By Monk and The Dark Queen
It had been more than a few hot minutes – some three-plus months in fact – since we last climbed the narrow stairs to our favourite Belfast venue and watering hole for an evening of mad midweek metallic mayhem… but, then, with often competing shift patterns, we have to pick and choose what gigs we’re able to attend, and this was one we definitely (and defiantly) weren’t going to miss, as Californian power trio Night Demon made a very welcome and overdue return to our home city \m/
First up on tonight’s powerhouse bill are Dubliners Unmaker, a new name to both of us… but, hey, that’s why we always to try to turn up early for gigs, to catch the new kids on the blocks and unearth the previously undiscovered talent which usually lurks on the undercard… And what a discovery this quartet prove to be \m/
One of the reasons we’re not familiar with Unmaker is because this is their first visit north of the border, and they waste no time getting into it, with a big, meaty opening riff and bass barrage. The sound, both from the band and the PA, is not just big: it’s feckin’ HUGE, rich and dense with tonnes of heft, but still neatly nuanced enough to bring out every aspect of their performance. Although they bill themselves as a thrash band, they possess just as much of a traditional metal sound combined with modern progressive groove sensibilities. Tighter than a choirboy’s buttocks, they should have immediately got everyone in the mood, but there is something very “off” about the audience’s reaction. Despite Aaron’s persistent invitations to “jump, jump jump” and “bang your fucking heads”, there’s just something missing. Okay, the “sit then bounce” sections go down (and up) in suitable fashion, but the call for a wall of death results in just two people answering the challenge – one of whom then proceeds to fall flat on his arse when their skulls collide! Kids these days, eh?
Nevertheless, Unmaker lay everything on the stage, and I will definitely being keeping an eye on their progression… so much so that I’ve subsequently downloaded, and been rinsing, a copy of their absolutely stunning debut album, ‘Limb From Limb‘, released just this past Friday.
Talking of watching bands progress, one of the beauties of this game is being able to chart the rise of up-and-coming acts, watch them from their first tentative steps into the spotlight to their potential owning of same. Mortal Backlash are just another of myriad examples. The first time we saw them, they were very raw: looser than a summer blouse and more all over the place than a tray of jigsaw pieces. But, over the past couple of years, they have displayed a highly commendable work ethic, grafting and crafting in equal measure, and tonight’s set was justified reward for all that effort, as this sounded tight and precise, booted up the arse by amazingly rock solid drumming: shit, that kid knows how to rattle a kit!
Obviously the reason why most of the younger fans are here, as the previously empty stage front gap is now rammed with (albeit still relatively motionless) bodies, they unveil a new song (sorry, I didn’t catch the title), which has a very Metallica vibe to it, especially in the way in which it builds the atmosphere before exploding into the breakdown.
Displaying the sort of confident stage presence that only comes from dedicated and persistent gigging, they finally manage to get a response from the previously apathetic crowd, with the first (and as it proves only) stage diver of the night and a few people climbing onto their mates’ shoulders to give it extra large as they are the second band of the night to leave everything they have on the stage.
Headliners Night Demon, paying their fourth visit to this wee corner of the Überverse (and their second in less than a year), don’t believe in fucking about, wasting no time in kicking off their headline set with the quick double whammy of ‘Outsider’ and ‘Screams In The Night’ setting an unrelenting pace which they keep up for most of the rest of their 70 minute set. With the heavily silhoutted Jarvis and Armand criss-crossing the stage, niceties such as talking the crowd are eschewed as the trio concentrate on delivering ‘banger after ‘banger with no fuss or faff, just straightforward, heads down see you at the end attitude and enjoyment.
They showcase six songs from aforementioned new album ‘Outsider’, with the likes of ‘Beyond The Grave’ superbly showcasing how Jarvis exemplifies the Lemmy style of using his bass as a rhythm guitar, while NKOTB Brian is a lucidly natural fit behind the kit, looking and sounding like he has been there for the length of the band’s career. Of course, like Iron Maiden not being joined by Eddie, it would not be a Night Demon show without the appearance of mascot Rocket, with the Jawa-esque character once again inviting us to drink from ‘The Chalice’ before ‘Darkness Remains’ rounds off the main set in epic style.
Of course, despite the looming curfew, there’s always time for “one more tune” and the band re-emerge from the wings to deliver just that, although Jarvis is forced to stop their titular theme song virtually midriff after a young mosher gets hurt, before he and Armand themselves descend onto the floor to bring the show to a typically in-your-face conclusion. Two weeks later, my neck still hurts, sign that this was another ‘banging show from a band who know exactly what they’re doing and do it extremely well \m/
- PHOTO CREDIT: All photos © The Dark Queen. You can view our full gallery of photographs HERE.
Before the show, Monk had the opportunity to catch up with Jarvis, Armand and Brian from Night Demon to chat about all sorts of weird shit, including the frontman’s affinity for the island of Ireland, the idea behind their new concept album – and how they’d love to see Iron Maiden fuck with their set designers by changing their set lists, as well as give us an exclusive touring announcement…
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