Trigger The Bloodshed - The Old Wharf - Monday 21 June 2010

 

Having witnessed the two headliners 'rip a new one' in the Slade Rooms but five days earlier, I was intrigued to see how this rapidly arranged gig would compare. First band of the evening to brave the sauna like conditions were...

Vidina. A genuine case of don't judge a book by the cover. The fringes and clothing screamed deathcore or screamo. Whilst there were elements of the former they combined them with progressive and poly-rhythmic stylings too and played an absolute blinder. Think deathcore crossed with Xerath and Enochian Theory and you'll know where they were pitched.

Their songs have an epic feel and were certainly ambitious for such a young band. They were well supported from the off, yet gathered more interest as their set progressed. Shame they only had 25 minutes! With Viatrophy's demise maybe they could fill their shoes as a natural successor? Bold statement you may say, but they're definitely good enough. HIghly impressive all things considered - keep an eye on them, their rise could well be meteoric.

Morgue Orgy were like a dog with two dicks, if you'll pardon the expression, having just won a slot on the unsigned stage at Bloodstock. After the King Diamond-esque keyboard intro they ripped into a typically eclectic set that encompassed elements of power metal, thrash, black metal, stoner, hardcore... the list of extreme metal genres is nearly endless. What continues to amaze is how they manage to make it work - and how they seem to improve with every performance, not that they were shabby in the first place! They, like Vidina, won the crowd over and proved - if proof were needed - what consummate entertainers they are.

Fans of extreme metal will find something to amuse them during one of their performances, guaranteed. Their stage presence has come on leaps and bounds, and the confidence they exude is immense. Needless to say I'm a fan, and one who can only see them going on to bigger and better things. Setlist; "The Black Of Hearts", "The River And I", "The Arkham Waltz", "Scared To Death", Such An Unsuccessful Abortion", "Maniac", "I Shit On Your Grave". 

Bleed From Within had been a revelation at the Slade Rooms gig, tight, brutal, and utterly compelling. If anything this performance was better and laid down a clear 'follow that' marker for the headliners. They tore into their set from the word go adapting to the smaller venue with ease. Frantic pit activity ensued and continued throughout the relentless 35 minute annihilation. Combining deathcore choppiness with colossal breakdowns whilst maintaining a sense of groove is no mean feat, but Bleed From Within managed it effortlessly.

The only word that truly sums up this performance is crushing, the musical equivalent of a rhino charge. Frontman Scott created empathy at will, although pitting (pun intended!) travelling Hull fans against the local crowd in a wall of death was a masterstroke that united support instantly. Their set was paced superbly, well crafted, pulverising, and immensely enjoyable. Whatever 'it' is these fellas have it, and it's only a matter of time before they get the acclaim they deserve. Setlist; "Damnation", "This Is Our Legacy", "We Are Gathered Here 2Day", "The Novelist", "The Healing", "Servants Of Divinity".

Trigger The Bloodshed were up for the challenge and were as malicious in their intent as Bleed From Within. Watching these guys develop has been intriguing. They've had their detractors - myself included - but their new found complexity and maturity is winning over fans at a rate of knots. They are still as fast as any speed freak could want, but they now possess a cleaner approach - still brutal but with a clearer definition of the parts. Much of this is surely due to the change of sticksman, who is ludicrously fast but doesn't blast for the sake of it and uses imaginative patterns.

The band are a cohesive unit now and deliver their onslaught with surgical precision. Jonny's vocals still growl and snarl menacingly but they too seem to have a far greater depth now. It's hard to convey quite how vicious sets like this are, but this was up there with one of the most concussive of the year. A fine display to round off a quality evening's entertainment. Setlist; "Hollow Prophecies", "Dead Vein", "The Great Depression", "Soulful Dead", "Laceration", "De-Breed".

Overall this was an absolute cracker of a gig. Much as the gig at the Slade rooms was impressive, this surpassed it, mainly due to the quality of all the bands on the bill. All of the bands are more than capable of pushing onwards to the next level, however Bleed From Within and Trigger The Bloodshed exuded class and have got what it takes to make the extreme metal elite check nervously over their collective shoulders.