BEDFORD METAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS 07

 

The Bedford Civic Theatre, Horn lane St. Pauls Bedford. Friday 28th September 2007.

Valentone, Scar My Eyes, Slave To Nature, The Final Prototypes, Abadden, Black Reverance.

Heat 4. Winners - Scar My Eyes and Slave To Nature.

Heat 4

With a late drummer causing the band to go on first VALENTONE who inform me played a Bedford Metal gig a year ago to the day, took to the stage. They are consistently good with influences from Pearl Jam, forming their rock/grunge sound and appealing to an older and wider audience. Sounding quite standard at times with their middle of the road rock classics performed with passion. You can't deny their well above average guitar playing abilities.
Their set seemed to get better as it went on but a pity there was so much faffing after their intro instead of getting straight on with it. They are an enthusiastic band with an album C.D. new out and could really do with an escape from playing Bedford to wow audience's further afield.

Recently interviewed for 'Planet Loud' and with an 18-20 age range SCAR MY EYES The Royston rockers who love to get out of their town and play, exploded on to a Bedford Metal stage once more. Perpetually regenerating their band members and this time with a new bassist, they put on another high powered performance. It just wouldn't be Scar My Eyes if you replaced the lead singer, here barking out orders for moshing and for the crowd to move around as fast as they do on stage. Their Pantera/Machine Head influenced sound is never performed better than when they have a decently large stage to perform on, mixing harsh sounds with brief melodic bursts.

Formed 2005 but 4 months with the present line-up SLAVE TO NATURE. Walking in to a room with Slave To Nature playing is like walking in to the Astoria or somewhere where a professionally sounding band is playing. They have a first rate use of the stage in the way they move around and perform. Their bassist used to walk around the stage throwing the odd shape here and there but now seems to consummately throw him self around even more looking like a well practiced rock star. A large pair of white moon-boots takes centre stage containing their guitarist who demonstrates a well above average playing ability and vocals to match. - Why didn't he take on singing duties when the band first formed?
Influenced by Helloween, Killswitch Engage, Bullet/Valentine Yngwie Malmsteen, Mozart, which kind of mixes the new, the old school and the bloody old (they even added Picasso as a classic musician ha ha - 'he's a painter'). It's hard to find any fault with this band, perhaps the drumming although quality is drowningly loud at times. They seem to crave that extra song that everybody looks forward to that gives them a band classic yet to be written.

Like Slave To Nature THE FINAL PROTOTYPES perform well, just needing better material. They have a faultless rhythm of drumming, an excellent rock sound, just needing to project themselves on stage better. Except for their front man, who carries off his stage presence well and reminding me of a younger Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin). This band started as a duet on a talent show and the beginnings of the band came together in 2004. All 16 and influenced by Tool, Rage Against, Nirvana, Artic Monkeys, GnR, AC/DC, etc. They have since had a handful of Bedford Metal opportunities to perform and have become a bit of a favourite with us. It's rewarding to see their improvement each time, including a kick ass performance at Bed-Rock. As with their BOTB performance last night showing them selves to be one of the more original bands on the live local scene.

This was my personal favourite of the evening ABBADEN were more of a goodun, and are a metal band from Dunstable. I recon if they were a Bedford established band, they would have quite a following, for people who only came to see their local friend's band over any new talent missed a treat. Being influenced by Megadeth, Children Of Bodem, Slayer, Maiden, Trivium, HeKz and Dragonforce. I could tell this was going to be my sort of thing! Proper real unadulterated METAL, capable of some good operatic vocals, they had everything going for them in both movement and sound, their songs and how to perform them.

Like a well oiled routine, you can tell that BLACK REVERANCE have gigged before, they have some hypnotic rhythms while being fast and furious. I think a hoody on stage is a bit of a style clash, making them appear as something they are not. Their influences as you would imagine from hearing this band are well heavy and include Suicide Silence, Knights Of The Abyss, Cannibal Corpse etc. Very dark sounds and Black metal in style, with textured death metal vocals. Seemingly trapped by the constraints of their musical genera but good at what they are doing and a front man with mic. in hand bent double, foot raised on stage expelling unique sounds cuts a heroic figure on stage.

No New Band Winners this week but two for the main heat who go through to the next round.

Valentone

Scar My Eyes

Slave To Nature

The Final Prototypes

Abadden

Black Reverance


For more photos of this gig see 'Gig photos' button at top.

Keith www.bedfordmetal.co.uk