Full Of Hate Tour
Amon Amarth / Obituary / Legion Of The Damned / Keep Of Kalessin
9 March 2009
The Forum, London
Dashing up to the Kentish Town Forum after work for early doors is becoming increasingly frequent with more and more “package” tours heading through the capital. A problem with passes almost derailed our attempt to see openers Keep Of Kalessin, however once sorted (thanks to Andy Turner at Metal Blade) we made it through the doors as the Norwegians were blasting through opener A New Empire’s Birth.
With few bodies yet in the venue Vyl’s barrage of bass drum was bouncing around the walls, however Obsidian C’s guitar was surprisingly clear for an opening band’s sound at this venue.
Crown Of The Kings kicked in with the ferocity of latter day Emperor, drawing in those unfamiliar with the band and motivating them to clap along as the song broke down. With a short set almost exclusively drawn from latest album Kolossus, Winged Watcher was the solitary deviation, taken from previous album Armada. The blonde haired Thebon unleashed his caustic vocals as the song progressed through various moods. Keep Of Kalessin rarely follow simple song structures and never more so than during the epic closer Kolossus which was complete with an intro, Egyptian themed guitar solo, drum solo and spoken word section.
I was looking forward to seeing Keep Of Kalessin and they more than met my expectations and I look forward to checking them out again this summer on tour with Death Angel and Kataklysm.
Keep Of Kalessin set list:
Origin (Intro) / A New Empire’s Birth / Crown Of The Kings / Winged Watcher / Ascendant / Kolossus
There was no doubt who was up next as Legion Of The Damned’s huge logo impressively caught the strobe lights. Having said that, those not watching could easily have been confused that Slayer were here, as Legion Of The Damned lift one of the main riffs from Postmortem, tweak it ever so slightly and dump it into opener Pray & Suffer. To be fair they’ve worn their Slayer influence on their sleeve since they changed their name from Occult and put out Malevolent Rapture in 2006. With four albums out already the Dutch thrashers show no sign of slowing down and similarly their attack is relentless tonight.
Excepting the bald Erik Fleuren on drums, there was an awful lot of hair being whipped around on the Forum stage with frontman Maurice Swinkels the ringmaster seeking movement from the crowd. Guitarist Richard Ebisch doesn’t afford us with a guitar solo until ninth song Bleed For Me and pretty soon after that the band are departing with The Final Godsend.
Legion Of The Damned delivered a solid if one dimensional performance. It seems the band’s ethos is to stick to a formula and deliver it simple and direct which they achieved tonight.
Legion Of The Damned set list:
Sermon Of Sacrilege (Intro) / Pray & Suffer / Werewolf Corpse / House Of Possession / Son Of The Jackal / Cult Of The Dead / Legion Of The Damned / Diabolist / Black Wings Of Yog-Sothoth / Bleed For Me / Malevolent Rapture / The Final Godsend
We had Cannibal Corpse as the main support to Children Of Bodom here last month and this month’s death metal legend taking the same spot was Obituary. With a new yet to be titled album due shortly, Obituary were making full use of Andreas Marschall’s fantasy artwork, with an enormous backdrop and side screens. The choice of subject of a dragon being slain did however feel more power metal than death metal.
Although they had the sludgy sound system to contend with, Obituary’s thick grooves were basic enough to work out what was going on and an hour passed quickly with the band’s singular vision to punish this crowd.
With his distinctive pained vocal, John Tardy moved around the stage clinging to his microphone stand with his face obscured by a curtain of long hair. His brother Donald rattled around his drum kit looking like a hillbilly and in fact there was a general unhinged look to Obituary that added to their performance. Bassist Frank Watkins looks more metal each time I have seen him, presumably partly in preparation for his new part-time role in Gorgoroth. Meanwhile the intense stare of Trevor Peres was a complete contrast to “new boy” Ralph Santolla who casually knocked out impressive lead solos.
I’m far from the biggest fan of Obituary finding them a bit one dimensional over a longer set, but this was a perfect length taster.
Obituary set list included:
Dethroned Emperor / Threatening Skies / Final Thoughts / Slowly We Rot
The balcony may have been shut but it was heaving downstairs in the Forum as Amon Amarth triumphantly took the stage. Like a Viking ship riding the waves, it’s been a long journey for the Swedes who are now reaping the rewards of their perseverance and getting the attention they deserve.
Opening with the first two songs from new album Twilight Of The Thunder God, the trademark hair windmilling soon commenced to the wall of guitars cast across Fredrick Andersson’s volley of drums. Andersson’s playing as ever was awesome throughout; it was just a pity he was hidden from view behind his kit.
Upping the production from previous visits, smoke pots fired through Free Will Sacrifice before Johan Hegg instructed us we needed “More beer in your bellies”. With Oden On Our Side followed with the band indulging in some Status Quo like guitar posing. Hegg usually grabs most of the attention live, but tonight the movement of Johan Söderberg, Olavi Mikkonen and Ted Lundström was noticeable. Movement in the crowd kicked off big style too and Hegg took a moment to warn the crowd to pick people up if they saw them go down.
It was difficult to see if the crowd were taking heed from the continuing frantic pit, but obedience wasn’t required for clapping, with a sea of hands following the beat to Fate Of Norns completely unrequested.
Delving back to the band’s first full length album, Hegg recalled the gig in London that same year of 1998 in support of Deicide when Ride For Vengeance was also played. I was lucky enough to attend that show, which also featured Six Feet Under, Brutal Truth and Naglfar and whilst pretty unknown at the time Amon Amarth triumphed.
There’s always a time for raised drinking horns in an Amon Amarth set and prior to Death In Fire we join the band by raising our plastic pint pots. The song itself raised the response of the crowd with impressive lighting on stage. Victorious March by contrast seemed a bit old for some here and whilst its understandable that Amon Amarth want to mix up their setlist, Runes To My Memory and Valhall Awaits Me were glaring omissions.
Returning for the encore, Cry Of The Black Birds impressed with the stage swamped in dry ice and cast with purple lights. Splitting the crowd in three for screams from the left right and centre, we were suitably warmed up for the climax of Pursuit Of Vikings as the Swedes left in triumph.
Amon Amarth set list:
Twilight Of The Thunder God / Free Will Sacrifice / With Oden On Our Side / Varyags Of Miklagaard / Fate of Norns / Under the Northern Star / Guardians Of Asgaard / Ride For Vengeance / North Sea Storm / Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags / Death In Fire / Victorious March / Cry Of The Black Birds / Pursuit Of Vikings
LINKS:
Amon Amarth
Obituary
Legion Of The Damned
Keep Of Kalessin
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