Dark Paradise/ The Archer Home/
MyToyTrain - Black Horse - 4th May 2008.
Last minute kidnapping by my gig-buddy Bill meant a heavily
snot-laden reviewer arrived in time to see the last three bands.
MyToyTrain. Their MySpace site lists them as
an experimental/breakcore band. Thanks to the drummer, Russell,
for the setlist and CDs which I'll review soon. Good individual
musicians and possessing a vocalist many extreme bands will
envy, I regret to say I found their songs frustrating and at
times irritating. Way too many (unfinished) ideas chaotically
thrown together, the resulting avalanche of sound didn't work
for me at all. Two positives; firstly the singer Matt can scream
with the best of them, truly vicious delivery. Secondly I love
some of your song titles! Pac-Man Never Got Caught For His
Murders and You Call It Murder I Call It Art being
my favourites. There comes a point when complexity and brutality
compromise power and accessibility; this set was a shambolic
mess for the most part. Some of the riffs are worth developing
though. Worth checking out in 12-18 months time to see how things
are progressing perhaps?
The Archer Home. Describe themselves both as
hardcore/progressive/experimental and crunk. I wrote two words
on a flyer and passed it Bill midway through their third or
fourth "song", those two words being "utter shit".
Can't really sum up quite how bad they were, definitely the
worst I've seen this year by a considerable margin. A pity really
because they again possess very technical musicians, just find
the end result doesn't work. Some people will love this, and
let's face it music is an emotive and subjective being. This
band raise way more questions than they are able to answer though.
Why were they all wearing shorts? Especially the tall vocalist
whose legs were thinner than my forearms? What was going on
with the bass player's tank top? I won't keep going, can't be
bothered really. Awful beyond belief. And before your fans start
unleashing their fury dwell on this: this is my opinion and
I'll stick to musical spheres I enjoy. I won't be entering your
experimental world again...
Dark Paradise were last on and regrettably
the vast majority of people had left before their set. Pity
they couldn't be bothered because they missed a set of immense
power and finesse. They are a four piece band who reside in
that difficult to pigeonhole zone between technical death/ thrash
and metalcore. They featured a guest bass player (Gaz) tonight
- you would never have known he wasn't a fully fledged band
member. Their drummer Dave is a left hander which is unusual
to see, he battered the kit mercilessly thoughout - some of
the kick drumming was phenomenal. The two guitarists, Andy (who
also takes on the vocal duties) and Tom, work well together
and the leadwork is fast and accurate. Three originals and two
covers in their set (thanks for the setlist Dave) "Cold
And Lifeless", "We Will Rise" (Arch
Enemy), "Violence", "Imperium"
(Machine Head) and "Mask Of Ink" all executed
with authority. One to keep an eye on, I'll be checking their
gig schedule to see them play a longer set as soon as possible.
MyToyTrain and The Archer Home
were disappointing especially as their musicians are capable
of much better. My main gripe about both of their sets was the
extreme dancing which some of the fans were doing. First time
I've seen arm flailing and high kicking at such close quarters
and I can't believe the idiocy of it. Crowd surfing and pits
are hardly sensible, but in comparison they are tame. Someone
will get seriously hurt before this ridiculous craze gets stamped
out.
Always end on a positive. Dark Paradise were
worthy headliners and hugely enjoyable. Look forward to seeing
them again soon.
