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ADPONTES- REVIEW - BLOODLOSS |
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Bloodloss at STAINES HOBGOBLIN
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STAINES HOBGOBLIN
Thursday 11th September 2008
Bloodloss
are in appearance, general style and musical ability, much like
‘Lamb of God.’ But, as with most successful basic
metals bands from The New Wave of American Heavy Metal, you will find
that there is a lot more going on 'in there' than you might at first
think. There is a glimmer of melody and arrangement in the music of
these bands - and these elements along with a generous slice of
virtuosity can also be found in the music of Bloodloss ... so compare
this band to 'Machine Head' or 'Chimaira'.
Barry O’Connor is the muscle-bound rhapsoidein wearing a British
Bull Dog T-shirt and strutting and posturing across the stage with that
British vim and vitality that we are so accustomed to. He takes the
extreme de rigueur / Thrash Metal vocals (i.e. shouting hard) to the
next level, but he can also occasionally mystify and delight the
audience with some truly mournful and tuneful notes. Barry also
drums with AfterDeath ( an up-and-coming London-based metal band) and
it is very clear that his vocals are kept in perfect trim by his
'insider' knowledge of the rhythm. Bloodloss employs (almost) a
twin-lead guitar-sound with Rob Ironmonger on number 1 lute and Mark
Browell on No 2 (who also helps with supporting vocals) and these two
churn out the kind of grinding chord progressions you so urgently and
desperately need. Sometimes these chords are as unusual, complex
and demanding as a high-class Tokyo call-girl who has found herself
with her wrist-watch caught in the Vicar’s flies, but those
ripping lead breaks lead you (and her) , ever onwards, to a place of
wonder and, ultimately, sinful climax. The (temporary) bass
chitarrone thumped those low-lines following the rhythm guitar
riffs but also employed some deft intermezzi techniques and some nifty
progressions. The thrashing drummer Daniel Kelly, on the bongos, is
just a blur of hair, stamina and testosterone. Blast-beats came
naturally to him, as do some magical ‘rim of the snare’
techniques and plenty of hyper blasts when the occasions demand them.
The low syncopated power chords and the powerful metalcore vocals
(think 'Killswitch Engage') provide the power and petulant pomp to this
team of screamsters. Their songs, like ‘Inside My Mind’ and
‘Taken Down’ speak of life, light, darkness and focussed,
strain. “It is a struggle to be in a band” shouts out
Barry, to the bassist from the support act (Demure), “Isn’t
it brother?”. Clap, clap, clap. We all agree ... as if we
knew. The band do not underestimate the simpler facts-of-life though, (
the songs are often interrupted by reflective and gentler moments when
simple chords are crafted,) or the more euphoric moments we live, when
the vocals, fuzzy guitars and rhythmic blasts reach a ‘state of
grace’.
There are several nods towards modern advocates of complex progressive
metal (like 'Opeth'), not just in the style, with occasional guitar
interludes, but also with some uncommon time signatures and dynamic
shifts... and polyrhythms abound. Grunts and shouts are more in order
than the screams of some bands and are actually more tuneful and
pleasing (think 'Slipknot') than some nu-metal bands. These styles
elevate the ambience and the pomposity of Bloodloss to new highs.
Yes , mood and rhythm and texture is more important than melody to the
bands of this genre but in the music of Bloodloss pleasing musical
arrangements can also be found. At the barnstorming end of the evening
there was a timely and welcome breakdown-
conducive to a bit of moshing/body-slamming- and so Bal attempted to
create a wall of death inside the limited space of the Staines Hob with
the - erm- nine or ten members of the ‘crowd’. And so
moshing commenced.
All-in-all Bloodloss live was a strong, mesmerising and absolutely
exhilarating experience and I thoroughly recommend this
London/Guildford act to any metal fan.
To sum up and to quote Bal on the night, “If You call yourselves
‘Metal Heads’ then this is the time, this is the place, and
this is the band”
© Neil_Mach
Sep 2008
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You can see Bloodloss next at:
Sep 16 2008 8:00P RSVP, Woking Woking
Sep 27 2008 8:00P The Drama Club Bracknell
Oct 5 2008 8:00P The Phoenix Staines
Oct 10 2008 8:00P The Star Inn Guildford
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thisbandisbloodloss
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Carmen
at Royal Albert Hall
Thursday, 26 February - Sunday, 8 March, 2009
From the very first note of the much-loved overture to the final tragic
chords, the very essence of Spain is brought to life in this acclaimed
in-the-round production of the world’s most popular opera.
The
dusty atmosphere of the town square, the
cool night air of the smugglers’ mountain hideout and the
festivities outside the bullring in Seville are all vividly recreated
in this powerful tale of lust, superstition and murder slowly
unravelling with fatal consequences.
Carmen, a fiery gypsy girl, is arrested for attacking a fellow worker
in the cigarette factory but manages to persuade her guard, Don
José, to release her on the promise of love. Never satisfied
with the love of one man alone, Carmen quickly casts aside the hapless
Don José in favour of the glamorous toreador, Escamillo.
Consumed by passion and jealousy, Don José pursues Carmen
back
to Seville leading to the inevitable and tragic conclusion
Bizet’s rich and timeless score contains some of
opera’s
finest arias and best-loved music. Escamillo’s rousing Song
of
the Toreador, Carmen’s bewitching Seguidilla and tantalizing
Habanera and Don José’s heartfelt Flower Song
never fail
to captivate audiences, seducing them with the sensual music and sultry
rhythms of Spain.
Following its highly acclaimed seasons in 2002 and 2005, this
spectacular in-the-round production returns to the Royal Albert Hall for
a strictly limited season of just 12 performances.
CARMEN
ROYAL ALBERT HALL
KENSINGTON GORE, SW7 2AP
Feb 2009
Tikcets from £40:00 CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS >>>>
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