Undercroft, Dekapited & Violentor Musicon The Hague, 20 February 2024

On a Tuesday winter evening Musicon decided to put Chile on my metal map. Well not completely  as I do love the last two albums by Chilean progressive thrashers Demoniac. But seeing Chilean metal bands live was a blanco for me. I came close in 2013 when Progpower was organized in Santiago, but that festival pulled the plug while I was supposed to go there with hotel and flights all planned. So now Chile to me still means one week spend there around christmas 1998, Isabel Allende and our favorite wines from Casillero del Diablo. So welcoming some Chile tonight we first were warmed up by some Italians.

Violentor play speed metal of the raw kind. First things that I noticed were the unfortunate sound at the start and the vocalist/ guitarist "Dog" whom I hosted some years ago when he toured with The Laws Kill Destroy. So initially all I heard was drums sounding like tin cans. Luckily this got sorted and throughout their set Violentor improved. Touring their last album Manifesto di Odio they thrashed us slowly warm. This heat also because turnout was surprisingly good on this Tuesday evening.

Next band were Dekapited from Chile. They play thrash metal and do so very well. Their lyrics are in Spanish so I got one CD for Josie after the set. She is improving her Spanish after some patients complained her Spanish is not fluent (remember this is in The Hague, but after a Eritraean civil war being held here last weekend nothing surprises us). Now playing Destrucciön Trascendental I doubt she will love here new study material. But I am drifting away as I liked Dekapited's set a lot. Their songs were short and furious spiced up by guitar solos from Cristían Contreras, which were as short and spicy (hallo Kirk Hammett and Kerry King). One great set they gave us.

Headliners of the evening were Undercroft. from Chile. This Death Metal outfit were formed in 1991 so they have some years under their metal belts. And yes you could hear that as we got one heavy machine bulldozering over us. Undercroft were a tight band, even when one guitarst left the hall for a while (changing strings?) noone got upset and all flowed heavily onwards. Their death metal knew enough variation to keep me interested throughout. At times technical and sometimes even a bit doomy. Again going in blanco it became clear why headliners were headliners. Undercroft tour their last album Battle of Demons and after some shows in Belgium they return to Heerhugowaard ad Arnhem coming weekend. I can only recommend to go there for one fine evening of metal. So another Tuesday night well spend in Musicon were all generations showed up this evening.

Advocacy - Lucifer - Mega Colossus - Saxon

While we are over six weeks into the new year, about time to share some CD tips. Is the prog leaving my system slowly in favour of heavy metal? Maybe, but the two albums I played most early 2024, are late arriving 2023 prog records by Moongarden and Pallas. But here's the first 2024 tips, with some nice albums in the pipeline still.

Advocacy - The Path of Decoherence

This one I checked out after a review by Matt and I did understand what he was so positive about (Aardschok not so much). These Danes play progmetal and more towards the modern complex kind than the style that was popular some 30 years ago. I believe that all reviews I read state that the band's bio references Threshold, Dream Theater and Haken do not immediately come to mind. I at times thought of Native Construct as in the band is not very easy on the ears at first listen, but rewards you after some proper effort. What I like most is the notches of tech metal throughout the album. 

Lucifer - V

This one I picked up after seeing them on tour with Angel Witch. Beforehand I had listened to some clips of this album and maybe they are not for every moment I do like this V a lot. Occult retro rock with a female vocalist, which is nice for a change in my female-voices-under-represented collection. The songs are all pretty great, but At The Mortuary is the catchiest earwurm. No critics than? yes the booklet. Who thought that reading golden lyrics on a black background was a good plan? Even during the day a light is needed, pity.

Mega Colossus - Showdown

This US Heavy Metal outfit exist since 2005 and released with Showdown their fourth full lenght. I missed them so far, which is a pity after hearing this album. Their double guitars make this sound at times like Thin Lizzy on speed. I love this album from start to finish and the (only) 38 minutes fly by with six songs. The opening track Fortune & Glory is a candidate for thr heavy metal anthem of the year with it's glorious break just after five minute. Mega Colossus come to Europe this summer. Well to Germany where they play H.O.A. and another festival the weekend thereafter. I sounded possibilities for having them playing nearby inbetween both festivals, but dates already have been booked. Keeping an eye on the metal agenda and maybe a Germany trip late July makes sense.

