Bedford Alternative Music Presents: Escaping Juliet, with In Remission, Enraged Horizon and Metal Kettle.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2 Friday 24th June 2011.

Photos (c)Bedford Alternative Music 2011.

With a guitarist in both the two first bands on (The amazingly well practiced and versatile Rupert Smith) the gig looked set to become Rupefest, as METTLE KETTLE opened with their thrash, Pirate, Viking, folk, metal heady mix, using gruff vocals and enticing brain grabbing riffs and tunes.
With their bassist in America, their fill in, who I know is a competent all round musician (including a trumpet in other bands!) really couldnt have looked less metal, not sure if all his main clothes were still in the wash or decided the sporty chav look would suit, great job of filling in at short notice though. They also have a new drummer since we last saw them who fits the bill well. Good to see their previous drummer turning up to support also.
For what they claimed was the last time, - Gay Bar was played in amongst their mix of intricate playing adding fun to the talent on show.
Catchy, hard hitting, well played tunes continued through their battle of a set.

Its Rupe again on stage with ENRAGED HORIZON, mixing old classics, new songs and added tweaks to previous songs. I think I prefer their un plaid Lady Ga Ga cover (which I actually heard from this band before the original) more than the cover they settled for, which was the Rage Against cover, complete with accurate rendition of the sliding guitar effects. It looked as though their bassist only plays on one string, although still gets a good sound while thrashing round the stage, putting a visual flair in to his playing. Tribal rhythmical drum beats appreciably punctuate the mixed bag of song styles from their drummer, incorporating twirling stick gymnastic effects, while fancy guitar work with Hendrix stylised playing emanates from their Guitar/vocalist front man.
Bedford Alternative Music putting on Jazz? well thats what we got with their awesome show stormer of a last song. Reggae/Jazz styles, fantastic drum rhythms and even a cheeky modern mobile ring tone tune prized in to what was a breathtaking innovative song which encapsulated different leanings of style and a pacey rock out section thrown in also, making this one of the gig highlights.

Worthy headliners in their own right IN REMISSION were up next and were the band most able to hold the audience in their hands, ahead of their game and more than capable of a good crowd interaction. Its both well played instrumentation with good songs. I missed a few classics dropped from their set for newer stuff from their latest C.D. They seemed to have disappeared for a while but are back on the scene with their usual pull and energy (and shaggy beard from their front man). Anguished passion is fed through the vocals as opposed to some dull, have a go band that sound as though the vocals are being phoned through. I always get the feeling that their guitarist is a bit scared of me, but his quiet front disappears on stage with rapid movement and chunky riff snarls.
The other guitar and bass duties headed up from the Norman invasion of brothers who it seems have been playing in other bands for many years since they were half their present size and age.
It goes without saying of course that they have whats needed in excellent drumming to complete the body of sound from this outfit well capable of performing a proud to put on and be there show!

Not a bad crowd size for a rainy Friday night last before people get paid, exams and festivals to take the mind off doing anything other than ticking attending on facebook and staying in. Added with the fear of most Bedford people of seeing anything new and not the same, same, bands month in month out. Crabcore metalers ESCAPING JULIET clawed their way up on stage for an un shellfish quantity of time out of their shell and staging an entertaining set containing the verisimilitude of a self honed musical style. Sometimes looking as though they hadnt quite got the crowd where they wanted with a separated wall leading to nothing much, while other times pleasing the up front fans and added moshers where appropriate. The crowd response may have been mixed but their actual music looked stylised with growled and clean vocals all clearly proving that their practicing for the gig came over with a remarkably tight set.
With their youngest member proving not only a well played worthy drummer but also getting the kit in on time and helping out with the other bands awarding this guy, this gigs, Man Of The Match!
If they continue their determination, practice and enthusiasm for playing I can see E.J. deservedly going far.