Day Of Darkness 2008
July 4th and 5th at the Pedigree Corner, Co. Laois - unlikely setting for the now established keynote event of the Irish metal calendar. The annual Day Of Darkness festival rolled into 2008 with some commanding names taking stage alongside the natives, heralding an increasingly competitive Irish festival option in comparison to our continental cousins. So how was the music? Metalireland presents its (almost) yearly drilldown on the metal madness, and finds that amongst the twin madness of Nefilheim and Watain, we’re not doing too badly ourselves.
VISCERAL ATTACK
Enter Visceral Attack. In the vein of Gama Bomb, Evile and Municipal Waste, Visceral Attack shred and speed their way through thirty minutes of thrash. New-age thrash metal to reference the old-timers; Suicidal Tendencies, Anthrax et al are touched on here and it’s a hi-octane, undeniably visceral if slightly one-dimensional celebration of zealous palm-mute and goofball concept. ‘Hits From The Kong’, for instance, relates a fistfight with the fabled ape, the exuberance onstage matching that of the fervent crowd andmarking the first in a long line of super-professional performances this weekend from Irish acts. [PD]
VICTIM X
Obstinately old-school, Limerick’s Victim X drown the pit in treacle-thick frequency. It’s a confrontational assault of down-home death metal that would turn the heads of spiritual forefathers Cannibal Corpse. A bull-nosed approach is this troupes’ greatest asset, as rhythms slam and snap with sickening precision. But what’s this? 25 Thousand Body Bags slows things to a contorted crab-crawl before some tough guy Suffocation-esqe brutalising finishes off what they started in fine form. [PD]
NEOCOSMIC
Neocosmic are billed as a ‘new experience for the DOD audience’ but the Germans play a pleasing brand of aggressive metal with a crucial power-groove that’s largely been missing since the demise of the ’ninties and of Pantera. Neocosmic made their way here via the gig swap arrangement DOD has in place with its sister festival ‘Way Of Darkness’ in Bamberg, Germany, and it’s to the organisers credit that underground metal festivals have become such an invaluable network for bands to export their profiles. Certainly, on today’s evidence, much more investigation of Neocosmic is warranted. [PD]
SIROCCO
There is a quiet confidence about Sirocco. They have earned themselves a reputation as an honest, hard working band that allows their music to do the talking. Their latest album, ‘The March through Crimson Frost’ has received much acclaim, and rightfully so. They have produced a mature blend of Thrash and Heavy Metal with non intrusive Celtic elements that avoid the ‘twee’ pitfall so many fall into. One of the more prominent criticisms the band has received of late is the singer’s voice not being ‘ballsy’ enough. Personally, his less aggressive approach is quite refreshing. It adds an extra haunting element to the overall sound, whereas a harsher style could detract from the music.
Tonight they play a good solid set and receive plenty of encouragement from the barrier hugging crowd, yours truly included. Although each member holds their own on stage, lead guitarist John really stands out as possibly the happiest axe wielder your likely to come across. His tasteful flourishes of lead really protrudes through the well thought out rhythm and captivates the listener, especially the crowd pleaser “God’s Salvation. [TC]
STAND-UP GUY
Preceded by a string of more orthodox Metal sets, Stand-Up Guy’s appearance onstage promises and delivers a heavy feast of a different but no less satisfying flavor. With their trademark taste for flowery shirts providing a similar visual deviation, those slow, striding riffs are well and truly brought, with a fine showcase of both new and old material being presented to the healthy crowd which is now properly swelling into Pedigree corner.
It’s been a good while coming, but one of Ireland’s better all round heavy acts do not put a foot wrong during their first performance at D.O.D. A few songs into the set, ‘The Manner of Cutting In’ from their second and most recent full length ‘Avenues Unawares’ reaches an early high, the soulful edge to the (aptly) cutting riff resonates with a fine sound about the room, with the twin vocalists harsh screams adding a cathartic edge that produces a very different kind of energy that the other acts of the day – emotional but still damagingly powerful. The set manages to showcase a fine balance between newer and older material, with the strength of the newer songs shining through just as well as old classics like ‘Fra Diavola!’. A warm and rich tone is pinned down by the notoriously well managed sound desk, and thankfully stays with the group throughout the set. Perhaps the volume could have done with a slight bump, but even this results in a slightly more atmospheric sound during the quiet spoken word parts.
