Lowend At The Lower Deck - 16/04/09
The first Lowend night went off without a hitch, eh well the sound could have been better and a extra monitor or two on stage would have been nice.
But this isn't lambaste the Lower Deck so I'll get on with the job at hand.
I can't really give an honest review of the first band Engines of Ruin as I was on stage playing guitar, but from where I was standing the vibe was good and we got a great response. We had an absolute blast.
Mixed in with our 4 originals we did covers of Thumb, Green Machine & Wildflower.
Our own stuff was received well as were the covers which got a good reaction, from the first note on Thumb you could hear the cheers from the corner were Haieeta were sitting, a few Kyuss fans in tonight I think.
We finished the set off with a newer addition to our set called Chainsaw.
Each band had a 35minunte slot. The change over times were tight as we didn't get started till later then anticipated.
Next up were Castero from Tipperary, usually a four piece they stepped out tonight as 3 piece minus their second guitarist.
Johhny – Guitar/Vocals, Mog – Bass & Spanner on Drums.
The lads had told me before hand that certain songs had to be dropped because of this however it didn't seem to phase them playing as a 3 piece and they went on cranked it up and played a great set.
One thing that stood out for me was the dirty fuzzed bass sound which really added that extra touch of power to the songs.
This was loud heavy and non-apologetic stoner metal.
Mixed into the musical entertainment was a strip show supplied by Castero's Drummer Spanner. Egged on by the crowd Spanner got down to his boxers, it was looking like he was going to get all the tools out, but we were saved this grizzly image and the lads finished the set with Sundown.
The drinking continued during the change over, the stage alive with bodies moving equipment. I waited pint in hand with glee to see the next band.
Brigantia from Tipperary a band I've wanted to see live since first hearing their demo and they didn't disappoint.
They opened with Churn also playing two songs I hadn't heard before - Prisoner of the Abyss and Time machine of Doom.
Dave (gtr/vocals) mid set summoning all the doom he could with raised arms and rolling eyes. Rise goat of Mendes would not have been a chant out of place here.
From what I remember it was half way through Time machine of Doom that Neill's thundering bass sound blew up the bass amp. There was some confusion on stage and off as to what was happening.
Was the show over?
No chance luckily we had a replacement bass amp on hand.
A quick switch over and the Doom continued with John trashing and thumping at the kit like a man possessed.
The lads finishing up a very solid entertaining Doom smothered set with the very awesome Ride to the Sabbath. This was their first Dublin gig and you can catch their second dublin set in Fibbers Sunday 26th April.
If your a fan of Cathedral and Electric Wizard you have to check these guys out, Bass amps across the country beware.
Haieeta were last up, their slick looking backdrop in place behind the drumkit the stage was set.
Like a wall of power they blasted into their set instantly commanding attention,
Haieeta live can only be describe as Shamanic Rock Fury
A tribal trance erupted from Nialls drums mixed in with Dimi's unique sounding vocals, like some voodoo medicine man spitting forth lyrics and rattt-tatt-tatta's and The sonic riffs from Rark & Pookie were left soaring and resonating in your head.
The sum of all parts causing some kind of chemical reaction or was that just the beer. This is just the trip man!!
Haieeta were down a bass player tonight since Brian's recent departure. But this was not a problem as they still came out battle ready with a thunderous sound.
Haieeta are a powerhouse of a band and damn good at what they do, a set mixed with old favorites and some new songs including the instantly noticeable intro of the wrongs keep coming and finishing with another instantly recognisable favorite Dragonflies Terrain.
This was a great night and I personally had much fun indulging in some of my favorite bands this small country of ours has to offer.
Cheers to all for coming out and supporting The Lowend – see you all at the next one.
Adam
Doom Over The Deck - 2nd Jan '09
Pics can be viewed here
The following bands played:
Altar of Plagues - Twisted Structures Against Preconception
Siorai Geimhreadh - Bleak Black Soundscapes
Wretch - Filth Rott and Despair
Refraction - Riff Driven Instrumental Assault
Too metal for myspace
Brigantia - A Gloomy Crusade
You can check out various comments about the night on Metal Ireland
Negura Bunget + Thy sinister Bloom
+ On pain of death : Nov' 28th 2008
Cruiscin lan
Review kindly submitted by Dave from Brigantia.
Nothing like a helping of live doom to warm the heart on a freezing November evening,
And on this night the punters were not disappointed.
On a night in Cork when 3 venues played host to some great live metal there were fears that the turn out would be affected.
Happily this was not the case and though I came in too late to see Days of Night, I arrived just in time for the maggot infested, slime ridden juggernaut of Irish doom that is 'On pain of Death'(8)
Wading through a set consisting of one sprawling, filthy 20 minute plus tune entitled 'Rotting in a tomb of endless depravity' this mayo four piece really impressed me.
The droning guitar interplay offset by the sick dual vocals of Matt and Hick was expertly held together by the drummers pin point fills and the bassists ominous rumbling.
Obviously a band that has spent a considerable amount of time in the practice room, 'On pain of death' are ones to watch for the future...
Tonight seemed almost like a home coming for 'Thy sinister bloom',(9)
14 years since they played in Cork and looking extremely happy to be back, the lads apologized for the delay and moved swiftly into a mesmerizing set which seemed to be over far too soon..
Being a fan of the band since the 'Thy temperate veil' demo all those years ago I was eager to see how the band have been progressing with their newest member, violin player John Ryan.
Though I enjoyed their set at Day of darkness, I felt that the violin was a little over used, slightly saturating the music.
Not so tonight however as we were treated to some artfully subtle touches from the talented violinist.
It seemed like time stopped while the band played, the bands epic melancholy getting harder to classify the more I hear from them,suffice to say I was over to the Sentinel stall to pick up a copy of their previously unreleased Serin falls E.P!
Unfortunately I was somewhat unfamiliar with headliners 'Negura Bunget'(8)
But apart from sound issues during their intro these Romanians ripped into a set of experimental black metal which I enjoyed very much,enough indeed to pick up a copy of their 'OM' cd!
It was interesting to see the band using some more unconventional instruments too and the crowd seemed pleased with the results..
Tonight was yet another reminder of how strong this once small Irish metal scene is becoming and a welcome reminder for Cork of just how good Thy sinister bloom really are.
Hopefully we dont have to wait fourteen years to catch them in the south again!
D.G - 2008