Musta Talvi – The Black
Horse – Saturday 6th June 2009
Chop's first gig after the arrival of the latest
nipper. Matchsticks in place – as he's not sleeping yet
– first band were....
The Vaguely Mysterious Rebelitos
(VMR). I don't walk out of many live performances, but I didn't
stay long for this act. Coupling a barely competent guitarist
with a vocalist who could easily pass for one of The Proclaimers
was not what I needed to see, or for that matter hear. Wrong bill
for them I would suspect – opening for an indie band in
a student union I could see, but tonight just didn't work. Apparently
their songs are witty and well observed – not my bag at
all, I didn't hang around long enough to find out. Next....
Left To Bleed have impressed
me more each time I've seen them and tonight's was another slick
display. Not flawless as the new song “I Dissolve (Into
The Forest Floor)” had to be aborted after a couple
of minutes, although in fairness they'd only played it live twice
before. Otherwise I couldn't find fault. For a small man, Damian
has an ever growing stage presence and his vocals get more vicious
with each display. The band were in good form, solid rhythm section,
and intricate guitar work, intertwining seamlessly. Again they
impressed with how much bounce and melody they managed to inject
into their melodic death metal repertoire. All in all a superb
performance. Setlist; “Left To Bleed”, “Where
Future Turns To Past”, “Fall Through Infinity”,
“I Dissolve (Into The Forest Floor)”, “As Pale
Lights Glow”, “Implosion to The Resolution”,
“Extinction (Evolutions Halt).
Musta Talvi had a night they'll
want to forget. Their sound engineer let them down at very short
notice, and sound issues blighted their set, culminating in Andy's
cordless mic not working for the last couple of songs. Overall
sound was poor throughout, and it affected their performance markedly,
to the degree where they were more than slightly ragged at times.
Didn't help that they are still gelling with a new keyboard player
and guitarist. Fellas I know what you're capable of, so I'll say
no more, other than I hope lady luck smiles on you when you next
perform – but please drop the cover immediately! Setlist;
“Forced To Survive In Shadows”, “Twilight Vengeance”,
“Annihilation Of The Masses”, “As The Cleansing
Fire Reigns”, “Livin' La Vida Loca”, “Next
Time I'll Paint You Red”.
