Damnation Festival
22 November 2008
Leeds University
Now into its fourth year and third venue, this year Damnation had moved up the road in Leeds to the University of Leeds. This was a bit of a trip down memory lane for me as I was the treasurer of the Rock Society here 15 years ago and hadn’t returned to Leeds since I left University.
With the first band’s not hitting the stage until 5pm, an afternoon of reacquainting myself with the City and its hostelries was well spent. Previous years of the festival had earlier starts and only two stages. I believe the constraints of hiring this larger venue had meant the later start but a third stage had been added. Whilst the amount of bands was therefore maintained, it made for a whole host of clashes.
What the later start also appeared to have caused was the bulk of the crowd arriving for the 4.30pm doors opening time. With the festival selling all 3,500 tickets, the enormous queue snaked round the side of the Student Union building and in to the distance. As a result of that, the freezing weather, and only Johan having a pass, Johan headed on to get photos whilst the rest of us went for a swift pint.
Arriving back at the venue we had missed opening act Taint on the main Jägermeister Stage although Johan had managed to acquire their setlist.
Taint set list:
The Sound Out Competition / The Idealist / Born Again Nihilist / I’m Going To Kill Henry Ford / Drunken Marksman
Onslaught were recording a live album tonight, and the chants of the band’s name as they took to the stage will make a fitting opening to that disc. Even with one speaker stack malfunctioning, Onslaught were indeed a power from hell with the guitars crunching across a set which alternated between songs from their latest Killing Peace album and classics from the seminal The Force album, before rounding things off with their signature song.
Sy Keeler’s vocals were on fine form as he stalked the stage, silhouetted by the lights against the dry ice billowing around. Whilst I can’t see a historical Blue Plaque being installed next to the one here for The Who’s Live In Leeds, Onslaught certainly delivered and I look forward to hearing the recording.
Onslaught set list:
Killing Peace / Let There Be Death / Destroyer Of Worlds / Metal Forces / Seeds Of Hate / Demoniac / Burn / Onslaught (Power from Hell)
I soon learned leaving a stage when a band finishes was a communal affair as I got caught in a jam in the corridors heading to the Rock Sound stage. Of course it didn’t help that I wasn’t sure where I was going. Finding someone on stage playing a trumpet confirmed this was indeed *Shels on stage and for the five minutes I caught they were rather impressive. Not wanting to miss Sigh, I realised I’d need to set off back if the journey was going to take the same amount of time.
Atmospheric introductory music was playing in the refectory confirming I’d made it back in time for the arrival of Sigh. This was the band’s first UK appearance in 13 years and was eagerly anticipated by many, though even more seemed interested when female vocalist and saxophonist Dr Mikannibal strode on stage in next to nothing.
There appeared to have been some problem setting up mainman Mirai Kawashima’s keyboards which in the end sat on a flight case. Kawashima spent much of his time at this station, which made for an odd visual experience, though, as noted Dr Mikannibal had little problem holding the crowd’s attention, though they were more subdued than for Onslaught. This was hardly surprising given the schizophrenic nature of Sigh’s songs and with the sound not up to much, I was scratching my head through many before realising what they were playing.
Sigh are releasing a tribute to Venom album and Kawashima noted that England was the birth place of Black Metal, not Scandinavia, before playing a cover of Black Metal itself. This concluded with Dr Mikannibal dripping red candle wax over her body before breathing fire. A confusing set by a confusing band.
Sigh set list:
Introitus / Shingontachikawa / Dreamsphere (Return To The Chaos) / Hail Horror Hail / Death With Dishonour / Shikigami / A Victory Of Dakini / Bring Back The Dead / Me-Devil / Black Metal
I was far from being the only person attempting to see Napalm Death next and timing my journey too late, the Terrorizer stage was jam packed and I had trouble squeezing in at the back of the venue. Quickly realising I wasn’t going to even catch a glimpse of the band without a great deal of barging, I opted to return to the main stage and catch My Dying Bride.
Against the extreme noise attack of many of the other bands today, My Dying Bride’s melancholic melodies made a refreshing change, which seemed to be the crowd’s consensus with the northern doomsters going down a storm. Obviously being practically on home turf, there were plenty of friends about, but undoubtedly this was one of the better My Dying Bride performances I have seen.
A constant stream of dry ice left most of the band in the shadows, whilst Aaron Stainthorpe as usual clung to his microphone centre stage, performing in what must be the musician’s equivalent of character acting. The Cry Of Mankind’s repeated refrain rung out majestically and had me on this occasion feeling quite fortunate about my change in plans.
My Dying Bride set list:
Here In The Throat / She Is The Dark / From Darkest Skies / And I Walk With Them / The Snow In My Hand / The Cry of Mankind / Vast Choirs / The Dreadful Hours
With the threat of a one in one out door policy, given there were 3,500 people here but only 2,100 capacity for the main stage, there was no way I was going anywhere before Carcass. About half an hour later than scheduled, I had shuffled further and further to the back of what was now a sardine can like venue before Carcass made their return to the UK stage.
Not only was this crowd large, it was rowdy and all hell broke loose around me as Inpropagation kicked in, forcing me ever further back. Jeff Walker noting the chaos informed us, “Security wants me to pass on the message that you need to calm down a bit. But fuck that let’s go insane.” Whilst the crush may have been a bit of a nightmare, the sound certainly wasn’t. It felt like Carcass were playing through a different PA to the bands that had preceded them, such was the jump up in quality.
Having seen Carcass at comparatively close quarters back in June at Sweden Rock when they were impressive, the effect of the band’s roadwork was evident with a much tighter performance and the indoor environment adding to the intensity. There seemed to be less of a jovial “friends revisiting their past” nature and more of a unified attack. Walker hinting that a new album might happen is much less surprising having witnessed Carcass in full flow.
As at Sweden Rock, Ken Owen is introduced in an emotional moment and given a very brief stint behind the drum kit. Owen seemed delighted to be here a received a fitting roar from the crowd.
I keep mentioning a comparison to Sweden Rock, but the change was evident and perhaps provides clues to the future. Walker seemed equally up for it at both. Bill Steer seemed slightly embarrassed at Sweden Rock, but looked far more at home tonight and his guitar sound was superb. It’s now Michael Amott and Owen’s replacement Daniel Erlandsson that you have to wonder about. With a lengthy stint with Carcass coming to its conclusion, would Amott be prepared to stick Arch Enemy on a longer break? Time will tell, but based upon tonight’s performance and response, the demand is high for Carcass.
Carcass set list:
Inpropagation / Buried Dreams / Corporal Jigsore Quandary / Carnal Forge / Incarnate Solvent Abuse / No Love Lost / Edge Of Darkness / This Mortal Coil / Embodiment / Reek Of Putrefaction / Keep On Rotting / Genital Grinder / Rotten To The Gore / Death Certificate / Exhume To Consume / Ruptured (Intro) / Heartwork / Carneous (Outro)
LINKS:
Damnation Festival
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