BEDFORD METAL HIJACKED.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2. Friday 03rd June and Saturday 25th June 2005.

Bedford Metal Night Esquires 2005 Gig 1. Fri 03 Jun.
Fell Silent, Deserves To Die, Skar:Red, Seeth. Fri Jun 3rd


This gig was already booked by the Friday promoter who asked if I would like to have this as a 'Bedford Metal Night', knowing that I like Ska:Red and as the bands were of a heavier nature, also as this was the time that this site was changing over from its .tk to .co.uk addy - it was a welcome hijack!

M.K. band SEETH , positively exploded on stage with their Slayer like riffs making them one of the heaviest outfits for an opening act around.

SCAR:RED , with a recently produced C.D. (see CD Reviews) I thought were the best band of the night, after a few not so busy nights at the lizard I really wanted their return to be a huge welcoming Esquires crowd but with exams, festivals and holidays looming etc. it wasn't as packed as I always feel this band deserves. They have certainly progressed since the last time they rocked Bedford with their new material and energy fuelled performance, its so good to see a bassist that doesn't lurk in the background but bursts in to a full explosive incendiary of action from a change to most bands, here sung by a vocalist with a great death like growl of thrash tuned splendour.

To say the best thing about DESERVS TO DIE is their name is being generous, with a singer looking as camp as a field at Glastonbury. I just felt that their music was like comfort food for liberals and their idea of sound is like what you would get on Google if you were to type in 'bland'. Their guitar work was at least noticeably well played with a rich gratifying sound. Their singer seemed to be bobbing around all over the place, while their overall sound is like all the other bands of their genre, but this band is like all the other bands more than the rest. Commendable though that they put energy in to their movements to their on stage presence.

Their first return since Battle Of The Bands and what can I say about FELL SILENT that I haven't said already? Well I'll illiterate their great stage presence, fantastic machine like drumming, commanding front man, Sepultura to Pantera like hardcore tainted guitar sound and will any one ever say anything about this band and not mention what a tight set they play?

The second hijack took on a different form, as one of the bands on the line up featured Bedford Metal's origional webdeamon - Russian Pete, I asked the Saturday promoter if I could hijack his line up as this years second 'Bedford Metal Night' at the venue:-

Bedford Metal Night Esquires 2005 Gig 2. Sat Jun 25th
Born From Pain, Stars Have Fallen, Necrosadistic Goat Torture.


NECROSADISTIC GOAT TORTURE have had some line up changes since their first visit last year, with their guitarist/vocalist returned to Poland they now have a new guitarist and a new (with out sounding sexist) quite gorgeous looking female lead singer (see photo's). They still have the style of dark atmospheric riffs to their tunes played with melodic yet heavy as fuck noise, with growling vocals, making you wonder just where they are coming from, possessed from a hell baited roar of vocal sound, allowing Bedford to witness the London death metal scene closer to home. Gone are some of their live favourites, replaced with their newer material.

Having only heard of THE STARS HAVE FALLEN , I wasn't quite sure what to expect, not knowing they would just bowl me over at just how good they are live and bringing with them the largest (and most welcome) Luton crowd with them. With many members to the outfit making them look like an on stage invasion party of swirling bodies and windmill fighting movements to their hardcore sound. They got a good crowd response although the empty dance floor was surrounded as if it was electrified, even after the previous band had promised it would be safe from them (and no goats were slaughtered).

BORN FROM PAIN were good in a standard way, hailing from Belgium and putting on a no thrills performance, not particularly memorable but not bad either, while playing under a new Esquires banner advertising a well known brand of lager, closing the second of the two hijacked evenings.

Overview and photo's Keith - www.bedfordmetal.co.uk

REVIEW 2 Martin Stapleton.

For those of a nervous disposition, Level 2 at Esquires was not the place to be on Saturday evening! However, it was a real treat for those of us who like their music extremely loud. Wow! It certainly was an experience!

Perhaps when your opening band is called NECROSADISTIC GOAT TORTURE you should have an idea of what to expect! Featuring Pete from the Bedford Metal website who shares vocal duties with a female singer, both were in good voice and their set did not disappoint. However, I couldn't help thinking that they must both gargle with six inch nails to achieve their distinctive sound!

THE STARS HAVE FALLEN kept the volume mega-loud with vocalists Matt and Boa performing at a breakneck speed. Hailing from Luton, is was surprising to learn that this six piece band have only been together for eighteen months.

And so to BORN FROM PAIN, a Dutch hardcore metal outfit that are brutal and punishing with their delivery. Song after song of aggression and power that just numb your brain into a mix of pain and ecstasy. Quite simply a set that will live in the memory for a very long time.