Saxon - Hell, Fire and Damnation

The title and cover of the new Saxon do promise metal. Well in reality Saxon are not going to surprise anyone since in 79 when the dam began to burst. They were among my first heavy metal idols, being a notch heavier than the Whitesnake, UFO, MSG and the likes I loved before. 45 years later Saxon still release strong albums. I don't own many of them, but since Thunderbolt and a few strong live shows before that I buy them upon release again, just for supporting your old heroes'sake (well not the cover albums Inspirations). Saxon have been added to the bill of Dynamo Metal Fest this august. I shall wait for day division and the line-up of Complexity before deciding where to go. If Flotsam, Forbidden and Nestor play the same day DMF shall win.

In the Grip of Winter Fest - Baroeg Rotterdam, 10 February 2024

Saturday 10 February and trains heading south from The Hague are filled with weirdly dressed carnaval go-ers. Those who prefer their Lucifer over the nonsense speaking pope and his child abusing friends got out at Rotterdam Lombardijen, All fancy dressed in jeans and black Baroeg was the place to be for those liking their metal in several forms of extreme. Marko and I were among them with taste in music and a long day in hot Baroeg lay ahead of us.

Upon arrival the first band Carnal Desecration were already halfway their set. That sounded surprisingly good and this Belgian Death Metal outfit won over all those who were in on time. Definitely a band that is welcome to return and closing with their self titled song put an end to a very good start of the day.

Next on were Nattas and this was the band that mainly drew me to Baroeg today. Given the name and insider fame of some bandmembers I thought them surprisingly low on the bill. This until I found out that they played a second festival in Arnhem the very same evening. Maybe because of that they did not have any merch on sale. Pity as this show defintely would convince me to get some music. Most famous probably is Mike Wead on guitars as he plays with King Diamond and Mercyful Fate too. He alone brought this band to a higher level, but the rest were surely no slouches either. The festivalinfo said Black / Thrash from Stockholm but I heard mainly very good thrash metal, with possibly some black in the lyrics. The set flew by and I realized that probably the best band of the day played early. Tonight (11/02) they play Ragnarok in Bree, so those willing to escape the pope's party should go there really.

I always suffer at festivals to enjoy bands after a high. So Gutwrench had some problems in drawing me into their set of Death Metal. All sounded good and they played tight, but I missed the sensation I just witnessed with Nattas. So halfway the set we decided to go out and grab something to eat. This to find a snackbar in distress as more people had this same plan.

When we returned into Baroeg it turned out that it meanwhile was packed and thus pretty hot. Next band were Dutch Black Metallers Infinity. Previous time I saw them I picked up their album Hybris, so I must have liked their show. Initially I was not all that convinced today as the first songs sounded a bit similar to me, but somewhere halfway their set they won me over again. Their bulldozering blasting and riffing makes you nod your head automatically. Finally it remains impressive how someone is able to drum like a beast and sing at the same time, even if you could hardly see him behind the smokescreen.

Bodyfarm came on next and they are among Dutch Death Metal elite. Well that did not disappoint as the few times I saw them before made me realize Bodyfarm does not do disappointing shows. The very strong double guitars give their death metal some heavy metal feel to me. This show was one long glorious ride through their catalogue. I believe this was the first time I saw them after their sad loss and they remained equally strong. Bodyfarm are ready for international glory as in The Netherlands they already showed all how good they can be.

Than it was up to Belgian Black Metal cultists Ancient Rites to close the evening. Meanwhile the greasy food, combined with the heat made me feel not all that top fit any longer and their music did not help a lot either. This was not for me and maybe timing was wrong. Anyway Marko and I decided to catch an earlier train home and leave the Grip of Winter. Thanks to organizers for a diverse day of extreme metal and than I realized was this my last show in old Baroeg? I have no planned shows in the coming months yet, so who knows. If so Bodyfarm were a proper closing band of Baroeg, the only venue I know selling awesome shoes.

