WARNING: This is NOT a Heavy Metal album. If you’re the type of listener that only wants to hear the loudest of pummelling riffs and ear slashing vocal roars, this may not be for you. And that’s fine. We all like to rage like Satan with a stubbed toe. This is Ever METAL, after all. If, on the other hand, you’re the kind of discerning listener who likes to temper the ferocity with atmosphere and introspection, take a seat.
Jonathan Hultén is a Swedish singer-songwriter who first arrived on my radar as the support act for The Cult on their 84/24 tour last year. Hultén was not what I anticipated at all for a major rock show: his music, performed solo, is a dark yet beautiful expression of acoustic, gothic melody and ethereal charm.
This second album, “Eyes of the Living Night”, takes the listener on another fairy tale like walk in enchanted woods. Beginning with ‘The Saga and the Storm’, the music is more soundtrack for a folk horror movie than a typical rock album. This opening track is like a lost Morricone classic and builds to a gloriously uplifting finale. Just wait for that mid song moment when your neck hairs will raise to the sky.
First single ‘Afterlife’ features swirling keyboards and angelic vocals, while ‘Riverflame’ has the plaintive ambience of a Nine Inch Nails/Alice in Chains mash up. The dreamy folk of ‘The Dream was the Cure’ offers a widescreen Scandinavian epic of reflection, and is a highlight of the album. Weaving genres further, ‘Through the Fog, Into the Sky’ is a wonderful classical piano piece whilst ‘Vast Tapestry’ sees Hultén n the role of gentle folk troubadour.
The concluding track, ‘Starbather’, works more like a rock ballad and bookends the album with a final flourish of bright optimism.
“Eyes of the Living Night” won’t destroy your speakers, but it will take you to a mystical and unforgettable place. With its layers of gothic ambience and mood elevating nuance, this album deserves to be a part of the Ever Metal community’s world. The music of Jonathan Hultén will be there for you when you need to reach inside yourself, to heal and unwind. Or to transport your mind to another world. I genuinely love this album and heartily recommend it, I hope you’ll give it a chance.
Following a blinder of an evening’s entertainment for Day the First of North West Doom Fest, I was rested and ready to go for Saturday. Beginning at an earlier time in the afternoon, I unfortunately missed the first band of the bill, Hand of Omega, who played while I was still travelling into town. Sincere apolgies for this to all, I must catch them again sometime.
Arriving at the Saddle, the festivities were well and truly underway already. A decent sized crowd were in attendance in the rear courtyard, cradling beers and nursing themselves back to full health. There was no downer atmos that I could discern at all however, everyone seemed amped for the music ahead.
Moss Valley were the first band of the day that I actually got to see, and they were pretty damn good. This three piece straddled a retro seventies vibe with added desert rock Kyuss stylings. Great riffs and warm female vocals adding to the melodies, Moss Valley really made a huge impression. It’s tough to pick favourites at an event like this, but MV were definitely contenders.
Up next we had a visit from the Pagan lords of the north, Sabbat Wolf. This Leeds based band featured exemplary musicianship, again with a commanding female vocalist. What I enjoyed here were the Sabbath worshipping riffs augmented by beautifully tuneful, mellow passages that reminded me of Pink Floyd. Sabbat Wolf really stood out with these psychedelic flourishes and their unashamed occult theme – their song ‘Pagan Bloody Pagan’ tells you all you need to know!
Warpstormer had travelled up from Londonium to the ancient, walled city of Chester. These guys mix full throttle Metal with their Doom, think Orange Goblin rocking out at their trippiest. It’s a Stoner Metal attack that could have been related somewhere to Entombed or Motorhead, but had enough power and groove to fit in perfectly at this gig. Warpstomer were real crowd pleasers and also really nice guys.
Get your flat caps on and forget your fear of heights, it’s time for Shred Dibnah! The world’s premier Steeple Jack Rock band graced the stage of NW Doom Fest, amid clouds of smoke and a pummelling performance. With a portable chimney on stage belching out clouds, Shred Dibnah demolished the audience with roaming riffs and contrasting mellow sections that added to the hypnotic drill.
Borehead were the next band of the day, and again a different take on the Doom template. In contrast to other bands, these Londoners were largely instrumental – except for some weird and wonderful samples – with slow, fuzzy riffs more spaced out than Buck Rogers on a Venusian hookah pipe. Cerebral stuff that you’d assume would be better appreciated on headphones with some refreshment, but it went over very well.
I was already familiar with the mighty Deathfiend – I caught them live a while back, and was happily smashed to pieces with their ferocious onslaught. With elements of Death Metal and even Hardcore Punk in the Deathfiend sound, I wasn’t sure if they’d be too damn nasty for this festival, but they slotted right in neatly. Outrageously heavy Doom riffs delivered with a fiery intensity, this band are a force to be reckoned with.
