The third day of Radar Festival, and there are fewer bands I want to see today but I basically bought my ticket today for just two bands, Leprous and Blood Command.
I arrive just in time for The Omnific on the main stage. A tape of the ridiculous a cappella intro to 'Omnific = Bass' plays before the band launch into the actual track. The double bass attack is impressive, and I don't mean a drum pedal or a classical instrument, they actually have two bass guitars! Their level of musicianship is amazing, of course it is. However, it is stopped from being boring by the two instruments doing different things. One does the progressive djent wizardry whilst the other provides a punishing heavy backbone and the instruments trade with each other for the foreground. The sound is typical progressive djent but maybe it's the novelty of two basses and no guitar or maybe it's because they're really fucking good at what they do but there's something wildly original and entertaining about them. My jaw doesn't often drop when watching bassists (Billy Sheehan aside, maybe) but the one who plays the more progressive stuff is amazing. 'Base Camp' has a much mellower vibe and is gorgeous. 'Objets de Vertu' has a hefty bottom end mixed with some amazing melodic leads. Every song seems more impressive than the last. Imagine a world where Metallica discarded the thrash and all their big hits sounded like '(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth'. Well, The Omnific rule that world.
Future Static are modern metal or even, dare I say, metalcore, even though I hate that term. They have a mixture of rocking clean sung parts and heavier breakdowns. This isn't normally a style which I enjoy but they are pretty good at it. Singer Amariah Cook has a great voice and exudes great deal of charisma. The backing vocals are strong too. The bassist Kira Neil probably has a stronger voice, if I'm being honest. The beatdown parts are satisfyingly meaty, and I normally find these tiresome. They play a cover but I'm old and have no idea what it is (and only found out by checking Setlist FM afterwards that it's a Daddy Yankee cover, whoever that is). Everything is bouncy and uplifting, and the crowd just eat it up. The driving 'Roach Queen' is powerful with a Paramore style arena rock chorus. They're probably going to be massive.
You can't play jazz before a festival crowd as Spinal Tap's David St. Hubbins once sort of said. Sungazer clearly haven't listened as they play a set of jazz fusion. This may seem an odd fit for the festival but the deep, heavy bass tone and dextrous playing isn't a million miles away from what The Omnific were doing earlier today. Being a fan of jazz, I should love this but it just falls a little flat for me. It sits somewhere between smooth jazz and heavy prog. Is smooth djent a thing? I guess it is now. The choreographed dancing and costumes mark it out as a bit gimmicky, and 'Macchina's cod reggae is a step to far for me and is my cue to leave.
Blood Command's brand of energetic metallic punk is as infectious as ever and Nikki Brumen is her usual charismatic self. Playing as a four piece, their sound has lost none of its potency. It's great seeing guitarist Yngve decked out in his trademark Adidas gear, stomping round the stage with the same energy as Bez in 1990. One moment they're ultra catchy punk pop, the next they're riffing like the Norwegian second wave of black metal. This hybrid of styles brings compatriots Kvelertak to mind. 'Bare Witness' thrashes like a maniac. The dance interlude allows for a sparkly costume change before it's back to business. Closer 'Cult Of The New Beat' has a 'New Noise' vibe and ends another terrific set from one of the best live bands around.
Humanity's Last Breath don't really do it for me on record but they sound good enough from the outside to draw me in to watch them on the second stage. Their Meshuggah style metal is heavy, precise and brutal, and is much more impressive than it is on the studio recordings. One track is bouncy as hell and sounds like 'Bleed' lite (not a terrible thing as that track is incredible, and it certainly isn't meant as a diss). It certainly gets the crowd moving as all I can see is bodies bouncing in front of me. A pleasant surprise.
Leprous' headline set is promised to be a live fan request set. They start off delicately as the instruments come in one by one for the elegant 'Have You Ever?'. They then surprise me by bursting into 'The Price' ridiculously early in the set, and it sounds amazing. We're then given a choice of four songs and whichever gets the most hands will be played (but as the set goes on, it tends to be the songs with the loudest reaction being chosen). The first choice is a toughie as we are offered 'Illuminate' and 'Third Law' which would both be high on my list of tunes to hear. They play my choice 'The Valley' with it's shifting polyrhythms and world class chorus. It's unbelievably good. 'Castaway' Angels' is the next crowd choice with Einar's voice soaring on the the more delicate prog ballad. 'The Flood' is the next choice, beating out 'The Cloak' (booooooo!) among others. It's ominous pulse is countered by a soaring chorus. New single 'Atonement' harks back to the 'Coal' and 'The Congregation' eras, being satisfyingly heavy with some stabbing keys adding drama. The irresistable power ballad 'Alleviate' is the next crowd choice, and this is followed by the rousing 'From The Flame'. 'Mirage' is next audience choice, with its dynamic chorus. 'Slave' is very loud, almost reaching Sunn0))) levels of volume. 'Contaminate Me' is the surprising crowd choice for set closer, beating regular set closer 'The Sky Is Red', and it absolutely crushes. An interesting set from a classy band.
Leprous ****
Humanity's Last Breath ****
Blood Command ****
Sungazer **
Future Static ****
The Omnific *****
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