Responding with good humour to coarse howls from the unwashed for ancient tracks from their demo days, the band decide to finish the set with a brand new and unrecorded track. It’s satisfyingly chunky, comprising of a juddering chorus that provides a strong exit to the set, with post-set bladdering consistently mentioning a somewhat Mastodon-esque vibe to its sound, while still retaining their own unique edge. As a track, it promises an equally productive future for the group, who can head home safe in the knowledge that they have firmly put their stamp on their time at the festival. [LA]
OLD SEASON
It seems like years have passed since the last Old Season live performance, and the crowd that gathers to see them is all the proof one needs to know these guys are extrememly admired in the Irish metal scene. Mixing classic tracks with newly penned epics, it quickly becomes clear that the highly-anticipated “Volume 2” is going to be an absolute belter. The band make the most of their 35-minute set by cramming as many songs in as possible, without sacrificing vocalist Frank’s entertaining between-song banter. Although ‘Mortals Of Mettle’ predictably gets the biggest crowd reaction (and it is indeed a seriously rocking reaction) it’s new song ‘Murder’ that is far and away the best song aired tonight. Heavy but melodic, with an absolutely killer riff, and keyboards purposely low in the mix, it is set to be the standout track on the new album. Great to catch Old Season again, and even greater to see them on such top form. [DmcB]
NIFELHEIM
This reviewer is not about to make out like he’s seriously familiar with Nifelheim, because he’s not. Before this set I’d heard the first album and liked what I’d taken in, but that’s it. Chatting to many people over the weekend, that seems to be the general case - good things having been heard but little of the actual music - because if there’s one band at the festival who’re truly coming screaming and riffing out of the depths of the underground, it’s these guys.
And absolutely burst into the collective consciousness of Pedigree Corner they certainly do. The set kicks off as it means to finish, pure fucking blackened metal screaming from the P.A. as a formidable array of leather, bullet belts, spikes (literally bucket loads loads of them), blood, hair and balding heads seem to appear as if from nowhere on the stage. By now langered punters point and gawk - then react as the situation commands - by rocking out like there’s no tomorrow. Taking a step back, it’s easy to see how Nifelheim command such respect in the deeply subterranean but crowded Blackened Thrash scene. Theirs is a simple but incredibly effective formula - a mix of South American (think Sacrofago, Mutilator etc) filth married to a strikingly Iron Maiden-esque use of leads and harmonies.
The crowd’s response to such a spectacle of relentless shredding and gurning is apparent, a sizable pit forming in front of the stage and a multitude of heads forming a line of flying hair along the barrier. ‘Storm of the Reaper’ from their latest album could well be a forgotten early Bathory song, delivering the goods in style, but it’s ‘Insulter of Jesus Christ’ that takes it to another level. The place seems to explode into banging fists - fuck it - I pegged it to from the bar for a pint shouting the chorus so much did it demand instant inebriation and attention. The harsh, almost monotone caw of the frankly unhinged vocalist Hellbutcher plays around the most simplistic and satisfying of hooks, with a Motorhead like catchiness grabbing hold of the audience.
Always a good indicator of a powerful set, a lasting chant of ‘Nif-el-heim!’ goes up around the venue, with an encore being properly demanded of the group. Looking very much the part and delivering exactly what the day was building up to, the band are quickly labelled by most as the great black surprises of the weekend. The job well and truely done with a set that seemed to fly by far too quickly, they down instruments and come down to the crowds level to take up positions as spectators for the final headliners of the night - perhaps the most fitting evidence of their passion for this type of music. [LA]
WATAIN
The setting for the final band of Friday night is characteristically ritual in its preparation. Having risen from the depths of the most obscure Black Metal circles to relative heavyweights in their scene during the past few years, Watain have always presented themselves in a way which few other bands replicate. That most notorious aspect of their live performance, aside from the truely repellent corpse paint and matted bloody filth they coat themselves with, is of course the smell of that ancient pigs blood they douse the place with. But it wouldn’t be them without it, and they kick into a predictably ‘Sworn to the Dark’ heavy set with as much anticipation buzzing around that the now exceedingly merry crowd can muster.