Lucifer, Angel Witch & The Night Eternal - De Helling Utrecht, 6 February 2024

The Satanic Panic tour hit The Netherlands in Utrecht. An interesting package, where my generation were drawn by Angel Witch and younger fans came also to support Lucifer. For me a first in de Helling, which is conveniently located 100 meters from a train station. Turned out to be a nice venue, with a beer prices having nothng to do with underground metal from the early eighties.

Openers of the evening were The Night Eternal, a heavy metal band from Essen Germany, who were new to me. Their Heavy Metal did fit the two headlining bands, but for me the vocals were not all to loud in the mix. They stated their first ever show was in Little Devil. Further  they dedicated a song halfway to Ozzy in Prince of Darkness. Must have been the lyrics, as the music was not very Sabbath or Ozzy alike, meaning too fast for those. Overall The Night Eternal did what they were supposed to do, warm us up well for the headliners to come. 

First headliners, by surprise of the older fans in, were Angel Witch. Now Angel Witch do have some classics under their belt. Their self titled debut album from 1980 is one of the best NWOBHM albums ever. According to Martin Popoff who wrote several books on NWOBHM they were better than any other debuting band including Maiden. That is debatable and a matter of taste, but sets the bar high. Further for me NWOBHM does hold three classic songs that should raise horns and atmospheres at any party. Angel Witch the song is one of them (the other two being Heavy Metal Maniac and Am I Evil?). So to celebrate this classic album Angel Witch opened with a new song. Death From Andromeda of their latest 2019 album Angel of Light. I believe all fans agree that was their very best since the debut. Few more songs of that album were in the set, plus Dead Sea Scrolls.  The rest was of course the bulk of their debut album and singles of the time. Initially the sound was a bit unclear and the voice of Kevin Heybourne needed warming up. This would improve fast and already during Atantis we were taken back gloriously to 1980. The set was good, but the peak came at the end. Intsrumental Dr. Phibes continued into Angel of Death. Hereafter the double Baphomet/ Angel Witch knocked everybody out. What a blasting end it was even if zero surprise. Kevin Heybourne might be the only original band member, but I loved seeing them live again. I also would like to see Kevin Riddles'Baphomet one day (band of original bassist) as I missed them last year in Little Devil and they have the great voice of Tony Coldham. While writing this my voce fully recovered, but damn was it fine shouting the epical lyric You're an Angel Witch, You're an Angel Witch.

So after the break Lucifer would close the evening. Now I don't know too much from the band apart from the fact their albums are titled Roman numbers and they are from Germany/UK/Sweden or so. I heard some songs in the past and checked some clips before last night which sounded  OK, When they hit the stage and started playing they turned out to be a bit lighter than the previous two bands. Still I did like their retro rock. I even recognized some songs and At the Mortuary is one catchy earwurm. So to my surprise I did get drawn into their show and they also saved the best for last, but I did not get the title of the closing song. I did not understand why their CD was some 5-6 Euros more expansive than online, but wil get V and play this when the timing is right. So they closed a fine evening, a bit earlier than expected.  Where I thought both bands to play some 75-80 minutes according to schedule, they did play both for 65 minutes, which gave me an earlier train home, but let me not get into delaying trains now, as the evening was so nice. You're an Angel Witch, You're an Angel Witch.

Onheil, Tsatthoggua, Hellevaerder & Alkhemia - Musicon The Hague, 26 January 2023

White Room's Loud & Heavy presents an evening of black metal in various forms and formats. Upon arrival with Marko I noticed many familiar faces and what's better even more unfamiliar faces. Musicon was packed, which was a nice surprise to start with. Also all generations were well represented, so there is a future for underground metal.

