, always giving 100% at gigs to try and pass on our enthusiasm for our material to the audience. We believe in what we do and want other people to enjoy it as much as we do.

If you enjoy heavy rock music but are frustrated with the current saturation of image obsessed but talentless and unoriginal pop masquerading as 'serious' rock bands, you need to have a listen to Baseborn - we might be the alternative that you've been looking for...

Sordid (click for site!)

STARTED OUT AS DEAD CONSCIENCE, A SLUDGE/STONER BAND, THEN REFORMED IN MARCH, WITH A DIFFERENT DRUMMER TO CREATE SORDID, A DEATH/GRIND BAND. INFLUENCES/WHAT WE LISTEN TO: GOREOTTED, PIG DESTROYER, MAYHEM, MISTRESS, DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, LABRAT, CANNIBAL CORPSE. WE TEND TO MIX AND MATCH WHEN WRITING STUFF, WE DON'T KEEP OUR SONGS TO A GENRE, MIXTURE OF FAST DEATH/SNARE BASHING DOUBLE PEDAL BEATS, TO DOOM.

SORDID ARE:
DAVE-DRUMS
MURPH-BASS
JAY-VOCALS
PETE-GUITAR

FROM BARTON/HITCHIN

Wyvren

Black Eye (click for site!)

Black Eye formed in August 2003 with the intent of making accessible (but yet somewhat challenging) aggressive metal. Comprised of James (vocals), Graham (guitar), Mark (guitar), Alex (bass) and Nick (drums), the band were spawned from the ashes of short lived local metal band John Doe, who featured Graham, Alex and Nick in their ranks. James stepped up to do lead vocals and Mark joined soon after, first as second vocalist then moving onto second guitarist. Compared to Pantera, Opeth, Nevermore and Mastodon, in their short history, Black Eye have been gigging around the local scene relentlessly, playing alongside bands such as Gilla Bruja, Aconite Thrill, Skindred, Defenestration, Killing Mode and many more. With each gig they have steadily been getting more recognition, and an EP on the way should lead to a bright future for the band.

Killing Mode (click for site!)

Download MP3s!

Killing Mode are:
Zack O'Neil - Machinegun Spray
Steve Moses - Carpet Bombing
Tank John - Mechanized Dirge 1
George Pacifico - Mechanized Dirge 2
Hybrid - Necrochant

The Beginning:

Year Formed: 1997
Location: Brighton, UK

A band born from the ‘Brighton metal scene’ fuelled by anger and hatred for the un-spirited and the disbelieving. Vocalist Hybrid immigrated from gangland trouble in Brazil to the UK and shortly after recruited what was to become 'Killing Mode'

Consistently searching to create the most intense and ferocious sounds, the band’s line up has seen many changes since it’s formation and the current line up is: Hybrid on vocals, George Pacifico on guitar, John Hill on the second guitar, Steve Moses on bass and Zack O’Neil on drums

The band has worked with Paul Siddens (Napalm Death, Crowbar, Cathedral) for its first release “Vale Tudo!!”and has toured the UK with support slots with bands including The Damned, Candiria, Lost Prophets, Raging Speed Horn, Stamping Ground, Dillinginer Escape Plan, One Minute Silence and Mudvayne. Since that George & Hybrid have collaborated in recording and producing Killing Mode’s next releases “Shrine Of the Dead”, “Consolidate” and “Maximum Hostility Level” and 2003 & 2004 Killing Mode have share the stage with bands Gorerotted, Pungent Stench, Incantation, Malevolent Creation, Hellborn & Mastodon.

6 of the bands tunes are included on the soundtrack of the new Brit-Manga film ‘The Dominator’. The film has been commissioned by Universal TV and will be shown on The SCI-FI channel this September in many territories within the world. The film is tipped to be a huge success starring Doug Bradley (Pin Head – Hellraiser Films), Mark & Lard (Radio One), and Dani Filth (cradle of Filth). www.rengamedia.com

It is now the summer of 2004 and Killing Mode are now set to deliver grievous sonic harm to the masses.

Down Caste

Kraken South

Here's some info from the band!

TWISTED URBAN SLUDGE! NASTY AS AN I.R.A. PUNISHMENT SQUAD AND SOUNDING LIKE A MONKEY KNIFE FIGHT PUT TO MUSIC. THIS BAND WILL KILL YOU! FACT. AND LATE AT NIGHT WHEN YOUR SCREWING YOUR PIG UGLY GIRLFRIENDS OR WATCHING YOUR GERMAN DUNGEON PORN IN YOUR HOMES YOU WILL BE THINKING OF THEM.. ALL HAIL KRAKEN SOUTH OR DIE........ FUCK YOU ALL. BASTARDS!!

LINE UP...
NONE OF YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS. GO SEE THE SHOW. YOU COCK.

Aghast (click for site!)

Sam Holmes - High Tension Sound Supplier
Nick Plews - Aural Battery deliverer
James Anson - Gutteral Swansong distributor
Mark Monkfish - Low end Artillery provider

The core members of Aghast are former members of John Doe and HecatomB, for more information please visit our website!
 

Reviews

Music Zombie Alldayer

Hitchin Football Club

Sat11th and Sun 12 September 2004.

(PART ONE – SATURDAY)

Having missed the first four bands, and attempting to fill in with what I heard from other sources starting with

Wyvren – who are a doom band that use keyboards.  Very atmospheric, but also very very heavy with some grove orientated riffs in the songs.

