The Bedford Athletic Rugby Club Wentworth drive, Putnoe Bedford. Friday 8th September 2006.
All Your Rage, Paroxysm, Unclassified.
Heat 3
Metallica, Velvet Revolver, Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium influenced ALL YOUR RAGE a relatively new band with only their second gig, they age range as all 15, first time I had seen this band although their bass player is a regular visitor to Ath. gigs. Pretty fantastic guitar work, and at one point, playing guitar behind his back. The band bunched together in places putting on some good poses.
Specifically asking if they could go on first as they felt they were not as heavy as the other bands but performing like headliners and generating a great crowd response (the biggest on the door in fact). Their lead singer although great at singing and producing a more pop punk like sound seemed rather nervous at first - with a few rabbit in the headlights moments before getting in to his stride. Much more enigmatic their bass player wowed the audience at times between tracks to rouse the rabble. Their Tank Top fan (Boyd from Neighbours look-alike) guitarist played really well also and the arms waving audience up front to the 'Knocking On Heavens Door' cover added to the party vibe.
There's no denying how well they went down. I was expecting something a bit more milder I think but they sounded more heavier, but more than that -'individual'. - Thumbs up.
Beds Ath. stalwarts PAROXYSM 18 age range and in to Machine Head, Slipknot, Insomnium and In Flames (who they once met!) dog bark like roared on stage to a mix of melodic but extremely heavy riff bursts, putting their all into the performance to both moshers and standers in the pit up front. Was it the sheer intensity that caused their singers nose bleed? I thought he was singing out of tune for a while until I saw the blood and tissues were handed over before the powerhouse continued, with a good use of vocals to their closing song 'The Solution' ending a good energetic show.
Whilst bored in a school history lesson UNCLASSIFIED formed and with a new line-up and songs put on what I thought got their best crowd reaction that I have seen from these guys. 16 age range and influenced by System, Slipknot, Korn, Trivium, Black Label Society, Dragon force, to name a few crafting their metal death grind styled noise. They entered the comp last year and what an improvement, especially noticeable from their batman T-shirted front man. Their new guitarist played back to crowd in places, never a cool move, but moshed and entertained well enough when faced forward.
We like to have fun at Ath. gigs and before the scores were announced, 3 people demonstrated their stuff to a captivated audience. A demonstration from last times winner Mr. Watley started the thing off, followed later by Skunk (Jake), Finny C and Danny - who threw a wild fit of explosive manic arse on fire performance, winning his cash prize as he had seen too few winters for the crate of beer.
Keith www.bedfordmetal.co.uk