reviewsarchiv 687

Well, for this live review I've gotta say one word in advance, when I look at all those participants here. Because up there tonight, these are all rockband of the so called new generation, musicians, who some of them, weren't born, when I started out in musicbusiness as a journalist. And I truly ask myself, whether the generell attitude and philosophy has changed at some aspects. On the other side it is always said, that Rock'n'Roll doesn't know any age, no borders and doesn't change the average attitude. Although I can't avoid a certain feeling at such concerts, that my days in the biz are counted. And I believe, in some years, when our old idols such as AC/DC, Kiss, Iron Maiden and yes - also the eternal living Rolling Stones are history, then I will put on my hat as well and make place for the young generation of journalists. But well, we haven't reached that point yet, and I'm still curious to check out the new Rock'n'Roll kids, and whether they are able to carry the heritage along within this. nowadays so fast living music industry. Because in the end, also in music, everything is depending on the financial aspect. What kinda use for great music, if you don't have the right label or promoter and the fans who are buying your stuff.
But well, forget it for now and let our artists of musical art to the talking. And those are five in a row at Munich's Backstage Werk. I have to say, that this event was orginally supposed to happen opposite next door at the much smaller Backstage Halle. But because this venue is booked for a disco from 10 p.m. onwards and our event here takes much more time then this, it was transfered into the bigger venue - same place. Due to this fact, the visual aspect is rather loose and open, as I'm talking about 800 guests. For the smaller Halle this would mean - sold out. But in here there is still enough place for everybody's training in intensive headbanging...
Von den fünf Vertretern habe ich selbst, vier der Acts schon früher einmal live on Stage erlebt und weiß demzufolge, was mich hier in etwa erwartet.

The T-Shirt Merchandise offer is incredible....))

Thanks ot my usual coming in late, dutch opener Vanderbyst have already played a few tunes without me, so I watch the rest from behind at the sounddesk and do notice once again, that these guys own an incredible impression.

And whatever singer/bassist Jochem Jonkman does show us physically and mentally, band founder Willem Verbyst does answer this on his six strings with the passion of a gamma radiotion within a super nova. This is underlined by the hard rhythm beat of drummer Barry van Exbroek. And though this threesome is riding the Rock'n'Roll saddle just about for 3 years, they have devloped a certain routine, which is more professionell as in some rockbands, who are going for 20 or more years. With one EP and 2 albums in their cataloge those guys from the Netherlands can provide a decent reference already and let's us hope for more in a not too far away futures - hopefully.

Because at such young bands nowadays there is always this question up in the air: will they still exist next year? In the case of Vanderbyst it'll be a shame, if these boys would only be a temporary Fata Morgana, who after the tasting the edge of the soupbowl of the Rock'n'Roll Circus, are vanishing again because of the wrong spice. Let's see and hope, whether chief cook Verbyst and his crew still have a good receipy to survive..
http://vanderbuyst.com

The second Sure at the Grand Magus Coran listens to the pathetic name Skull Fist.

And though those boyband does exist a little longer then the opener Vanderbyst, their average age doesn't go beyond 25 years young. And this fact can not only be realized due to the visual aspect, but also due to the endless enthusiasm, those canadian chicks put down here.And what a surprise... these guys obviously are influenced by their parents or whom soever concerning the Heavy Metal heritage of the Eighties and also the look. The generell impression is a dejavu back to their idols, who back then in the past called off a revolution with their looks and music. Nowadays, all this doesn't frighten a tired bat anymore, exept Batman delivers solid music, which gets stuck in our ears. Let's describe our birds from Lake Ontario that way: they have already stand their test and got themselves a certain ego and aura, which gets appreciated very much most of all by the girlies in the audiance. But that's the idea, same as Elvis celebrated this with his hips 50 years ago. So nothing really has changed since back then. The slogan is still - Sex and drugs and Rock'n'Roll. Well maybe not that intensive anymore, but therefore our next generation rocker will probably live a little healthier and get a bit older than only 27 or so....
Unfortunately our Skullfist her do get 2 minus points here, whereyby the first one is probably not their fault, as the sound is pretty miserable during their 30 minutes stint. The other weak spot is the frontman's high C, which probably got an extra coaching to conquer with an icon such as Enrico Caruso. Whereby I doubt it, that our nitingale here even knows, who that is.

