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Club Phoenix - Friday April 27 Conflicts of interest aside, Ruptured Harmony vocalist (and Blood & Thunder columnist) Shaun Nancarrow surprises me, screaming to the heavens, growling with venom and wailing with the wind. While he doesn’t resemble Bruce Dickinson, Tom Araya or Glen Benton, his voice manages to evoke facets of all three. Reversing the damage done in countless failed attempts at such grandiose, epic heavy metal, their practiced execution matches their palpable sincerity.
Like a storm in the open ocean, Beijing Tank charge headlong into a war without an enemy. Vicious, seething and explosive, the Tank’s sound and style combine the chaos of punk, the intensity of grind and the technique of thrash. Recent recruit Todd Hansen’s renowned drumming adds an extra edge to their frantic pace and monstrous volume, which swallows the full impact of their impassioned, vein-popping vocals. Expectations lift as comeback kids Hollow swagger on out; their innovative foray into metalcore predates its decent toward insidious glamour. Their sound tonight destroys any doubt as Dave Miller’s strengthened vocals roar over the power-groove engine room. The unique track Girlfriend showcases Miller’s non-metal delivery and distinguishes them from the pack while Exhibit B track Can Cut Her aces the test of time. Better late than never, Hollow’s re-emergence doesn’t disappoint; fingers crossed it lasts. Launching their Certified Nerdcore E.P. amongst esteemed company are the genre-traversing maestros Dead Letter Opener. Their high-pitched noise-intro stays within safe volume levels this time and their onstage gear behaves, allowing their twisted momentum to flow freely. I’m reminded of Spruance-inspired miscreants Estradasphere, who stage similar feats of dynamic trickery, an impression strengthened by DLO’s black metal mastery from the moment Fat Ninjaz Revenge opens. Introspective instrumentals, broken chord grooves and off-time interplay flow freely, culminating in more Nordic metal. DLO’s unique sonic amalgam ties together the disparate styles featured tonight with distinction. In fact, the diversity of tonight’s all local line-up borders on maniacal; kudos to Phoenix for taking the risk. JAMES STAFFORD
1. Written by Shaun Nancarrow, on 04-05-2007 09:30 , IP: 203.110.145.13
You money's in the mail, James. 
(Seriously, thanks for the kinds words. Great night, and all the other bands RULED).
Everyone come check out Ruptured Harmony's last show until September with Blood Duster this Saturday, May 12! Thrash 'til death! |
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