Raging Speedhorn, with Burning Skies, Aortic Dissection and Slave To Nature.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2.

Friday 4th May 2007.

The first two bands on this really good line-up featured on the packed Bedford Metal showcase nights at Esquires, not so crowded on tonight's show though, despite a strong bill of bands.

You really need to be up front for SLAVE TO NATURE to appreciate their live shows featuring brilliant guitar acrobatics, with their fingers alternating round the neck of their thretboards. They have a new C.D. out and tracks were played from that, in addition to their other classic metal songs. The obligatory 'My space' ads were plugged all night while one of their guitarists chewed gum throughout the performance, making it look easy and not to bothered whether he was there or not, although putting in great playing ability.
Bass players are often excused to lurk in the back ground, this one though puts a lot of effort in to the performance, adding some great backing vocals along with inventive moves which I noticed were at times copied by the other members.
Amongst all their own songs performed, one was a cover and it turned out that their 'Whisky In The Jar' cover was really well received, seeing people singing along and joining in.
Less doubt in their own potential and less chewing gum in order, but a tight well played set, with good crowd interaction, vocals and playing ability.

Raising the heavy notch a touch now with AORTIC DISSECTION a band gone from strength to strength since their two name changes and added band member in the form of the ex Ex-Nihilo front man, here looking perhaps over confident but supplying charisma in abundance, stealing himself in to the front crowd to dart around with his cordless mic. being one of the bands new trade-marks. They looked quite happy on stage during the gig, containing great heaviness and a technical sound that's more colourful than if Jackson Pollock himself had wiped his paint brush on it.

The only band I haven't heard of on the bill were BURNING SKIES who are a hardcore metal goon squad from Bristol. Compared to the previous band they didn't move around as much, well the singer stayed on stage for one thing. There was a noticeably definite appreciative crowd up front with a mosh pit ensuing to the barking dog, death metal vocal styles. Good at what they do but I wouldn't say they were that memorable a band, whose sound it has to be said were massively heavy on the line-up, adding to the ever rising heaviness of the bands on the night, leading up to.

RAGING SPEEDHORN I'm kind of tempted to end the review here and wonder if anyone is reading this beyond the first few band reviews, it seems the Ragers don't wet the appetite of a gig going crowd, is it that there just not remembered or popular? They seem to have a lot going on, with singles out and singing sessions, gigs festival and fest warm up shows though possibly more used to playing to a big festival crowd who would mosh to anything. I don't know how well this band promoted this gig. I know the local bands spent time with flyers and posters along with the hard work by the One For The Underground promoter but it was rather thin on the ground, however, truth be known I still really enjoyed this gig,
They produced a tight wall of rock with their two vocalists adding to the mix from John Loughlin and Frank Regan's well complimented vocals. A good site for more info on this band can be found on www.angelfire.com/home/ragingspeedhorn/band.html.

Raging Speedhorn Photos Paul Waudby.



Review by keith. Raging Speedhorn Photos Paul Waudby.

REVIEW TWO BY Martin Stapleton.

Sadly, once again Bedford's young Rock and Metal followers failed to materialise for two of the country's leading exponents of Metal-Core, namely Raging Speedhorn and Burning Skies.

For Corby's RAGING SPEEDHORN, it's a long awaited return to Esquires, as it was on the 20th January 2001 that they last played here. However, only two of that line up now remain from that sextet, the drummer and most notably vocalist John Loughlin - a colossal man mountain with a rugby prop frame, coupled with demonic bulging eyes and a booming voice that's even meaner than he looks. He's quite an imposing figure.
After early success which included Kerrang nominations and gigs with Rammstein and Amen amongst others, these past years have seen a marked decline in their fortunes and although tonight they come second best to Burning Skies, Speedhorn's performance is still pretty amazing and a renaissance in their career could still be on the horizon. Tonight they still follow the 'horn ethos to make some very large noise while having a laugh in the meantime. Songs from their forthcoming album (which is due in the Autumn) are showcased and on this performance it will be an interesting release.

Bristol's BURNING SKIES are a band I have been eagerly anticipating these past few weeks and tonight they do not disappoint. A barrage of sound from first to last. After bursting onto the metal core scene in 2004 with the outstanding debut album 'Murder by Means of Existence', its taken them a further three to follow it up with 'Desolation'. The natural frustrations which have built up exploded in their live performance tonight. It culminates with one of the most dynamic aural and visual metal displays seen here this year.
One for the Underground prides itself in trying to obtain the best alternative sounds around and Burning Skies in their half an hour slot kept the Hatebreed and Lamb of God fans more than happy. Opener 'RKD' is an almost musical electric shock to the system which incorporates almost Death Metal overtones, while 'Caught in the Circle' from the new album has hammerjack riffs that piledrive and vibrate the brain cells. Burning Skies dedicate 'Fairytale Supremacy' to their mates the 'horn while 'Bauer Power' translates for us Bedfordians as 'Firepower for Bristol'. Although the crowd is disappointing there is some amusing and good natured banter with some West Country "Ooh-Ahhs" directed at the band and taken in good spirit by them. Final song 'Damaged' very aptly summed up the state of our ear-drums after Burning Skies had finished with us.

Young support bands SLAVE TO NATURE and AORTIC DISSECTION also featured but tonight belonged to the two touring bands.

Review 1 Keith. www.bedfordmetal.co.uk Review 2 Martin Stapleton.