Early opening band were Alkhemia from France. Their walk-on towards the stage behind a fired torch almost burned down the new lights of Musicon, but after some ceremonial lightning of candles they kicked of. Turned out that Alkhemia play the bulldozering atmospheric kind of Black Metal. Presentation of their vocalist was such thet you were drawn into their set. He also took long hair to a whole different level, almost stepping on it and getting stuck on his nice mic standard. Good opener they were and the mood was set.

Next on were Dutch outfit Hellevaerder who soundchecked in casual friday outfit, but returned in black monk's robes (yes) with a female vocalist all dressed in white. Their songs are sung in Dutch, but I could not hear that and in good black metal fashion they did not say a word inbetween songs. It took until the last song, before they changed the pace a bit and for me overall it lacked some variation. They got good reaction from the crowd, but for me showing why I am not all that rooted in black metal.

In extreme metal often logos are hard to read, but Tsatthoggua found a name that even in normal letters is hard to read let alone remember. Germans they are who love their SM. Apparently they had some cult albums in the nineties, but I never heard of them before. With a second album called trans cunt whip you get the gest. Not necessarily shocking everyone in with their leather and spiked masks, but unlikely to make it on prime tv either. Their music was high energy with some thrashy and punky bits in their black metal. Not for playing at home to me, on stage at least different.

Interesting how on an evening where you don't know any band in advance it takes only one song to understand why the headliner are headliners. To me Onheil brought the music to a different level this evening. I thought they would play blackened death metal, but heard more a sort of blackened NWOBHM. Three guitars to bring the riffs, lots of melodies and two vocalists sharing duties. This was catchy, gripping and headbanging stuff I did not hear earlier this evening. Solid presentation and definitely a band to go see again. Even after curfew they did get an encore and stated see you next year. So we count on that. Thanks to Ralf, White Room Reviews and Musicon staff for a nice evening in a filled venue. 

 

Sneeuwpop - Hofpark Wateringen, 20 January 2024

20 January meant the proper opening of Open Air Festival season as always in Wateringen. No matter the bragging of Paaspop being festival season opener, the Westland and The Hague(and Vlaardingen hallo Zoe and Rene) region know better. Sneeuwpop almost had real snow this year, but missing out by some two days only. Still it was refreshing enough. Programming on this day is always local bands including a metal band from the area (thanks Merel). Last year I ended up with a new Year's drink of sorts with a large group. This year upon arrival I found none of them. I arrived when Where Siberia Ended started their set. Guitar rock with some Pearl Jam they said. I thought the volume very low and the music rather average. It was cold and I was looking for friends, so maybe distracted a bit.

Next band were Mancuerda a Death Metal outfit from The Hague. Those who frequent metal evenings in Musicon shall know them by seeing them play some times before and by them walking around during other band evenings. Their Death Metal is of the slow and dooomy kind and to me it is so refreshing to have a heavy break during a general rock festival. As this band were a local band first friends I would bump into were those who tend to spend Friday nights in Musicon as well. Death Metal is never for everyone at a festival like this, but I believe they went down pretty Ok and the small girl with the sign Hup Mancuerda did her part. Not sure  if their introduction to the song Necrophile Passion is woke enough for 2024.

So after the metal I found that many of last year who are my former football team of 35 years ago meanwhile had shown up too. So I forgot about the music and we stayed till the end when a Celebr80s band gave us everything from Van Halen till the horror of the Weather Girls to close the day. Sneeuwpop is to me more about catching up and share some beers, than the music. Mancuerda were good and the rest I hardly heard. Still the fact that we stayed some six hours out in the cold without complaints said enough really. Next year January we shall again join the opening of Open Air festival season in Wateringen.

