Nekkrosis – The Black Horse – Friday 3rd April 2009

How do you review a band that epitomise everything that's wrong in metal at the moment? Rhetorical question - you don't. So whoever the first band were, and I really couldn't be bothered finding out, I say this - I left to get a pint after a song and a half - you were that bad. Screamo, posturing, “please the kids” bullshit. Pity because you can clearly play. And I sympathise with your drummer and his ever wandering floor tom...

Kataleptic were playing their third ever gig but you'd never have guessed. Musically tight as they come, this was a stunningly well executed set of precision death metal. Matt (vocals) and Dan (guitar) also play in Ultio. They were joined by Dan's brother Scott (drums), Luke (guitar) and Sean (bass). Despite his diminutive stature, Matt can scream and growl with the best of them. Dan and Luke worked well together, generating power when needed, and shredding like mad liberally. The rhythm section was stunning - Scott played a blinder, and Sean contributed an intricate display on his four string fretless. Even Sean's hair getting caught on Luke's headstock whilst performing a particularly energetic whip didn't put them off their stride. Dedicating a song called “Womb Pounder” to the ladies was the comedic highlight (quality Matt!) although there was nothing funny about the assault that followed. Quality performance, let's hope they play far more gigs in the coming months - please keep me posted fellas. Set list; “Intoxicated Desecration”, “Backhouse Whore”, “Full Circle”, “Womb Pounder”, “Soulless Endeavour”.

Rushden's Nekkrosis had a tough act to follow and were more than up to the task. I haven't witnessed a set of this ferocity for a long, long time. Extreme metal is about as close as I can get to summing them up, their set leant heavily on death metal and grindcore, yet incorporated spells of vicious hardcore too. Some of the breakdowns were on a par with anything Hatebreed have ever unleashed. Normally I prefer to hear two guitarists in a band like this, but I really don't think Nekkrosis need to add to their ranks. Griff stalked the stage menacingly and was a more than capable frontman leading the carnage well (and thanks for the setlist and CD fella!). Ash played a vicious set on guitar. Nol on bass played a stormer on his five string bass, whilst Chris battered his kit relentlessly yet deftly (great hand speed). Promoting the new album “Technotic Subversion” they played it all, although not sequentially, and on first listen this could well be in the shake up for album of the year. My only criticism concerned the pitch of both Griff and Ash's vocals - in the pig squealer range - which had me reaching, uncharacteristically, for my earplugs. Of course, the ringing and pain levels endured could have been down to the mixing, so I'll reserve judgement until I've played the album. On the basis of this display I'd say Nekkrosis could well see themselves hurtling up the extreme metal rankings, and I'd recommend them unreservedly. Set list; “Crackwhore”, “Death Is A Sexual Preference”, “Only The Dead”, “Shit”, “The Goat Sucker”, “Psychotic Cannibal Massacre”, “Scrotesque”, “Reanimated Flesh”, “Ceremonial Clit Confiscation”, “Scene Queens”, “Ye Olde Skool Slaughter”.