Veteran Brit thrashers are touring in support of their new album 'Daze Of The Week' but this show (and many of the others, I would guess) is less of a gig and more of a gathering of mates as the band seem to know many in the crowd and when they play, there is lots of good natured heckling back and forth.
Liverpool's Devils Henchmen play driving, powerful thrash with an Exodus influence and it has a proper in your face sound. The second track opens with a slower groove before exploding into the same kind of nippy thrash. The crowd is extremely static which is a shame as it's the kind of music which should get people moving. Both guitarists are excellent, laying on piles and piles of riffs whilst adding some neat melodic leads too. Joe's vocals are decent - an aggressive higher pitch style which is well suited to the music. New track 'Waste Of Life' is fast as hell and is more in a crossover vein which makes it stand out. They are playing with a stand in bassist tonight but he does admirably, and combined with Harry's tight drumming, they still make a solid rhythm section. 'World Fictions' has a punchy riff reminiscent of 'Heartwork' and is impressive. We even get a wild Slayer-esque solo from Dylan on the final track which is pretty cool. Great stuff.
Enquire Within are a bit more groove orientated, being post-thrash reminiscent of latter day Machine Head. There is clearly a thrash influence there but they have moved beyond it in a way which just reflects modern metal. There is some Pantera crunch present too. The crowd are even more apathetic and stay mainly towards the back of the venue, leaving a big gap in the middle of the floor. I like how animated the bassist Erim is, he looks like he is genuinely having a ball up there. Daniel Lewin's guitar solos have a Dimebag style virtuosity to them whilst Jacob Waller's vocals are serviceable on the cleaner parts and fearsome when he roars. When the band add backing vocals, they don't always seem to be on the same page and it come across as quite messy. It's heavy enough and the band are competent but it isn't anything I've not heard before. The slower parts are generally more successful than the faster parts because the riffs seem more well defined. Consistency is lacking though, and for every relentless and impactful passage, there is a lacklustre part, often within the same song. A great cover of 'Raining Blood' gets a few people moving and this closes the set. For all their faults, there is more to like than dislike.
Acid Reign open with the punchy 'The Who Of You' which sounds powerful as hell. The Anthrax style crunch is tight and heavy and the double kick hammering is crushing. It is much more dynamic than the studio version. Howard "H" Smith starts off the set in a cloak but soon changes into shorts and a Fuck You shirt. It's a kinetic show with all the band members charging round the stage and bashing into each other but this doesn't affect the playing as they are a tight and cohesive unit. It's hard to pick out a standout star player because there aren't any really, they instead come together and create a formidable whole. The fast parts of 'Humanoia' are punishing and the transitions into the various parts are much smoother than on record. H creates his own slide onstage with some spilt water and he spend s plenty of time trying to skid across the stage during the instrumental parts.
'The New Low' is waves and waves of crunchy riffs, again with a big Anthrax influence. 'Alonely' is intense but that could be said of every track as the whole experience is like being smothered by a blanket of thrash. The cover of 'Hangin' On The Telephone' has enough energy to power the national grid whilst 'Fantastic Passion' is almost overwhelming with its dense, unrelenting groove. The band look like they're having fun and although they don't play encores, they squeeze in an extra song 'No Truth' which they have never played before. Acid Reign often had a goofy and not entirely serious reputation but they prove tonight that they are no joke.
Acid Reign *****
Enquire Within ***
Devils Henchmen ****
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