Bedford Alternative Music Presents: HeKz with Glass Artery, Point Of Extinction and Metal Kettle.

Bedford Esquires Lev 1 Thursday 16th September 2010.

Photos and Videos (c)Bedford Alternative Music 2010.

REVIEW ONE BY keith.

I first saw METAL KETLE at a Bedfordshire Music youth rock night at Esquires and was immediately impressed at how well they stood out on the bill. The guitarist of HeKz said he was impressed when he saw them in Luton, so between us we decided to add them on to the HeKz gig night. It was certainly a great way to open the night of metal at the bar. They have a stupidly good guitarist who seems well practiced to a point of excellence. I must have enjoyed their set as it seemed to sail through and finish all too soon. Vocals need a bit of tightening up but the instrumentation is spot on and especially good when you consider their young ages. Apart from the obvious practice and experience they just need to add a few more songs which Im sure will appear in time. I urge them to add more songs and keep the band going. Their cover of Gay Bar I know comes from their guitarists other band Apparently So (where this versatile musician plays bass). One of their songs - 'Death Row' sounds like a Celtic jig folk song which is immediately fast and catchy and sticks on the brain after hearing it.

If Metal Kettle are this good now what are they going to be like in the not too distant future? Certainly a band to look out for.

Just when I thought their set might sound generically samey most of the way through on their first song I was good to find POINT OF EXTINCTION had pleasing variations and styles throughout and not just the meat and potatoes standard fare you get with a lot of metal bands at the moment.
They have a quirky sense of enjoyment while playing, which makes you enjoy the experience more when watching live. They use some sliding effects in to the mix which made an effective sound, making me look to see how the sound is being made. This is a proper metal band doing well at what they do; with a great outlook and attitude for some air punching brutal metal that makes them a memorable band on any bill.

Seemingly wanting to hit Esquires for a gig for a long while GLASS ARTERY came and went like a summer cloud. No faffing or sound check demanding just load in, play and out. I first saw these at an out of town gig and thought they would be too high up in the echelons of bands to play the lev 1 bar and have been waiting for a lev 2 gig on the big stage for them, but being really cool people, were just happy to play in Bedford on the night. Much about their musical style can be gleaned from the C.D. review, emphasising the mix of clear vocals with brutal screams, soothing melodies with a rock out heaviness but with tune and musical integrity and that galloping run of drums I prefere; just listening to an opening of any of their tracks makes you want to stick around to hear more wether live or just listening to a tune on myspace or C.D.

Its certainly been a good year for HEKZ who now have a stable crew of band members and a healthy looking tour schedule, taking all directions of the countrys compass Southampton, Stoke, Lincoln, London to name a few and not forgetting their epic outdoor fest Bloodstock. Their home town added to the tour and an intimate setting of Dannys Bar Esquires. I was fortunate enough to hear their new song at the sound check, although minus vocals as I dont think they have been properly learnt yet and I have to tell you sounds absolutely hair raisingly full of epic scale grandeur, cant wait till its released. More than capable of rocking a venue all night with their now extensive repertoire, you never know what they are going to use to fill out their set which constantly changes to stay fresh. You never even know which cover they will throw in to their set, tonights show was Deep Purples Black Night, which personally makes me want to dig out the original just to see if the originals drumming is as good as HeKz does it!
Not just knowing how to play their songs HeKz also know how to perform them, projecting themselves in different shapes throughout, making them look the part, as if every song is an expensive video shoot. Character, charm and bloody good songs add to the wow factor.
There is the usual high jinks on stage with their guitarist high jumping to the splits, balancing on drums, amps, or what ever is available and the guitar playing shoulder ride a staple part of a traditional HeKz gig. Carry on the way they are doing is the only recommendation for this band that each time you see makes you think you are seeing a live band just before they get big and famous. A great back catalogue a vibrant present and a stonking show with the prospect of the best to come!

REVIEW TWO BY Martin Stapleton.

It appears that after making their first appearance in Danny's Bar several months ago, HEKZ want another taste of these tight and intimate confines. It's their first Bedford appearance since their short, but sensational, Sunday lunchtime performance woke up the river festival back in July. Yes, here in Bedford, it's always a pleasure to welcome Matt, Danny, Al and Kirk - HeKz.

A silver tasselled silk scarf adorns the leather clad leg of dark-haired vocalist Mr Young. Apart from a sort of stripy jacket worn by his guitar toting brother, the band are unusually conservatively attired tonight. With a travelling tour schedule that has recently taken in Southampton, Lincoln, Wakefield, Stoke and the Bloodstock festival, the boys have certainly been busy. Back on home soil, they are ready to rock. Naturally, for HeKz, the place is packed. The tightly assembled youngsters pull together and inch ever closer to Matt. He talks to us as though he was having an intimate cuppa with everyone in his living room! A natural warmth emanates. Each song is delicately and precisely introduced. The two guitarists, although hampered by stage restrictions, dovetail together perfectly as Kirk's pounding drum beats keep everything on track. They do indeed "Seize the Day". Tonight, it's very much a touch of the new and a nod to the old. The boys produce a riveting performance, even though "Dead of the Night" unfortunately has no cow bell! It appears to be the top tune as it garners wild shouts and loud applause. With time slipping away so quickly, the HeKz gang are gone, hopefully to return very, very soon!

As is the norm on these Bedford Alternative Music nights, promoter Keith Pickering carefully selects his bands and usually takes a gamble and a risk to bring us some new breaking metal acts to Esquires. New to most people (although I did witness them at the recent level 2 Bedfordshire Rock School night), are METTLE KETTLE. This quartet feature four young and nervous musicians. I especially felt sorry for the bassist, who had a slight Spinal Tap moment when the vocalist was introducing the band members. A lesson learned, just concentrate on the songs. A firm plus point was the impressive display by their enthusiastic drummer.

I really enjoyed POINT OF EXTINCTION, a MK based five piece. Their aggressive slant on some old-fashioned metalcore borders on utter brutality at times, especially in this small room. Bizarrely, their skinhead vocalist dons a kilt! But, wow! His larynx is on overdrive for this set. The three pronged guitar attack is offset by Gary the drummer, who is playing his penultimate POE gig. The powerfully built sticksman takes a nervous bow when the news is announced. By their own admission, POE cite "Tortured Soul" as their anthem. Their travelling support nod in knowing agreement. It certainly is a full on, arms in the air, powerplay.

Stevenage based GLASS ARTERY follow in a similar vein, although they posess a slightly diluted strength vocalist. The rather limp pair of leather mittens that he wears is not for this occasion! What this band scores highly with is their terrific guitar section. It scorches and seethes constantly. A surging deep bass line adorns the opening to "In Deep Water". "Rise of the Desert" is of a similar ilk and gains from a turbo-charged start. This band and Point Of Extinction, complete with their fans, make a fine start for the autumn season from Bedford Alternative Metal.