Awaiting Exile/Dissolved/Anti Virus X/TD - THE BEAT BAR, DUNDEE 12-08-05
4 bands - all with their own styles, each different and at various stages of existence. First on were TD - a young trio that I noted as having a quite charismatic guitarist/vocalist. The mix wasn't the best of sounding environments for them and some of the songs were, at this early stage of their career, a bit lacking in the memorability stakes, but there was one track that seriously sizzled where he was playing what almost sounded like a slide guitar riff but he was just doing plain lead but the riff and the song were hot. Their take on Hendrix's "Purple Haze" helped to show that here is a band who really can cut it, performing an exciting version, heavied up, of the seminal classic. Early days but definitely a bnd to watch.
Next up wre Dissolved. Second time of seeing them and I have to admit that they can play, compose and sing, all original material and all performed well - but - and here's where I am no help whatsoever - it's not my sort of thing. It's good - don't get me wrong - but there's something about the band I'm not getting - they rock but you wouldn't call it metal, as such - and although it sounds trite, I wouldn't know what to call it - rare for a band to leave me puzzled, but I'm now determined to see them again to try and convey more about what they actually sound like, to you the dear reader.
Anti Virus X - sorry, guys, but I didn't get off on your set. But they went down OK, despite a fair few technical problems not helping, and their brand of the thrashier end of the metal spectrum did cook, but for me it simmered rather than flame grilled.A quintet with the rare spectacle of 2 lead male vocalists, one of which was the drummer!! Once again, it was all original material and they put their heart and soul into powering the beast up for a good outing, although I'm not sure if the guitarist was having an off night as some of the solos sounded a bit stilted, but, it was hot enough for the audience and that's what matters.
Awaiting Exile blew me away - easily the best I've ever seen them play, and this is only the third or fourth time. Right from the start - and no disrespect - but from the opening minute or so, they blew the rest away as that great combination of a band that can play and sing and rock and have bucketloads of originality, combined with songs that are well sung and stick around you for a while, all come into being. A quartet, they began with "Celebrity", a tight riffing number, with a touch of blues to it, that quickly blossoms into a roaring song, and straight away the class begins to tell as the band launch at it with a combination of power, dynamics and the performance of a song well written, the guitar work thundering out as the rhythm section drives it on. The pace was maintained with "Crash Course" before it was then onto their cover, and instant crowd-pleaser, of Guns 'n' Roses "Sweet Child Of Mine", a track to which they stay faithful in terms of arrangement but still manage to inject that little extra grunge factor to heavy it up a little, but they do a mean version of it that always gets the crowds on the floor. From there - and an odd choice in terms of running order - they go into "Funky BW", a track that has a bluesy rock feel and a sort of stop-start pace as the song goes through its changes, a good song, but one at this point in the set, actually drops things down a bit when the gears should be hammered down. The next track, "Misery", is where it really picks up - as they throw down the metal gauntlet and riff their way through some seriously heavy driving rhythms and expansive rock guitar leads on a track that is just so addictive you have to move with it. From here on, it's power up and drive all the way as they move thrpough another stormer in "Rich Bitch" before going out in a blaze of glory on the immaculate end track, "Re-Born" that starts as a song and then lights the blue touch paper as the band luanch into this molten sea of riffing and soaring rhythms and wondrously powerful guitar work that takes the set out in a ball of napalm-soaked metal - simply stunning! A deserved encore and that was it - gone - and leaving me, for one, wanting more - no bad thing!!!
Theirs was one red hot set and on this evidence, you have to go and see them - they're well on the way up and, like Saz with them, are surely destined for higher ground - watch this space and watch your area.
Thanks to all who played and I'm sorry I didn't get off on all of it - but those who play deserve the credit and your attention - support live music, people!!