After the veritable Metal load being blown during Nifelheim, it was going to take something special for the Swedes to impress, but the sheer quality of the group’s songs carries them through the night. While coming through both strongly and impressively, the likes of ‘Satan’s Hunger’ and ‘Sworn to the Dark’ lack something of a punch in terms of grittiness, but this is nicely remedied by the classic ‘Devils Blood’ from Casus Luceferi being lain out in all its vicious glory. It seems odd that a band that looks so extreme should present such almost classically clean material, but the older tracks mix it up nicely, and Eric is ever the showman, looking honestly like something long since decayed that’s just clawed it’s way up from underground to wrap itself around the mike stand.
Truth be told though, the crowd has unavoidably run out of steam at this stage of the day, with only a few maniacs keeping up with the pace down the front. The journey down, setting up camp, and many hours of metal and boozing behind them, the audience diminishes somewhat before the end of the set. The rain beats down outside in the darkness into the now soaked earth and the ritual lights onstage are doused. An eerie, almost dead vibe is present in the campsite, only to be punctured by the most wild of Hallions keeping the party going in the downpour - an atmosphere quite unavoidable considering the weather conditions, but perhaps fitting considering the darkness that the final band projected onstage. One night down…[LA]
NEPHRIDIUM
The opening slot on an all-day festival can be a perilous venture for any band. Fortunately for the last minute stand-ins Nephridium (in place of Nuclear Reign) the hang-over contingent had crawled from their tents and gathered eagerly along the barriers. The larger number really stands out from past opening bands. This may be the result of the last minute line-up change inciting curiosity or maybe the fact these guys have have created a buzz around their stomping new EP ‘The Great Wave’ .
They are tight and ferocious when they need to be with their riffs regularly incorporating nice diminished harmonies and short bursts of sweeping. There is also an element of atmosphere in the well placed cleaner sections like that of ‘Slave Ships’. Even with a moniker relating to the unsavoury nether regions of maggots, they have a more mature and interesting lyrical approach than most. I’m not sure if the unusually keen early crowd turned the bands energy up a notch or not, but they storm through their set with alarming fervour. It really is endearing the see a band enjoy their own set so much and it pays dividends in crowd response. [TC]
DARKEST ERA
Darkest Era are a late addition to the 2008 bill, but with their incredibly fast-rising profile in the last year, it was almost inevitable that they would be asked to play Ireland’s biggest metal festival. Still a young band, their resulting energy levels are high tonight, and not one member spends much time in one position, taking lots of time to scream at the crowd and cajole them into more rocking out. Vocalist Krum is easily the most active of the band, and spends as much time off the stage climbing up on the barrier to get close to the crowd as he does up on stage.
As good as the band are, and they’re already a skilled outfit, it is drummer Lisa that really steals the show. Although small in stature, she absolutely pounds the drums during ‘On The Crest Of Doom’ and easily dominates the song. Having recently dropped to D tuning, the band sound heavier and more mature, a fact which is reflected in the massive leap forward in maturity in their new material. ‘Visions Of The Dawn’ has become their most accomplished track by miles, and it remains to be seen just what dividends another year will bring to them. With a festival appearance in Greece planned for 2009, the future looks bright for Fermanagh’s finest. [DmcB]
OVEROTH
There is an air of confidence and prowess to Overoth that many bands fail to achieve even after lengthy careers. They are focused, tight and almost militaristic in their execution. Within a reasonably short existence they have managed to make an indelible mark on the Irish Death Metal scene. In such an over-saturated niche of the genre, it’s difficult for newer bands to really stand out. The more modern ethos of trying to ‘out-blast’ the competition has become tiresome and contrived. Luckily for Overoth, they have taken the high road and incorporated a lot of Old School influences that made Death Metal truly great in the first place. Not simply content with rehashing the classics, they have achieved a more individual sound that still remains faithful to the tried and tested formula.
