Yeah well, of course there are some lost souls of this species left in Munich as well, but, - not so true, not so metal attractive and most of all, - not so enthusiastic. And all that is exactly the reason for experiencing such a xmas now and then out of Munich. I confess, I do not start often such an expedition, as I'm attending already up to 5 events every week within this town. But like we use to say so: Exeptions keep the rules alive. And tonight there are enough reasons for this 1 hour trip to Augsburg to check the whole Metal package out. Reason No.1 - Overkill and Exodus are simply great live acts. Reason No.2 - Bobby 'Blitz' Elsworth is an old friend of mine. And I am always pleased to meet again over all these years. And last but not least and reason No. 3 - I truly want to meet the worlds greatest Katy Perry fan *lol*. (who by the way got really upset, when he was told, that Katy had been in Munich one day before - but I'm getting to this later....)

So what have we got here? It's four chapters tonight, and almost a little too much for me. Back home, I sometimes miss out on openers, but not here in Augsburg. I mean, I came all the way, so I consume the whole opus all together including one ouverture and three more acts.And yes, you could name this an international G4 meeting. 

Voila’, and there we start off with Gama Bomb, just imported from the green island named Ireland. 

To get it straight, these guys have already become unfaithfull to their home country and rather stay in England or on the continent most of their time. 
They are seven years young of age, have 2 albums and 3 EPs/Singles out and those heirs of the Guiness brew are just about to establish themselves in the european thrashmetal scene. Let's face it, everybody has to start from the bottom, at least within this circles. Or did you ever see a thrash metal shootingstar, who shot to fame from zero to no. 1 in the generell single charts? I for my part, can't think of any right now. But I mean, whatever hasn't happened yet, can still be. Only what's up to that musical style, the truth is, that it actually stumbles on the edge of the soupbowl named Music Business. And some guys have already bitterly drowned within this. Okay, but actually we are here right now, that this does not happen. And bands like Gama Bomb have to swim themselves free on a save shore first and out of the shade of such already established senior groups lik Overkill and Exodus. Once again it's the Augsburg audiance to make sure that this opener here doesn't get ignored completely. Gama Bomb appreciate this reaction very much and do their best to beat up the stage dust round our ears. Well, in the end it's not really a hurricane, but on the other hand it's no mild spring breeze either. 

Let's put it this way, the provided energy level, light and amount of special effects spices the supper. And in the end it's the experience, which has to be picked up - again, and again and all over again....

http://www.myspace.com/gamabomb



Southamerican Import Torture Squad can look back to more  Thrash cultural Training in the past...

So these Brazilians have left the Copa Capana already in 1990...... (well they are actually from Sao Paulo)....to conquer the colder regions of this globe with lots of portugiese timbre and southern temper, like Ferdinand Magellan did in the 15th century, when he sailed around the world. Torture Squad have put out seven chapters so far, including one live album. And whatever Castor  Vitor Rodrigues, Amilcar Christofaro and Augusto Lopes mean concerning their band name is not really clear. For some people this kind of music might be a torture indeed. But on I don't think that's meant by that. I would say, the name reflects the raw power of the music, like it does with most acts practicing the thrash metal culture. 
However, our latin chocolate boys are even a little harder than the first lot and they have a bit more routine, according to  lots of touring in the past, even in a headliner role throughout Germany and Austria. And they survived  the  Wacken christening. And now the next chance is taken to collect some more points in the shade of mighty Overkill. And that's what they do, with all their southamerican charme and brazilian coffee bean explosives. Even the internal room temperature is cooperating now...and copies the  Amazonas jungle heat...

www.myspace.com/torturesquadband



And here we go again, - all blessed things are 3, as we say so, and the following Urbi at Orbi is done by Exodus, who have actually jumped in for Metal Church, who had cancelled their participation due to health reasons. 

Well, these US metal buddies ain't playing golf yet. And with their irish and brazilian companions, who have played before, the international character of this party is completed. What else to say....? Maybe the fact, that I do like these thrash chippendales from the famous bay area around San Francisco a lot more this time, than I did one year ago in Munich. Why? Well,maybe because my cam doesn't blow up this time, like it did  last time. Jeeeessss..... I still dun' know, what was louder, the sonata in thrash C of Exodus, or my unholy swearing. However it didn't wake my baby up from the dead...but it surely rose my adrenalin..... 

Anyway, not much has changed otherwise within the Exodus stage choreography, exept maybe the 10 commandments on the setlist. Apart from that, Mr. Rob Dukes still shows his slim model shaped silhouette, accompanied by his petite mezzo tenor. Mr. Universe has a new name, and Michealangelo would probably turn smooth pink in his coffin, if he could see those wonderful art of skin paintings.  

