BAM Present - .
Ahgast!, Perdisian, Countless Skies, Basilisk.

Lev 2 Esquires, Bedford. Thursday 2nd April 2015.

Tradition resumes at Esquires tonight as Bedford Alternative Music (BAM) presented their customary Maundy Thursday show. What makes it even more special is that it is a rock and metal gig and on the main stage. Earning a well deserved first chance upstairs are Bedford's BASILISK. In a very short time these likeable lads have now completed a hat trick of the venue's stages. They begin with "Judge jury executioner". This song is on the band's recent album "which people bought on iTunes". With this evening dedicated to some brutal sounds, you would be hard pressed in this environment to find four more 'lamb-like' souls than Harvey, Jack, Thomas and Dylan. However, when they step on stage and face a crowd these lads explode with boundless energy.
They proceed to hurtle through their songs as if their mums had threatened to dock their pocket money. "Make it happen" is new and will appear on the next recording. Showing no hint of nerves, "Perfect world" sees these slim-fit trouser wearing lads take command of the big stage. Special mention should be made of bassist Dylan who badly sliced his thumb during band practice. Coincidentally, Basilisk include a song called "In my blood". Very apt title.

These are exciting times for Hertfordshire's COUNTLESS SKIES, who include Ross King (vocals, guitar), James Pratt (guitar), Phil Romeo (bass, vocals) and Nathan Robshaw (drums). Last week at The Castle in Luton they successfully negotiated the first hurdle in their aim to play this year's Bloodstock Festival, by winning their Metal to The Masses heat and will be appearing in the Grand Final June 5th. In addition, they have an eponymous EP out at present and the band unveiled these tracks for us tonight. Topping and tailing these songs, Countless Skies beautifully crafted a Japanese flavoured intro and outro. This quartet's metal can best be described as epic and I feel that it would probably be better suited to a larger stage than the tiny one here at Esquires. This especially applies to "Everlast" which is abound with intricate guitar skills.
"Reverence" is a stylish composition, almost gothy in flavour. The band gain enormously from Ross and Phil's contrasting vocals. A set that is very much for the connoisseurs of the genre. A masterclass in serene, cinematic death metal which seduces the crowd with an über groove.

PERDISIAN are making their third appearance here. Our friends from the West Country have travelled from Yeovil once again. A nightmare journey by all accounts, no doubt fuelled by the busy Easter traffic. Once on stage they offer up their brutal death metal. With two previous EP's to their name, the fellas are planning an album, hopefully for early 2016. Perdisian might have spent hours stuck on the M25 this afternoon, but they are going to release all their pent up anger with a musical message. Frontman Ben is an imposing figure, a frightening stage presence. Vocally he growls his nuts off, larynxes are shredded. The rest of the band detonate in a spectacular manner. They have powerful songs such as "Aggression", "Let them burn" and the Sepultura cover "Roots bloody roots" which perfectly execute their metal agenda. Ben demands a pit for the latter, but unfortunately for Perdisian, it is to be a "Pitiless existence"! They end with "Velocirapture" which the band explain is "going to be on the new album when it is finished"! Hopefully the journey home will be a lot quicker and less traumatic for them. As I write this review though, I can reveal that bassist Sam inadvertently failed to put his guitar and bag on the van! Hopefully they will soon be reunited. It is always an adventure when Perdisian visit Bedford!

Our headliners are AGHAST! . This is quite a coup for BAM as the London based metal band seldom play in Bedford. Since forming nearly ten years ago they have notched up a most impressive musical CV. Last year saw them perform at this country's top prestigious metal gathering Bloodstock. It was back in September 2008 that I first saw this band when they appeared in the bar supporting Carnal (do you remember them?). Aghast! are a band that I always enjoy watching and their recent album "All the rage" is one that I heartily recommend to all true lovers of metal. They start with "Afterlife crisis" and frontman James immediately directs this most reticent of crowds to assemble nearer the front. "Move forward, please ignore the invisible elephant" he implores. He further demands that everyone holds hands. Aghast! are on top form. It is a belligerent assault, guitar flourishes erupt, there is a percussive rhythmic melee. This band's awesome sound seems to spiral in multiple directions at the same time. They don't just make a small dent in your consciousness, more like a crater-sized hole. The pummelling omnipotence of "Laid out in red" is blistering. This is dedicated to all the ladies and is new. James is impressed by the reaction and adds "who doesn't worship Pantera just a little?". The Aghast! set list is perfect, new ones and "old shit". They whip up more energy than a nuclear reactor. "Drop dead famous" brings back fond memories for a friend who saw them at Bloodstock. James then shouts out manically "Esquires, I'm sick of it, you can all go to hell" and of course "Plenty of buckets of blood". They finish with "Noise pollution" and the crowd are told in no uncertain terms to "f**kin' have it". Aghast! we have and we loved it. What a fantastic night.

BASILISK Video