Kreator / Celtic Frost / Legion Of The Damned / Watain
18 March 2007
Koko, London
Five-thirty seemed a distinctly un-Devilish hour as Swedish Black Metal horde Watain stormed the Koko stage decked out with skull topped spikes, chains and steel inverted crosses. Thankfully lacking a dousing of pigs blood this time, vocalist E Danielsson still looked like he`d been dragged through a bush backwards and appeared to have caught some dead mice on his way through.
We`re afforded the chance to sample the Devil`s Blood which sees some synchronised headbanging and with barely a pause for breath Satan`s Hunger devours us. This track from the band`s well received new album Sworn To The Dark possessed a more immediate direction. In case we think things are getting too commercial, H. Jonsson clatters his way around his kit during I Am The Earth, with session bassist A huffing, puffing and contorting his corpse paint smeared face.
The imposing P.Forsberg offers up a hypnotic guitar refrain during Sworn To The Dark, whilst Danielsson grapples with his mic stand, with eyes aflame spitting "To The Death & Far Beyond!".
Heading back to 2000`s Rabid Death`s Curse for On Horns Impaled, Watain wrap up a breathless 30 minutes of pure hate in fine style.
Watain set list:
? / Devil`s Blood / Satan`s Hunger / I Am The Earth / Sworn To The Dark / On Horns Impaled
By comparison Legion Of The Damned are somewhat stripped down. With no fancy backdrops, just a bare stage, the four piece sport uniform black t-shirts and camo pants. They also have probably the longest combined hair length I`ve seen, even allowing for the shaven headed Erik Fleuren on drums.
It may be the first appearance in London under the banner Legion Of The Damned, however this band formerly known as Occult, had appeared at this same venue back in October 2003 on the Bonded By Metal tour. The change in name and sharpening of direction certainly has reaped rewards, with the band`s new album Sons Of The Jackal recently following up the excellent debut Malevolent Rapture.
It`s the title track of the new album that opens the set and immediately the no frills approach makes for a clear and powerful sound. The popular Werewolf Corpse sees vocalist Maurice Swinkels acting out the words as guitarist Richard Ebisch and bassist Harold Gielen switch sides.
The trio of Into The Eye Of The Storm, Undead Stillborn and Bleed For Me all wear the influence of Slayer on their sleeve, with at times the direct riffing recalling countrymen Born From Pain save for Swinkels thrash vocal. So economical is the sound that it comes as something of a shock when Ebisch affords himself a brief solo during Infernal Wrath.
Hungry, determined and to the point, Legion Of The Damned made a lot of new friends in London.
Legion Of The Damned set list:
Son Of The Jackal / Werewolf Corpse / Into The Eye Of The Storm / Undead Stillborn / Bleed For Me / Infernal Wrath / ? / Malevolent Rapture
Half an hour of atmospheric classical music precedes the arrival of Celtic Frost before the Tottengott intro commences and the four shadowy figures appear on stage. In front of a huge To Mega Therion backdrop and flanked by the trade mark heptagrams, a torturously slow Procreation (Of The Wicked) oozes to life. These days Celtic Frost appear closer to doom than thrash, though Circle Of The Tyrants whips up a storm in the pit.
Here`s where things get difficult as Celtic Frost have barely changed their set since the release of Monotheist and with Tom G Fischer as quiet as ever between songs, it`s difficult to find something new to say about something Rockers Digest have already reviewed twice. As a result on a few occasions my attention wonders and a rather flat crowd reaction would infer I wasn`t the only one.
What really does surprise me is that more material from Monotheist, which was my favourite album of 2006, has not been introduced to the set. Only Ain Elohim and the closing sprawl of Synagoga Satanae make the cut. Unsurprisingly the Cold Lake and Vanity/Nemesis albums remain ignored.
Martin Ain appears keen to take a census, first taking a poll on how many of us have been to church lately prior to Ain Elohim and later seeing how many of us have communicated with the dead, before Necromantical Screams. Both speeches are somewhat cheesy with the po faced Ain drawing giggles and heckles in equal measures. However, when we`re asked if we`re prepared to pay respect to 1987 my ears do prick up as Frost run through a mournful Mesmerized and majestic Sorrows Of The Moon from Into The Pandemonium.
At times compelling and at others distracting Celtic Frost deliver an unsettling set, though knowing them, perhaps that was their intention.
Celtic Frost set list:
Totengott (intro) / Procreation (Of The Wicked) / Visions Of Mortality / Circle Of The Tyrants / The Usurper / Ain Elohim / Necromantical Screams / Dawn Of Meggido / Mesmerized / Sorrows Of The Moon / Dethroned Emperor / Morbid Tales / Into The Crypts Of Rays / Synagoga Satanae
How I wanted Kreator tonight to remain that manic German thrash band I saw 20 years ago. Things move on and Kreator are a much more refined act today, evidenced by the slick stage presentation, complete with video screen. Whilst the band have returned to (extreme) aggression with their last two releases, it`s a much more clinical approach than the looseness that prevailed in their early work. Pleasure To Kill is barely recognisable tonight it was so tight.
Mille Petrozza dominated proceedings, his head tilted back rasping into the microphone and striding round the stage when not singing. By contrast guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö and bassist Christian Geisler come across faceless. Behind them Ventor`s drumming is reassuredly loose and it`s disappointing he doesn`t get to lead us through Riot Of Violence anymore.
It`s the material from Enemy Of God that works best for the modern day Kreator and the title track and Suicide Terrorist go down a storm. The inherent tightness also pays dividends for the more straight forward Phobia and catchy Voices Of The Dead. To my mind Betrayer doesn`t sound right unless it appears to be veering off the rails, but it`s played clinical and whilst the Flag Of Hate is raised, it`s without spite.
This wasn`t a bad performance by any means, it was just one that failed to ignite for me. The rawness of old Kreator doesn`t appear to be there anymore and it`s difficult to move on and accept this slicker version.
Kreator set list:
The Patriarch (intro) / Violent Revolution / Pleasure To Kill / Some Pain Will Last / Enemy Of God / People Of The Lie / Europe After The Rain / Suicide Terrorist / Awakening of the Gods - Behind the Mirror (Medley) / Renewal / Extreme Aggression / Phobia / Betrayer / Voices Of The Dead / Reconquering The Throne / Impossible Brutality / Flag Of Hate / Tormentor
LINKS:
Kreator
Celtic Frost
Legion Of The Damned
Watain |
