OK so it's been a while since we've posted on here, sorry. Things have been all kinds of crazy but the gigs are still happening and The Metal Muppets are still there. Before I talk about the great things we've witnessed over the last couple of weeks I'll do a quick rundown of the 2012 highlights for us.
11 January 2012 - The year kicked off with The Black Dhalia Murder and Skeletonwitch at The Underworld in Camden. Woah! Skeletonwitch kicked some serious ass. They have a groovy catch to them that sucks you right in and then spurts you out with those brutal vocals. The Black Dhalia Murder weren't as good for me. I guess because I'm a bit old school makes me slightly sceptical of the new approach to death metal... Core this and core that or whatever. Still it was a good start to the year.
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| Necroriser |
2 February 2012 - So, what can I say? The Treatment at The Highbury Garage. Fucking awesome as always. I mean since we've been following them (almost three years now), they have gone from strength to strength. Under the careful guidance of their brilliant manager Laurie they have landed themselves some very high profile shows and tours. To mention but a few... Alice Cooper, Motorhead, Steel Panther, Sonisphere, Hammerfest, Download 2012 and the list goes on and on. These boys are extremely gifted and deserve everything they have worked so hard to achieve and happen to be some of the most down to earth guys I've ever met. (If any of you are reading this, Lady Toes is still thinking of your health and will sort everything out when we next see you!) Roll on Steel Panther at the Brixton Academy.
15 February 2012 - Krisiun and Malevolent Creation at The Underworld. Of course Malevolent Creation absolutely destroyed the place. It doesn't matter how many times I see these old masters, they just never get boring. I loved the show, Krisiun were good but definitely overshadowed by the mighty MC.
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| Rezinwolf |
24 February 2012 - Rammstein at The O2 Arena. I'm not a big fan of arena shows to be honest. You pay shit loads of money and if you're seated you can usually only see little dots on the stage or have to watch it on the big TV screens at the sides. I guess if you don't go to many gigs it can feel exciting especially if the atmosphere is good, but I'll take a small venue every time over an arena. Having said that, Rammstein really pulled off a good show. Their brand of band I guess suits this kind of environment. It was utterly bonkers but at the same time extremely compelling. I'm not sure Rammstein would be much cop without the show but let's not hold that against them, they definitely know what they are doing and we certainly left with grins on our faces... Until we tried to get the sodding tube.
10 March 2012 - Job For a Cowboy, Triptykon and Cannibal Corpse at the Forum. Job For a Cowboy is a band I've been looking forward to seeing live for a long time. They did a great job here but I think I'd like to see them in a smaller venue. Triptykon were good (and with such a legendary frontman you'd hope so) but a little bit slow for my liking. Although I felt as if I was in the presence of greatness at the time. Cannibal Corpse have and always will be one of my favourite bands. They totally owned this big theatre and when they encored with Stripped, Raped and Strangled I almost shit myself with glee. What a brilliant show, brilliant performance by a brilliant band. The sound wasn't too shit at The Forum either, which was nice.
13 March 2012 - As if that wasn't enough, only three days later was Suffocation, Cattle Decapitation, Blood Red Throne and Cerebral Bore at the Underworld. Let me just start with Cerebral Bore. This is literally one of the most extraordinary bands I have ever seen. I am a fan and have listened to 'Maniacal Miscreation' on rotation for days. The groovy chunkiness of this Earache, deathly grindfest is so addictive and the vocals are nothing short of exceptional. The fact that THAT noise can come out of that small lady is astonishing. I watched the whole set with my jaw on the floor. If you haven't heard them before then your life is incomplete and you need to rectify it immediately. Fucking Sadist were on next and they were so shit we walked out and went to the bar instead. Blood Red Throne were really groovy too. The problem with their set was the new front man. He is obviously capable but he was so fucking wasted it was a joke. He kept spilling water all over himself and spitting in the air and trying to catch the flob in his mouth but constantly missing resulting in it landing on his face or clothes etc. It was so ridiculous it took too much away from a potentially great show. We also saw the singer walking around by the merch stands in his pants which was not a pretty sight... Believe me. A shame really. Cattle Decapitation were also brilliant musically, but again there was this spitting in the air thing they were doing. It's fucking gross. Suffocation were second best to Cerebral Bore for me. They had a stand in singer from I forget which band now, but he had bags of stage presence and filled in for Frank pretty well. Suffocation are another one of those classic old school bands you just can't get enough of.
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| Diamond Plate |