Taking to the stage like a band possessed (as per usual), they lash out a relentless barrage with impeccable groove and fluidity. A stand-in drummer for the evening could have fooled everyone had his face been hidden and pulls off the set flawlessly. Tracks from last years ‘Death Personified’ EP could hold their own with any of the greats.The explosive intro to ‘Oath of Flesh’ deserves a special mention with its powerful riffage flooring the first few rows of the crowd. The aesthetics of the Old School 4-piece looks the part and each member seems very comfortable on stage, which makes all the difference. It is all too easy to get carried away with compliments for this band, but are just such an exciting prospect. Awesome. [TC]
GRAVEYARD DIRT
Graveyard Dirt take the stage amid a wealth of dry ice, and of the festival, they are the ones who suit it most. Possessing the most painfully cool name in doom, they manage to shake off any rusty cobwebs they may have had when they supported Primordial earlier in the year. They look natural and relaxed on stage, but when the crucial parts of the song are played, the band, particularly vocalist Paul, seriously throw themselves into it. The vocals in particular suit the musical stylings to an absolute tee, and are one of the few times during the festivals that a singer can be heard clearly over the somewhat muddy PA. The faithful down the front sing along to every word he sings, but it’s the sheer number of fists in the air accompanying ‘I Embrace The Dark’ that really make the vinyl hokers, t-shirt flickers and boozing socialites turn around and pay attention to what is emerging from the smoke. Graveyard Dirt are slow, powerful, loud and enthralling, and it’s great to have them back. [DmcB]
CHAMBERCRAFT
Chambercraft have never played live before, and rumours that one-man-army Sam Best conjured up grotesque demons from hell to play the gig with him are quickly proved right when the backing band materialise from the ether. Surprisingly high on the bill, their reputation was questioned by several, but doubts are quickly put aside when the aural evilness hits the ears. Bleak, spiteful and cold, Chambercraft play black metal without any of the usual theatrics, focusing more on actual songwriting and atmosphere creation than image or idealogy. It works extremely well, and gets the crowd moving more than people anticipated, proving that their slot was a risk that paid off. However, crowd favourite ‘Eternity Of Eves’ doesn’t get an airing, to much chagrin. Granted, it isn’t on any of the band’s official releases, but a singlong would have been great. Perhaps next time lads? [DmcB]
THY SINISTER BLOOM
We are provided a welcome shift in gear as the intoxicated mass takes a deep breath before the final plunge. As the bass floats in, we know for sure something different approaches. Veiled in a cloud of vapour, and 12 years since their last live performance Thy Sinister Bloom emerge. A brief flourish of activity in the mid 90’s saw TSB release their classic demo ‘Thy Temperate Veil/A Vanity Lost’. An EP and promo followed, but bar heavy tape trading were never released. Like many acts in those flowering years of Irish Metal, TSB fell into seclusion.
2008 sees the Bloom return with ¾ of the original line up and while ex-vocalist Jeff Reilly’s old dulcet tones are missed the music is more than strong enough to stand, or maybe drift, on its own. John Ryan, of Cruachan fame, guests on violin and weaves some warm dreamlike notes into the dense gloom. On what earlier was a heaving moshpit, a small gathering sit and let the mesmeric effect take hold as the trademark TSB sound of opener ‘Our Days Undone’, one of two new tracks aired tonight, fills the hall. Pondering bass, intertwined with ambient drifting guitar textures… taking as much influence from GY!BE as early 90’s Doom. ‘Nomad’s Gaze’ follows and I can’t help but be reminded of the more subtle moments of ‘The Eye of Every Storm’. Since first hearing their ‘96 EP ‘Serein Falls’, I always hoped I’d someday get to hear it live. Tonight I finally get my wish as the delicate opening riff of ‘The Starborn Serenade, Our Loss’ drift into the air. A beautiful closing track to end 45 minutes or more of hypnosis. Undoubted highlight of the festival. [CoF]
CELTIC LEGACY
Celtic Legacy, without doubt, steal the show tonight. Taking the stage to new song ‘Celtica’ as if it were a stadium, they blast out a top class setlist, featuring the likes of ‘Glen Corr’, ‘Resurrection’, and the absolutely storming ‘Live By The Sword’. Crowd heads bang like hell, hair flails all over the place, and fists remain permanently in the air. Vocalist Ciarán’s brother Eoin adequately steps in on guitar for the absent Keith and it’s plain to see there’s been a hell of a lot of rehearsal time devoted to this performance, as he doesn’t hit a bum note the entire gig. Once their all too short timeslot has passed, the band return to the chanting hordes to play ‘Emania’, creating a brilliant end to a savage gig. It certainly won’t be long until Celtic Legacy are elevated to the pantheon of Irish metal to become one of the Big Three. [DmcB]
MOURNING BELOVETH
Mourning Beloveth really do look the part tonight. Seeing them on a proper stage with the upgraded light system and their textured brand of organic Doom Metal in full flow is the very much ideal environment to witness one of Ireland’s more veteran and respected groups.