Never mind, but it's a fact, that Bassist Casey Slade is the joker of this group, what's up the enthusiastic shouts from all the girls. Don't worry the blonde haired sunnyboy is very wide awake and knows how to use the chance for himself. So let's party and don't give a damn to singer Jacky's castrated high C tonight, as this band conquers the audiance easily here and put's themselvses as the icing on the top of the metal cake.
http://www.facebook.com/skullfisted

The golden 3 comes with Steelwing

And now it becomes clear, that this trek here is a mulit culti international mixed party. From the cheese cake country, via the canadian maple leaf impressions we are landing now in the land of Ikea, where Steelwing are at home. Somehow their name doesn't fit to the music just like a Tiger tank rolls down a Galliano catwalk. To describe this a little closer - the bandhas probalby found their outfit in granddaddy's cupboard or did they borrow it from the local fitness club?
Jesus.... such fire red sparkling spandex tights are real eyecatcher indeed, most of all, when they are worn on naked skin, if you know what I mean. And it is indeed an individual matter of taste, to judge such a piece of fashion. It's good for a joke anyway. Same for the frontboy, who's name is Riley Erickson, and who should rather keep his shirt on next time, despite the more or less impressing tattoos, but the belly button is just about to explode - so you'd rather be carefull. What's up to image care... first of all we are here not at an aerobic club for swinging fitness gurus and second - Mötley Crüe, Poison and Cinderelly have had their days way back in time...
But Steelwing's slogan seems to be indeed: - forwards to the past....

Well, and the musicla enjoyment of art is not coming out of the sleaze rock rumpott, but rather out of the true metal heavy metal plate. So those Swedes don't offer us a new receipy either, but therefore served pretty hot. If you do like this dish or not, it's up to you. But at least some of the band do prove, that they have more inside themselves as just colour on their make up board, most of all during the instrumental part (see clip above). For me this patchwork object of art named Steelwing is pretty amusing and this not only due to the obviously missing underwear. Those socks do it all... I mean, with such a funny sight - how can possibly anybody concentrate on the music. But maybe this is intention - you never know... cheers....
http://www.myspace.com/steelwing

The swedish dominance stays on with the next Metal-invasion named Bullet, dwho are not that unknown on the Hardrock sky as well.

And so, it is still discussed, whether they are the legitime heirs of AC/DC or only cheap copies. But it is definately said, that this band here was the idol for the australien collegues of Airbourne. On the other hand those are meanwhile much bigger than our band here. And Bullet still roll along in the middle field of more or less known Hardrockers along a bowling ride, hoping to shoot all nine one day.Singer Hell Hofer, who's "slim" shape almost takes the whole stage, gives every siren a reason for jealousy with his style such as Brian Johnson who could easily be our Metal Pavarotti's dad.
But due to the circumstance and their AC/DC sound a like music, it goes down like delicious olive oil made in Espania in a dry throat. Bullet currently promote their new album 'Highway Pirates' and our little big man from Sweden gets him celebrated like Jack Sparrow in the caribian. These guys are going for a straight between the eyes strategy receiving lots of luv from their fans. And we gotta give 'em one thing: better a brilliant copied thing, than a bad original. So let's accept Hofer's jargon and let's get over rolled by AC/DC meets Airbourne and like just this very moment - Bullet. In this sense we are curious and let's take it by surprise, in what direction our northern lights will develop or get stuck.... Time will tell...

Because these threesome, also from Sweden by the way, it's all about the spheric Stoner Metal, despite to the otherwise reigning true metal tonight. (by they way - whether it's true, doom, thrash or whatsoever, all these defferences between the styles can only be devided by die hard fans only anyway - so what?) So forget this splitting into various metal gourmet varieties. Grand Magus seem to be more advanced, older and more experienced as the kindergarden before. It is obvious, that they did spice their entrecote a special kind. From 1996 onwards, Janne „JB“ Christoffersson is shipping his band baby throughout the waves of scandinavian sound clouds and has given birth to 5 albums and 1 EP over those years. It is indeed a bit irritiating, that their latest release 'Hammer Of The North' was released back in 2010. So for them this is surely no product promotion, but more or less a band promo.But I presume a new release ain't too far away. The band ejoys a certain popularity indeed. But it also seems that their rather high standard and the extraordinary style is a little to high for some guests here. The other fact is, that the audiance gets a bit tired watching five bands without large breaks inbetween. And you can see a leaking interest in the crowd in the end.

HIn addition to that, this band doesn't put a focus on their looks that much. The only focus is frontman's Janne's bold head, which has become sort of a brand meanwhile for Grand Magus. Kojak says hello with his lollipop, and Janne has one problem less what's up to his individual output. He doesn't care anyway I presume.
And so those Swedes work themselves throughout a dark scene aura of hardrockin' metal excentric. And in the end also this chapter is closed, though not everybody in here has seen the very end due to exhausments just as me myself. But more than 5 hours of Heavy Metal is more than enought and hasn't got to do only with aging..J))
http://www.grandmagus.com/site