Sacred Mother Tongue – Asylum – Friday 20th April 2009

A chance to check Sacred Mother Tongue out before their appearance at Hammerfest next week... but first two much viewed bands...

I Hate You More now operate as a three piece following recent departures. I wasn't completely convinced when I saw them at Coster's recently, but clearly they've been working hard in the rehearsal room – looks like they've settled down as a trio very quickly. New drummer Bez brings a new dynamic to the band, much as I used to admire Jay's bludgeoning approach. He hits the kit nearly as hard, but the fills are completely different and work well. Greg seems to be revelling in his new found freedom on bass, whilst Phil has changed his guitar work accordingly and seems more comfortable with his vocal duties too. All in all they seem to have a new lease of life, which is all the more remarkable considering the time frame involved. For the uninitiated IHYM play a form of extreme metal somewhere between metalcore and hardcore, and play it very well. Five tried and trusted favourites started proceedings before penultimate song – a cover of Hatebreed's “Smash Your Enemies” - increased the intensity. A new song, “Lock Down”, was their final song and this was also very solid. They first played this live just over a month ago (at the time it was known as “new fucker”!) but you'd never have known. Let me know when you're next playing fellas! Set list; “Chokehold”, “Crossed The Line”, “Retrospect”, “Bloodshed”, “Decide”, “Smash Your Enemies”, “Lock Down”.

Hellfire have had their fair old share of ups and downs recently to put it mildly. It was good to see them all well and firing on all cylinders. And have the confidence to not only change their set around, but also open with a completely new song. If “Darkest Hour” is a good indication of what their new material will be like then I can't wait for the new album. Fast, aggressive, and a worthy opener. The rest of their set was from debut album “Bleed For The Cause”, albeit in a completely different order, and, shock of all shocks, there was no place for “Suffer In Silence”. I'm delighted that the band have had the opportunity to work on a new set to be honest, I'm sure it will go down well with old and new fans alike. Again, if you haven't seen them (why? - do you never go to Scruffy's?!) Hellfire play some of the most direct hardcore you are likely to hear, and are absolutely solid as a rock musically. If you like hardcore Hellfire will definitely not disappoint, delivering a relentless and totally committed display every time. I've lost count how many times I've seen them now (well into double figures in the last twelve months) and I've no doubt I'll see them many more times in the months to come. Great band, hopefully work on their second album will start soon – and if you need it reviewed, you know where to come!! Set list; “Darkest Hour”, “Eye Of The Storm”, “Deceiver Of The Damned”, “Evil Prevails”, “Bleed For The Cause”, “Hell On Earth”, “Forced To Kill”, “Betrayal Of Trust”.

Sacred Mother Tongue should whip up quite a storm at Hammerfest. They're another of those modern bands that are just about impossible to categorise, but think of the heavier end of classic rock and combine it with metalcore and you wouldn't be far off. Did I say metalcore? I know what you're thinking but these guys are a completely different kettle of fish to most out there. Their songs were fluid and extremely well written for starters, and about as far removed for hundreds of formulaic clones out there as you can get. Helps of course when you've musicians of their quality at your disposal. Darrin combined extreme metal screams with clean vocal sections and had the voice to carry it off. He did his best as a frontman, but it couldn't have been easy for him dealing with, it has to be said, a very unresponsive crowd. Lee mixed things up nicely on drums, and refreshingly played the majority of the set with one pedal, only blasting for effect. Josh contributed a remarkably fluid and musically assured set on bass – staggering as he's only eighteen. Then you have Andy who was one of the slickest guitarists I've seen for a long time – a couple of his solos were absolutely breath-taking. If you'd been led into the room blindfolded you would never have known they were a three piece band with vocalist, such was the fullness of their sound. Hugely technical I'm looking forward to seeing them again in a week's time. Set list; “Wake Up Call”, “Anger On Reflection”, “The Man You Tried To Hide”, “Two Thousand Eight Hundred”, “The End”, “Talking To The Ears Of The Deaf”, “Numb”, “Force Fed”, “The Suffering”.