The Haunted / God Forbid / God Dethroned
24 November 2005
Mean Fiddler, London
The usual plethora of end of year gigs seems to be taking it`s toll on London`s audiences, with the following night`s Candlemass and Destruction gig moved to a smaller venue and the Mean Fiddler looking decidedly empty as we arrive in time for openers God Dethroned.
It`s a rather flat reaction then that greets feisty opener Nihilism with mainman Henri Sattler growling "Target destroyed, another target destroyed." Boiling Blood was up next and it`s slow section started to get head`s moving as guitarist Isaac Delahaye and an unidentified bassist (regular four stringer Henrik Zinger is sitting out the latter dates of the tour) indulge in some hair windmilling.
Buoyed by a superb sound for an opening act, Sattler is just toying with this crowd when he says that perhaps it`s too early for a circle pit, but presents Soulsweeper as something to bang their heads to. The song`s harmony leads certainly hit the mark and its obvious respect for God Dethroned was growing amongst those who had not encountered the band before
Finally, Sattler lays down the gauntlet, describing Villa Vampiria as the perfect song for a circle pit, and his wish is granted. The band is on a roll from there on in. Sigma Enigma moves in a more mid paced territory that Hypocrisy often occupy and probably that band`s melodic take on death metal is God Dethroned`s nearest musical neighbour.
Expecting latest album title and video track The Lair Of The White Worm to wrap things up, the albums closing track Salt In Your Wounds actually takes that honour. Perhaps that selection was taken with the bill`s line-up in mind as the songs crunchy-mosh section kicks off the pit once more. Which brings us full circle through a cleverly crafted set: "Target destroyed, another target destroyed."
God Dethroned set list:
Nihilism / Boiling blood / Soulsweeper / Villa Vampiria / The Warcult / Sigma Enigma / Salt In Your Wounds
Whilst the upstairs of the venue remained quiet it appeared most of those present had packed down the front for the arrival of God Forbid. The band are on a high with their latest and greatest album IV: The Constitution Of Treason, which will be finding itself highly placed in a number of year end best album polls. At this point the band could be headlining venues this size and it comes as a bit of a surprise to learn that when they return in March they`re supporting again, this time as guests of Trivium.
The set starts in the same manner as the new album with End Of The World and the pit instantly kicks off. The song, much like all those aired from the band`s new album shows an added level of maturity without sacrificing power. Into The Wasteland is simply awesome, whilst Chains Of Humanity showcases the harmony skills of brothers Doc & Dallas Coyle in terms of guitar and vocals.
The vocal interplay between the Coyle brothers, who handle the clean parts and frontman Byron Davis, who takes the gruffer territory, work far more seamlessly than when I have encountered the band before. Davis particularly appears to have moved up a gear and his stage presence is huge tonight. With his flailing dreads, Davis somehow manages to combine headbanging whilst singing.
Unsurprisingly a good portion of songs from previous and breakthrough album Gone Forever are played. Crowd favourites Anti-Hero and Better Days raise the response to fever pitch. The sole trip prior to that album closes the set with a run through of Broken Promise from Determination wrapping things up. A portion of the crowd seem unfamiliar with the song but respond positively.
The back of one of God Forbid`s new t-shirts reads "Metal as F**k". Anyone disagreeing has clearly not seen them live.
God Forbid set list:
End Of The World / Force Fed / Into The Wasteland / Anti Hero / Gone Forever / Chains Of Humanity / Better Days / Broken Promise
Still recovering from God Forbid, The Haunted had a very tough act to follow and whilst not surpassing them they put on an equally enthralling show. Where God Forbid are more hands on with their audience, The Haunted is a much more detached and at times claustrophobic experience. The first three songs are delivered in rapid fire succession. At their conclusion vocalist Peter Dolving simply utters "Look at you", before a stomping introduction leads us into In Vein.
Dolving is the focus of attention. Totally absorbed when singing and perpetually open mouthed with a pained expression when not. For the most he delivers his vocals in an aggressive manner, but when called upon, like on Abysmal, he has the ability to open up his range to much higher registers.
Of the two Björler brothers, it`s Jonas that appears more in the face of the crowd, cast effectively in red light, as most of the band are for the duration of the set. Guitarist Anders spends much of the set in the shadow of one of two cut out silhouettes from the band`s logo which stand above the amps on either side of the stage.
The other two namesakes, the Jensen`s must not be overlooked either. Patrik, on guitar, with long black hair and beard, spends much of the set on the lip of the stage to Dolving`s right and points out members of the crowd to their delight. Per, on the drums, is relentless, with Bury Your Dead in particular coming over like a drumming masterclass. At the start of that song`s Dark Intentions intro, the band cheekily sneak in the harmony riff of Slayer`s South Of Heaven, the band whose sound highly influences The Haunted.
The band`s latest album rEVOLVEr concludes with the eerie My Shadow, as does this gig, which works as an uncomfortable wind-down to the preceding mayhem. With no break for encore, no airing of Three Times and a total set time of 50 minutes the set ends rather abruptly and a bit premature. However, as the old adage goes, best to leave them wanting more.
The Haunted set list:
No Compromise / Nothing Right / Abysmal / In Vein / Shadow World / Trespass / 99 / Forensick / Hate Song / All Against All / Dark Intentions / Bury Your Dead / My Shadow
Footnote: I can`t finish without mentioning the ridiculous flash gun that one of the pit photographers was attacking Peter Dolving with. The flash, which stood about two feet above the camera, resembled a cobra ready to strike, particularly when Dolving was moving left and right to try and get out of the way of it, then recoiling when hit by it`s blinding light. The view from the crowd was obscured for most of the first three songs so it came as no surprise when the stage manager got fed up and threw all the photographers out of the pit two songs earlier than planned.
LINKS:
The Haunted
God Forbid
God Dethroned
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