Tonight saw a trio of Death Metal delights for us on the Mancunian soundscape and I was a little quizzical as to why the Club Academy wasn’t fuller but I guess, as they say, their loss was my gain as I was carved open by set after set of barbaric Death Metal.
First up was the Germanic, and self-proclaimed, Olympic Death Metal courtesy of Rise Of Kronos and they wasted no time in assaulting our senses once they had stormed the compact stage. Venomous and caustic vocals were injected throughout the whole set while the fretboards seemed to be tamed with relative ease and the skins were detonated with precision and commanding authority. As the set progressed the band seemed to relax into their new surroundings and deliver the tracks with more venom and brutality, each track being dispatched with ferocity and endearing aggression which made me ponder as to why I had never unearthed these titans before tonight.
A pulverising, impressive and addictive set which appeared to captivate all who stood in the basement of the academy structure, a set which was compelling and absorbing with its attractive aggression and engaging aural violence. A band which I definitely need to catch next time they visit our shores, and a back catalogue which is now firmly on my radar. Simply put, Vielen Dank.
Next up we were battered by the blackened Death Metal of Skaphos, and they did not disappoint. From the moment they attacked us and held us in their violent and hostile embrace we were gripped, the visuals which accompanied the blackened death psalms were mesmerising, the corpse paint and attire on each member of the band was intriguing while the hymns they dispatched were barbarous and flammable, each exploding and discharging with a rage and intensity which was simply blinding.
The set seemed to progress rapidly, the power and force which was detonated within the cluster of tracks which were launched was imposing and remarkable, addictive and enthralling. Another scorching set and one which will last with me for a long time to come.
So on to the headliners, the legends that are Vader, and they did not hold back from the opening riffs to the closing chords. The set had it all, venomous and aggressive vocals, tantalising, intricate and evocative string work and a thunderous and crunching shift on the drum kit. The set vaccinated us with classics such as the colossal ‘Silent Empire’, the majestic ‘This Is The War’ and the epic and captivating ‘Black To The Blind’. The solos and riffs from Peter were technical and intricate of the highest order while the bass lines and commandment of the skins worked in complete harmony and unison to generate the heavier section of the ensemble with a deafeningly harmonious and endearingly barbed muscular backbone.
Vader are true godfathers of the Death Metal scene and tonight they delivered a prime example of just why they should be sitting at the very pinnacle of the genre; it was a masterclass in how to construct and serve up violent and attractive extreme music.