Both ‘The Sickness’ and ‘The Words that Crawled’ form the basis of the first part of their time onstage, the crystal clear sound thankfully allowing Moore’s vocals to be be heard in all their gravely glory. The hunched over figure of the singer looks truely in pain as the clouds of dry ice and cutting, slowly spreading blue lights transverse the stage behind him. The pathos of the new material is clearly audible, those wrenching lead and vocal breaks from guitarist Frank managing to present an altogether more emotionally wretched performance from the hyperactive figure we saw during Old Season’s set. Similar to how Graveyard Dirt’s drumming brushed with subtle, tasteful strokes earlier in the day, the battery behind the front members of the band pulses perfectly in time - the short triplet beats of double-bass adding just the emphasis that’s required at the right times in the songs.
Overall the set is a morose but satisfying one by the groups standards. The downright bleakness of material from ‘A Disease for the Ages’ acts as the primary showcase, right down to the group electing to leave out the usual set-ender ‘The Mountains are Mine’ with its almost upbeat ending in favor of a more crushing number like ‘Part One’. The strong sound of the DOD sound desk is once more a godsend, allowing each instrument to breathe of its own accord - which is an utter necessity for the group’s brand of music. The relaxed atmosphere between the band members in the gaps between songs shows a confidence and easiness with the surroundings, and the encapsulating vibe strongly recalls the atmosphere that Thy Sinister Bloom cultivated earlier in the day, though with a darker vibe. The biggest and arguably most accomplished of the three Doom influenced Irish bands of the Saturday that sup from the same early 90s waters wrap things up confidently and depart quickly - and the spell is broken. A job well done. [LA]
DOOMSWORD
Tonight is Italian heavy metal heroes Doomsword’s first gig on Irish soil, and they are, quite simply, killer. Killer setlist, killer atmosphere, and killer passion shown on stage. Tracks such as ‘Days Of High Adventure’ and ‘Death Of Ferdia’ get plenty of crowd participation, but it is ‘Heathen Assault’ that gets a MASSIVE singalong to the chorus. Doomsword look confident as hell on stage, and play a set that is both aggressive and heartfelt. The epicness of the set closers ‘Resound The Horn’ (with accompanying Viking horn blowing) and ‘The Doomsword’ is utterly breathtaking, and the dazed grins of those down the front reflect sheer joy at an extremely rare to see live performance from a fantastic band. Absolutely killer. [DmcB]
UNLEASHED
By the time Unleashed hit the stage, it’s quite late, but the venue still holds those dedicated to their death metal, and those too drunk to manage the walk back to the campsite. Actually, both statements can easily refer to everyone there, as it’s a raucous crowd that greet the Swedes. But Unleashed have never been a band to shy away from an unruly crowd, and amid the headbanging, staggering and crowd surfers, they pummel the masses with some classic death metal. The crowd roar along to every old song, and new tracks off latest album “Hammer Battalion” receive a rapturous response. Unleashed incite the crowd into a near riot at times, there’s moshing up the front and rocking down the back, and the noise made for set closer ‘Death Metal Victory’ is nothing short of astonishing. Unleashed are the rightful headliners of DOD 2008, and it’s obvious to see how much they are adored here. [DmcB]
20/07/08
Photos by Emmett Connell
Reviews by Lorcan Archer, Tom Cunningham, Phillip Donelly, Donal McBrien, Cairbre O’Fearghail