SIKTH with ACONITE THRILL and CRY FOR SILENCE.

It was the first time I had seen a queue for the Well in Luton, even people could be seen peering from the pub over the road, wondering what was happening. Bouncers had been hired as well – Something big was going on!
No sooner had I purchased my first beer when CRY FOR SILENCE had erupted on to the stage with a large crowd already filling up front. It makes me wonder why I’m wasting time reviewing this band when I could sum them up using one word – amazing and fantastic…OK I cant count. I thought their sound was a great way to be an opening compliment to the other two acts, as they were not too far derived from the other bands style on that bill. I noticed that their bass work stood out quite loudly on most of their material which I quite welcome, as its sometimes underused as mere backing at times and here it was in full force. The lead guitars I thought were quite melodic and had a kind of faultless high-pitched edge. I wouldn’t say they were hugely memorable; their vocals were the standard mix of growl to normal and were the only band I had not come across or heard of on the line up but nevertheless still made for a really good opening act.

It must have been a whole year ago now when I last saw ACONITE THRILL They are close friends of SiKth and more than kept up the momentum after the first band. They played quite a lot of new stuff and have a new C.D. out, from which some numbers were showcased. With their randomised multi directional sound that seems to go off in all directions like a badly aimed firework, making their sound constantly diverting which makes them a total failure to become boring or predictable. Some of the names of their songs, long though they are sound interesting in them selves; the singer of which, adopts a straightforward, powerful approach to the vocals. They have, it has to be said, some pretty skilful guitar work. Their axe man Tommy J actually organised an extremely good set of bands at the venue the week before (Well done mate). The obvious was mentioned regarding the heat + humidity of the evening and excitement was soon rising along with the temperature for the headliners.

I haven’t looked forward to a live local gig so much in ages, SIKTH never fail to deliver a full-on entertaining set. With Machine head and Anthrax sported on their T-shirts, you just knew this was going to be good.
I remember while warming up, they let fly to a quick burst of some T.V. theme tunes including Woody woodpecker and I think the Top Gear theme? They started off with a low-key instrumental intro with their backs to the crowd before the full frontal onslaught began, starting with ‘Hold My Finger’ and ‘Pussy Foot’. Despite the temperatures, the audience were in their hands. A few of the crowd up front seemed to know all the words and as if to capture this recognition, their singers thrust the mic. At them to sing to. Their two singers made a unique asset to the outfit. After playing the classic ‘How May I Help You’ and while I was thinking – could it get any better than this, after teasing us with Metallica and Slayer riffs, they totally made my night by playing the full Iron Maiden song ‘Wrathchild’; with their deadlocked front man doubling up the vocals with more presence than Santa Claws and even getting in a whinge about politicians, showed they could just about play anything. Their next port of call is Japan (of which this was the warm up gig) and if this was a warm up gig, the heat was a scorcher – Lets hope these heat raisers come back again (preferably in winter when its cooler!).
Well done to the bands and the Well for putting on a great and memorable night.

Review by Keith Pickering www.bedfordmetal.tk
(See Interview with SiKth in the Band Interviews section also).