The Bedford Athletic Rugby Club Wentworth drive, Putnoe Bedford. Friday 10th November 2006.
Slave To Nature, Scar My Eyes, Helminthian.
Heat 10
SLAVE TO NATURE were the band with the most technical ability, putting everything in to the stage performance including their dress style, movement and whole visual style. Their drummer sporting a flashing T-shirt, even their lil bassist making the effort to look very goth rock. They get better every time, with good tunes and perfect in unison guitar work, at one time the trio of guitars all playing each others strings. Along with the heavy/melodic sounds, they gave us a flashy guitar solo, showing that they are a well rehearsed and well over standard guitar ability, especially for their 14-17-age range. Their Avenge Sevenfold, Dragonforce and Trivium influences rising from the melting pot and never more so than when their cover of Trivium (from when Trivium were good) was played. Their professional look was added with their many on stage poses and also mention to the excellent growling backing from the bassist. I was disappointed that this band wasn't voted through to the new band final, they certainly deserve more gigs!
Heavier influences (KoRn, Slayer, Pantera Machine Head) and older than the other bands SCAR MY EYES had the crowd firmly in their hands from the start and throughout. It was an amazing crowd reaction for these Royston Rockers, displaying hypnotic rhythms and tortured screams, real crowd rousers and putting so much in to the performance especially when..
We interrupt this review for an advertisement break! Well thats what the band did half way through their set - Scar My Eyes have T-Shirts stickers and a Myspace for you to visit!
O.K. back to the main feature - especially when lolloping round the stage interacting well with the crowd and of course their break in the gig to plug their merchandise, web and myspace etc. (yes they've got a myspace). I could so easily go on saying how good these were but running over time just doesen't do.
"Just One More" - HELMINTHIAN, not seeming as well practiced or rehearsed than the other bands, how on earth did they win? - It certainly surprised the band them selves!
Their newly added synths to the band to open their set added a new dimension, not too well played in places and sounding a bit out of tune compared with the guitars at times. The venue looked more packed out than hugely moshpit driven, while Helminthian influences quite heavily by Machine Head, Slayer, Alcohol, Pantera, beer, HeKz , jagermeister and cider, amazed me with their Samurai like drum chops and detectable middle eastern sounding guitar work. The high quality of the guitars add to the uniqueness of the band.
Time to 'av a go' your selves now going crazy as if your ass is on fire on stage - yes it's the AIR GUITAR competition, with a disqualified air drummer a few illegal poses and a very intent audience, but most of all - good fun!
Well done to Helminthian who go through to the semi final round.
Keith www.bedfordmetal.co.uk