Slave Zero + Stand Up Guy | Live Review

Firstly, apologies to the two opening bands Atrax Mantis and Warpath for missing their sets. Unfortunately, midweek gigs such as these can be a curse with having to dash-home-from-work-and-back-into-town-via-public-transport scenario every gig goer must be only too familiar with.
First thing’s first after all that rushing about and general pre-gig malarky: pint. Armed with liquid sustenance and a decent spot to prop one’s elbow with good view of the stage, and we’re ready for rock.

Whelans is generally looked upon as a ‘special” venue of sorts for local metal gigs. It’s not quite your “Sunday Best” but it’s a cut above your usual get-up; it’s got a decent capacity and good quality set-up so generally it’s a tasty spot for a showcase. Tonight it isn’t packed but there is a respectable turnout for a Thursday night launch.

Stand-Up Guy have built up quite the reputation over their years of graft. Their brand of pseudo rock/metal isn’t to every metalhead’s taste but for those willing to drop their guard and open their ears they are a treat and are surprisingly heavy at times. This is the first time I have caught them since the departure of long term vocalist/ guitarist Paul. He has been replaced on guitar but the screaming vocal duties have been taken over – very capably - by drummer Conor Mullen.

The sound isn’t quite spot on tonight though. It’s very loud and the bass sits a bit too high in the mix for their set. Sound issues aside, they are always a visually engaging live band that really look comfortable in their stage space.

They play a mixture of songs, old and new, with one particular track only finished the day before. Said track being one of the highlights with some really cool Mastadon-esque riffage and drum work in parts. I’m not familiar with their latest album, but “Burning Paper in Bleeding Hand” from their “In Fixation, Conspire” album is another personal highlight of the set. Goods delivered, as per usual. A fine main support band.

The clever use of backing tracks and stage lights builds a real sense of anticipation in the crowd prior to our headliners tonight. One cannot help but become enthralled as the subtle, rousing intro builds up through the PA. The subtlety ends with the intro, however, as Slave Zero’s entrance causes the calm:storm ratio to swing violently towards the latter. The instruments attack you, especially with the extra loud sound int the venue this evening. They open with a brand spanker from the new album and proceed to tear through a vigorous set of material from both their newly launched album and the excellent “The Pain Remits” E.P. which gets the best reactions of the night.

‘Beefy’ and ‘dense’ are words I would use to sum up their latest sound, even with the loss of the second guitar. In this case there is a lot to be said for tone and riff style when it comes to a weighty sound; not to mention the vocals. Graeme has adopted a few new vocal strings to his already Hardcore-driven bow with an emphasis on more guttural growls and even some demented nasal snarls reminiscent of Northern Ireland’s Scald at times.

The new stuff is heavy, tight and adventurous percussion-wise with frenetic off-kilter mid riff changes abound. So much so in fact that the crowd seemed caught off guard at times which left bewildered faces and jarred headbanging sequences as they tried to anticipate the next beat. The less-catchy approach seems a tad antithetic to the more straightforward style of their fanbase but I’m sure the progressive elements of the new stuff will make more sense once it becomes more familiar. An intense set.

Review by Tom Cunningham ::: 24/08/09
Photos by Damien James O’Farrell