CD's: My Top 23 of 2023

2023 turned out to be a good year for new music. When going through my favoirtes I noticed that this is mainly because of the large amount of new discoveries for me. On big band releases maybe not that strong, but overall a fine year for music. It was hard to reduce to 23 and herewith some that on any other day might have made the cut. On the extreme metal department, some need a mood to fit for me. If so they are great (DHG, Till the Dirt and Bell Witch) Other favorite bands released a decent album, but maybe not as good as I hoped for (Scar Symmetry, Haken and Demoniac). Progrock had major albums missed or too late (Galahad, Pallas, Moongarden) Tritop came close and the best progrock discovery were EBB, but that was a 22 release. Rob Lamothe's Cross Country Drivver is too calm overal, while industrial going George Lynch was interesting but...Thrash metal is missing too even though Aftermath came close. Sadus I missed so far and Metallica I was not bothered. Cynic was a refocus, so not counting and than there were 23. Since I still don't do Spotify or the likes I do miss albums that for sure would be appreciated, but you can't buy them all. Final observation: I do seem to like wind instruments after all in my metal, given some high scorers. So let the countdown begin.

23. Martin Miller - Maze of my Mind

A very proggy cover, but lots of classic rock in here too. A tip by Matt made me check out mr Miller and what a good album this is. Five long songs build upon his great guitar. His voice turned out surprisingly well too. Came to The Netherlands twice this year, in order to play rock covers. Pity with such a strong own album

22 . Jag Panzer - The Hallowed

Saw them twice this year. One old skool set and one set build around this album which I bought on the day. This is just solid US Metal as I love to hear it for 40 years now. Hope a next album does not take six years again.

21. Damnation Plan - The New Horizon

A very nice progmetal discovery from Finland. Album number three in ten years, but new to me. If this would have lasted more that the 33 minutes we get now, even chances for a higher place.

20. Electric Mob - 2 Make U Cry & Dance

Somehow I was not expecting this from Brazil, where Power Metal and underground extreme metal rule. Sleazy hardrock with very strong vocals. This band grooves and makes me laugh & dance no matter the title. If I need uplifting music, thsi is a good place to go.

19. Apotheus - Ergo Atlas

Not all that long with me yet, but too good to skip. Portugal's hope for Progmetal Days. A very nice surprise with great performances and songs. Also album number three here, but for me a new band. PPE anyone?

18. Wayfarer - American Gothic

Similar to Apotheus very short with me, but I hear the class again. Black Metal blended with Spaghetti Westerns and what an original outcome that gives.Not all that often you meet bands who create their own style. Wayfarer are one of them.

17. Redemption - I Am the Storm

Redemption fight a bit against their own bar set crazy high during their frst albums. Further for me Ray Alder beats Tom Englund on the vocal front. Still this remains a Redempton album so nowhere near bad.  Just the impact they had until some ten years ago, diminished over time.

16. Ashen Horde - Antimony

The extreme metal surprise of the year. Starting as a one man project ten years ago, now with album four a full band and new to me. A concept album on the unsolved murder of  Charles Bravo 150 years ago. Black/Death/Prog/Doom it is all there. This is a very intense album, so not for playing on the background. I loved it when digging in and got the shorts along wth the CD.

15. Trespass - Wolf at the Door

Every year at least one band should wave the flag for NWOBHM. This year it is up to my friends of Trespass to do so. I love this album which gets you nostalgic by the melodic NWOBHM style, while sounding up to date for 2023. Nice to feel the music that helped me loving metal ever since.

14. Insomnium - Anno 1696

Insomnium gives us art in many forms. Their last albums come with books. Last time pictures now some nice drawings and a short story which helps understanding the concept album. Later in the year the bonus EP Songs of the Dusk was released independent as well. If I would have been around for their show, probably a top ten place. Melodic Death Metal at it's best.

13. The Enigma Division - The Enigma Division

The first huge positive surprise of the year. They stuck at number 13 of bad luck, since I never saw a CD being released. As a result I played it much less. Still I broke my rule and bought it digital at Bandcamp. Curious to see where they go from here as this is one hell of a debut album by these Irish progmetallers.

12. Ice Age - Waves of Loss and Power

Comeback surprise of the year: Ice Age. After going on ice for 22 years, they came back with this CD. With songs Perpetual Child Part II and To Say Goodbye Part IV and V strongly linking to their own past. Still love these bastard sons of Styx and Dream Theater. We need more surprises like these.