So the average visual focus is definately given and draws away from the fact, that Robby's luvable performed songs live mostly from the rhythm and less from the spoken lyrics. Noone of the devoted audiance here in Augsburg  understands a word anyway.(well I guess in whole Germany either)  But as we all know, in such a situation not even a lost dessert flea cares about it. 

Our Thrash Pavarotti gets support from Exodus chief Gary Holt, who, as I already discovered last year, is not only a brilliant guitarist, but also has as much sexappeal as George Clooney in the Nespresso ad on TV. Yeessss, believe it or not, but even thrashmetal sometimes offers some interesting insights up there, and not only, this meanwhile mouldy, glamrock sods, who need tons of make up in addition to get noticed. No need here.. 'cause this here is rather a mixture of Indiana Jones meets Billy The Kid,.... yeah sort of... 
Never mind anyway, 'cause these little things get  probably only noticed by attentive spectators like me... *lol*

Meanwhile most freaks have changed their strategy from an brazilian jungle dance to the battle on little Big Horn. And you can't step into the dangerzone anymore without an additional life insurance... 
 Jack Gibson, (Bass),  Lee Altus (2te Git.) and usually Tom Hunting (Drums) make the more or less melodic ensemble complete. The Last mentioned one is on a holiday, so for this tour Nick Parker (Leave's Eyes) has filled in meanwhile.

Bloody hell, this here is not only thrash metal in it's pure form (no surprise as it's said, that Exodus invented it) This here is an organic passepartout with an emotinal pneumatic hammer cult character. Moshing whatever everybody's suspenders can bear, and the Augsburg Ironman is almost won with this phantastic, erotic-powerful airplay performed by Exodus... Well done Boys, well done.....

http://www.exodusattack.com/



Hold on....we're not finished yet.... and the last prayer tonight is Overkill....

First of all our mates from the US East coast try to compete with the Sisters of Mercy, what's up to the disguise of the naked truth. Only that I haven't got a nice photopit for moving around without any handycaps to capture the scenery the best way. No we only get the audiance perspective with massive sight restrictions to complete tonight's Picture report. In addition - 3 songs only... Well this wouldn't be a problem. Because with decent light condition and a photopit, as I mentioned before, I would even only need one song to take a hundret images. In munich for instance this 3 Songs only rule is only given in venues owning a pit and not like here in this situation. But well, other venues, differnet rules, and you've gotta follow those....however... Flashlight is a deadly sin anway for serious photographers at live events. So there is no need to tell us... and by the way, 150 and more fans take care for enough flashlights anyway with their pocket cams.... so what?! 

But back to the Action, which is led by Mr.Elsworth like always....And he soon tells us, that he's gonna turn 50 shortly. Respect, who'd have thought that. Our Gyro Gearloose here doesn't show any lack of condition or even one grame of fat on his trained body...  

Enviable, really envialble.... To his left side - Carlo D.D. Vernie, with whom he christened the band in 1980. And next year we celebrate Overkill's 30th  anniversary... - a style icon with some years on it's back, but physically and also mentally still up on the Mount Everest. The rest of the Wrecking Crew is spiced by Derek Tailer (Git), Dave Linsk (Git.) and Ron Lipnicki (Drums).

And I guess, I don't need to mention the eruption of the Kilhauea, which is faster than Achilles race upwards the Olymp. It's bone crunching and even the woodworms here are suffering a tinnitus. But meistro Blitz shows no mercy and gives even our beer glasses a good vibration and the haze a turnover with his intensive voice level. One Overkill smasher follows after the next, with highlights such as 'Eleminate' and 'Fuck You', not to forget   'Overkill'.But what am I telling you here.... go and check the setlist below...  

Long talk, short sense, all I have left to say, is, that an Overkill concert is literatually a guarantee for an event of the special kind. And nobody should even have to think about and hesitate checking them out in first place. Because nobody will get dissappointed - howsoever... Overkill is energetic entertainment with an incredible energy output, absolutely made for singing along and suitable  to find the inner balance thanks to rebuilding each others aggressions inside the moshpit. Exhaustion and satisfaction included..... 
Yep, the trip has definately been worthwhile... and I would say, let's go for another 30 something years ...
Remember, we're always as young, as we feel like right at this moment... 

http://www.wreckingcrew.com/crew/


Oh before I forget... what's up to the greatest Katy Perry fan on earth.... who is still upset that  he missed the popstar in Munich last night....
But well, there is still a next time to come - whensoever... as we say so.....

                                                                         Click Diary for some Aftershow snapshots...