Sordid – had a sludgy, Death/Grind sound to their style, with catchy riffs and some bluesy guitar solo work in to the mix also.

Baseborn - Not as brutal as most of the other bands on the bill, they have a melodic rock sound to this band with catchy songs and catchy guitar hooks.

Six Devils High – These have a kind of Sludge and roll style metal, with influences ranging from Iron monkey, Misfits and Rob Zombie.  The Guitars seemed to be tuned very low, and are an outfit with lots of grove to the music.

NIROTH are a band that have came a long way since the last time I saw them, gone was the facial make-up and in was the more practiced sound. They played some atmospheric, melodic guitar work, which retained a passion in with its heaviness, with some rather capable bass work standing out also. Their songs seemed incredibly long, at times making me wonder if their set was just one long song!

 The singer/growler adopts the satanic voice when conversing with the crowd also. – A trait which I think should be dropped and makes them up for the ridicule that Skindred made of them last time I saw them. They were pretty bad then and I was surprised how good they have now become, and was a pity their set ended so abruptly.

With Otis and No Made Sense unable to play, at least the next band were still able to perform… STAND ASIDE this was the main band I had come to see. Not only does their music stand out, there is the spectacle factor also. There’s a great deal of movement, whether it’s the front man throwing martial art kicks, or the lead guitarist diving in to the crowd to play. Their gigs are always something to see as well as appreciate their fast skilfully thrashy but melodic axe work, with a nod to Arch Enemy and a new bassist, who was initiated also to fill up the mosh pit when not playing and a female replacement took over. The mosh pit never filled out but they had a good crowd response all the same.

ATAKKU put a lot into their hard-core set which was rather short, but so much energy went into it, with their front man jumping into the more filled out mosh pit to wrestle with some of the other moshers.

 This rabble rouser had a chance to let things slow down a pace for a while – probably to save him self from wearing his clothes out from the inside, allowing at times some drum work to solo through in places.

ISOR – Bloody entertaining or what? Their checked shirted Scouser front man, with engaging personality and plenty of banter with the audience, who at times strode round the room playing his guitar while constantly being filmed – speaking of which they incidentally have a video on Skuz T.V.

 One of the songs was totally improvised and was called… ahem ‘The Improvised Song’. At one point the room was divided into two halves and a battle charge mosh pit was engaged – all part of the fun, which made it difficult at times to believe that all this noise came from just two people – drummer and guitarist/singer.

  Their classic ‘Vegan Death Grip’ song ended the first night from these worthy headliners.

Music Zombie Alldayer

Hitchin Football Club

Sat11th and Sun 12 September 2004

(PART TWO – SUNDAY)

The second afternoon looked as if it was starting a bit late and when it kicked off, there were certain Death Metal leanings to the bands influences.

 With F.O.H. unable to play, AGHAST with its Morbid Angel like sound and vocals like a barking dog who was later joined by a guest singer whose growls sounded the deeper of the two vocal dogs. There was some pretty impressive drumming and the guitar work sounded great when played in unison, but somehow off kilter when doing solos. With the bass work and drumming coming over quite prominently made for a death metal version of this band with prominent use of their drum n bass instruments making for a band of worthy gig openers.

KRAKEN – It’s always a bit of a pretentious risk, spending time to paint your faces up in a band if the sound is going to go pear! And with all the technical difficulties, it did end up going pear. – BUT I have to admit, although this wasn’t their fault, they did actually sound quite good when they were actually able to get going. Intermittent faults with their drum machine prevailed though, these painted faced mettelers were no technicians though, standing round their broken drum machine like cowboy clown builders round a cement mixer, and when even their mic. started packing up, all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men could not put this gig back together again and they called it a day. (Sounded good while they were going though and at least they turned up!)

DOWNCASTLE had the busiest mosh pit so far, and seemed to have a lot of fans up front. The band seemed to employ many different styles. Their singer refreshingly sang in different vocal styles during their set, whilst looking quite serious amongst the rest of the band who looked as if they were enjoying what they were doing more. Their varied material had sections each in which to let each player shine, especially with some of the excellent masturbatory guitar work that would have been more at home in an arena venue, which was a memorable highlight leaving me wanting more.

 One of these guys had several appearances throughout other bands during the afternoon.

 I would definitely want to see this band again and after this being my first time seeing them I’ve been converted to a fan.

KILLING MODE – moved around on stage quite well, especially their bassist and headscarved singer who sang with a quality like two voices trapped in one body, and got his chance in to plug the bands C.D.’s. Their guitars at times sounding like a jar of wasps, being pretty heavy and well played. A couple let fly to some fighting style moshing in the audience, although the floor had emptied out after the last band somewhat. They couldn’t have disappeared altogether though, as they were back for the headliners…

BLACKEYE – On familiar territory now, quite an amazing live band, their lead singer making for a really good front man, with Machine Head like vocals. There was a pretty good drum solo presented also.

 I thought their new material worked really well and made a good complex use of their skilful bass and lead guitars, who for a few songs, swapped instruments with each other for a while.

 A bit of Jack Daniels and whisky dousing to volunteers up front added to the on stage shenanigans from a band that ended a rather well put together All dayer weekend of fast and furious music mayhem. – Well done to all the bands involved that did turn up, the cool non militant bouncer used for the venue, the venue staff and of course Music Zombie for putting on this great organised event.

Review by Keith Pickering (www.bedfordmetal.tk)