11 Ray Alder - II

Ray Alder remains my favorite vocalist. Yet you can't release favorites every year. I thought A-Z and Figure of Speechless last year a notch stronger on the songs. Still one of the albums I went back to most as this is just very good for my mood.

10. Angel - Once Upon a Time

After decades of absence Angel were back with a European show in Liee and a new album in 2019. This opened their appetite as this is one long CD a few years later already. It took some effort to get the CD, but was it worth the wait. Some said too long, for me a return to form with opener The Torch among their classic hits. Last year my favorite show of the year, this year a very solid new album, love these rockers in white.

9. Finality - Technocracy

When I heard the  two songs released before this debut I felt we had a potential album of the year. And yes it is very good indeed. It would be higher on my list if the ten songs would add more variation between them and if I would have seen Finality live on stage.Still anyone into techmetal with thrash leanings should check this out now.

8. Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags

Probably the band that created most waves at underground live festivals this year. What a joy to see this band killing it on stage. I did correct big part of missing them so far and believe this is their best sounding album. Blackened Speedmetal that can go epic as the title track of over 7 minutes proves. One band to enjoy for the next decades.

7. Sorcerer - Reign of the Reaper

Those who like their doom metal to sound Scandinavian or like eighties Black Sabbath will know Sorcerer. They have been setting the benchmark in the genre for me and this album is not different. Royal Epic Doom said their T-shirt and that is what you get.

6. 66 Crusher - Limbo

Album number four by these progressive thrashing Norwegians. Well I hear more progmetal than thrash, but why did I miss them so far? Excellent album with seven great songs over 51 minutes. They posted their spotify numbers and many people don't seem to know them. Correct that and bring them to Baarlo. Brilliant stuff this.

5. Fifth Angel - When Angels Kill

The best US Metal always came out of Seattle. So does Fifth Angel and this long (69 minutes) album impresses yet again. No need to worry about a new vocalist as he nails it. The fact that we now have two Flotsam members in the band might explain the strong sound.  They cancelled 2023 European visists, so hoping for 2024 now.

4. The Anchoret - It All Began With Loneliness

Another new progmetal surprise from Canada Written by bassist Eduard Levitsky I did know vocalist Sylvain Auclair (Heaven's Cry) and keyboardist Andy Tillison (The Tangent) much better. What a beautiful album this turned out to be and how come I do not oppose the inclusion of alto saxophone, flute an dclarinet here? Because the songs are awesome that's why. A must hear album and debut of the year.

3. Uriah Heep - Chaos & Colour

With so many new discoveries in my list it is good that Heep are still standing proudly amongst them all. How is it possible that over 50 (!) years in their career they keep on releasing albums as strong as this one? Fast rockers, epic and proggy sounds, Heep organs and a ballad. It is all there on the album I kept on playing from January till December. Next year back on stage here please.

2. Crown Lands - Fearless

So this is only a duo? and I missed their 2020 self titled debut album. Well Fearless put them on the map for me and how. So they sound like seventies Rush? yes they do and I love it. Opener Starlifter : Fearless Pt. II sounds like one of those album lasting songs by Rush of the seventies. The rest of the album is also filled with highlights and I keep on wondering how do they do that with two people only? Must see them one day live as that must be impressive, even if probably pretty static. 

1. Lunar - The Illusionist

With so many new discoveries and great albums it is strange that picking my album of the year was not that hard. Ever since hearing first songs of this album I was hooked. Lunar play progmetal, but there is so much more from prog rock to tech metal and even some grunts throughout the album. Like The Anchoret the adding of Saxophone, flute and clarinet surprisingly only add to the fun. With Juggling Chainsaws they also wrote a candidate for best song of the year. Spotify numbers published show again a terrible under the radar flying worldwide. This is classy stuff from start to finish. Coincdentally yesterday Esther and Michel messaged me that they were playing  and highly enjoying The Illusionist after receiving same finally. More people should hear this as I guess many will be impressed and instant fan like me.