The Apollo is a grand 3500 capacity former cinema which has been putting on concerts since the '60s. Most of my earliest metal concerts were here and I saw most of the major thrash bands here in the early nineties (apart from Metallica who were far too big by this point but had played here in the mid to late eighties). Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, Sepultura and Pantera all played here. Then grunge and later nu-metal happened and bands like that suddenly couldn't really fill places like this anymore. However, times change and extreme metal has had something of a resurgence in recent years and bands such as Behemoth have sold the place out. One band who have experienced a similar rise over recent years are the German thrash veterans Kreator. Their sound has evolved from the savage thrash of the eighties to a mixture of European metal and groove elements, and their popularity has gradually grown to the point where they have near filled the venue, although the stacked bill may have helped too.
As Nails open their set, my first thought is how good the drum sound is, you can clearly hear every beat. Unfortunately, my second thought is that the guitars sound like they're being played in the toilets so it's a struggle to hear that delicious guitar sound they usually have, and this somewhat robs the opening 'Suffering Soul' of impact. The slower, grinding 'Lacking The Ability To Process Empathy' sounds much beefier which makes a major difference. They are essentially a powerviolence band using HM2 pedals to give them a death metal edge. It is fast and furious, and they are probably the most uncompromising band playing tonight. After the initial sound issues, the guitars now sound serrated and ferocious and they create a punishing groove. Todd Jones has always had a way with riffs, no matter what band he is playing in. Carlos Cruz on the drums provides a rock solid base but he makes it look so effortless. Todd is much more personable than his reputation suggests and he cheekily tells the crowd that he's not allowed to talk about stage diving, moshing or other thrash metal activities. He is also complimentary about Damnation Festival, the last time they played in this city. The mid paced parts seem to owe a debt to Carcass. There is much more light and shade than the last time I saw them, when it seemed like they were playing the same song over and over, and this makes for a much more enjoyable experience.
Thrash legends Exodus have much more of the stage available to them, plus a full backdrop and video screens. They open with new track '3111' which is layers and layers of riffs in the classic Exodus tradition. The classic 'Bonded By Blood' sounds as vital as ever. The recently returned Rob Dukes on vocals seems to have injected a new lease of life into the band. Talismanic guitarist Gary Holt is in imperious form and he and Lee Altus help supply the relentless barrage of riffs that form the crushing 'Deathamphetamine'. The mid paced 'Blacklist' is groovy as fuck and gets plenty of fists pumping. Rob is in fine form, commanding the stage well and adding an extra dose of aggression to the Zetro and Baloff songs. The dense, dark and moody 'Goliath' adds different textures and is an opportunity to catch your breath. Some of the people around me were moaning about it being more of an album track than a song for a live show and, whilst I would much rather hear the punchy 'Promise You This' or something off 'Tempo Of The Damned', I still enjoyed it. The pace is picked back up with a ripping 'A Lesson In Violence'. Rob even gets to indulge his rock star fantasies by doing the old Freddie Mercury 'ey yo' routine. An intense 'Toxic Waltz' is the cue for plenty of crowdsurfing and 'some friendly violent fun'. A blistering 'Strike Of The Beast' closes a cracking set which seems to go down a storm with the Manchester faithful.
Carcass open with 'Unfit For Human Consumption', a punchy slice of death metal which has lovely melodic guitar leads, infernal vocals and a killer groove. The mid paced stomp of 'Buried Dreams' is glorious. Jeff Walker looks more like a middle aged dad in a soap opera these days but he still possesses a savage voice. A rapid 'Incarnated Solvent Abuse' raises the energy and intensity. It all looks like it is a bit too much for some and it kicks off in the crowd during the twisted 'No Love Lost'. The putrid old school death metal of 'Exhume To Consume' is really effective and is a nice contrast to the more refined melodic style they are famous for. The guitar playing is excellent throughout; Bill Steer is a fantastic yet understated presence whilst Nip Blackford backs him up admirably. That double stepping beat in 'Corporal Jigsore Quandary' is as magnificent as ever, and the track is the perfect blend of catchiness and brutality. 'Heartwork' is fucking rabid yet is so dynamic and infectious. A stellar performance from the death metal grandmasters.
Kreator's current level of popularity has allowed them to go to town on the set design. A couple of demons flank the stage whilst a huge monstrous face looks on from the background. A massive set of horn rises out of the ground too. It is like a Dio wet dream from the eighties and it looks incredibly imposing.. An interesting intro video plays before the band come on stage which shows artwork of various historical wars and protests coming to life whilst set to the protest song 'Eve Of Destruction'. As impressive as the stage set and introduction are, the opening track 'Seven Serpents' is pretty average in comparison. 'Hail To The Hordes' is a decent slice of tribal heavy metal with a rousing chorus but it's a far cry from the Kreator I remember. 'Enemy Of God' is a pounding Teutonic thrasher but it still manages to come across as pedestrian. Tracks like 'Satanic Anarchy' marry heaviness with a commercial edge in a way that leaves a little unpleasant taste in my mouth. Some torch bearing goblins appear before the hard hitting thrash of 'Hate Über Alles' which is great. 'Betrayer' is fast as hell but still feels a bit flat. The stage is set on fire for the anthemic 'Krushers Of The World' which still feels the wrong side of cheesy. 'Hordes Of Chaos (A Necrologue For The Elite)' has a decent groove on the chorus. I get that the field Kreator has been ploughing for the last fifteen years may not be entirely to my taste (although I enjoy many of these songs much more on record) but it shouldn't be this boring either.
Kreator **
Carcass ****
Exodus ****
Nails ****
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