You know how sometimes you see a band that looks so cool, you want to join up? Kill The Witch were that band at NW Doom Fest. These guys meld together the Sludgiest of Stoner and Doom Metal, traversing varying tempos and styles but always remaining true to The Riff. Roaring vocals top off a faster, more furious Sabbath sound that’s not without its clever invention and serpent-like surprises, throwing in some brutal hardcore along the way.
Finishing off NW Doom Fest 2025 were the mighty Amon Acid. Another Yorkshire based band, their distorted Doom Metal was part Electric Wizard style occult Metal, with hypnotic, psychedelic passages added for kicks. Yet again a different take on Doom with Hawkwind Space Rock and amazing Middle Eastern sounding passages seeping through the acid drenched fuzzy guitar, Amon Acid were a thoroughly entertaining musical experience, finishing the event in style.
And that, kids, was your lot. Everything was wrapped up in a timely fashion so that the punters could make buses and trains home, all of us with beaming, happy faces – gorged on the joy of The Riff. North West Doom Fest was a resounding success and I have to say I enjoyed every band I saw. All of them had their own unique identities, whichever winding track they took from the original concept of Doom. Cool venue, too. Now I feel really stupid for not going last year.
The Saddle is the number one – and surely only – Rock based pub in the City of Chester. A town more famed for drunken shenanigans and expensive outfits for the Races, this is the playground of the Cheshire Set and the wannabes. A home of Metal it is not. Not usually, anyway – except for the welcoming haven of The Saddle.
And for one weekend in April, the tiny G21 venue at the back of the pub hosted the second North West Doom Fest: two days of the heaviest, doomiest metal in the land. Absolutely fan-fucking-tabulous!
The evening began with Druid’s Cross, from not far away at all Liverpool. I’ve seen this band before, and knew they would be ideal to commence the festivities. Harsh vocals lead relentless, dynamic riffs with a traditional metal feel as well as a slow, doomy pace. There’s a dark, gothic edge to the music as well, resulting in a compelling sound that grabbed everyone’s attention from the start..
Festival organisers Lorraine and Mark were up next, with their amazing three-piece band, Warlockhunt. I’d also seen this band before, and I’m always amazed by the complexity of their dual bass and tribal drums sound. The other worldly female vocals have led to this band being described as Doom Pop (I coined that phrase, actually, thank you very much) and it’s easy to see why. Always different and always captivating.
Grim skeletal figures flanking the stage, inverted crosses and a duo wearing dark cloaks: Tumanduumband aren’t exactly shy of revelling in their ominous personas. What they are, is a West Midlands based Satanic Doom band, and their music is both atmospheric and heavy as hell itself. Fuzzed out, crushing riffs mean that the visuals aren’t inappropriate – this band is growing a cult based on their own dark riff-tuals.
Headlining tonight, and admittedly one of my favourite bands out there these days, the mighty Son of Boar rightfully took their place at the top of the bill. I became a big fan after seeing them play Pentre Fest some years ago. Bass wrangler Gaz is also an Ever Metal scribe, not that I’m biased at all, honest! Son of Boar played a set that was tight and forceful, with ear-worm riffs and thundering rhythms. Tusks up! The boys brought the HEH-VEEE, then slept the night on the floor of the venue, ‘cos they rock that hard.
Here we go with another Pentre Fest, the absolute highlight of my musical calendar! This is the crowning glory of North East Wales Metal Productions‘ festivals – and a huge deal to both the bands and the fans. I couldn’t wait to get to Mclean’s in Deeside and enjoy the music!
This year, another stellar line-up of bands from both near and far, with a good spread of genres. Ever Metal was in full force, with Beth and Mare joining myself for the festivities. With all of us in attendance, we split reporting duties to cover as much as possible as easily as we could.
And so, here are the reviews I composed all by my lonesome, concentrating on musicians that I wanted to contribute to (rather than all of them).
If you want to read the full review, try this here link to Ever Metal.
Friday
Mother Thunder
I saw Mother Thunder play in Pentre a few months back, they were superb. This time around, they were even better. MT play a hard hitting, groove laden take on classic rock/metal – think Thin Lizzy twin guitars with a bit of Maiden chug – and sublime female vocals. Heavy rock with irresistible riffs, Mother Thunder lit up the room and could’ve (should’ve) been higher up the bill.
Apollyon Rising
Filling in last minute, Apollyon Rising were a man down as their bass player was on holiday in Morocco. The selfish git. But with a bit of soundboard wizardry, the remainder of the band confidently gave us a set of prime thrash metal that didn’t shame their reputation one iota. I knew they could pull it off. As a wise man once said, never doubt a band with a killer logo (and the talent to match).
Saturday
DXRK Winter
Thankfully, I managed to catch the latter half of DXRK Winter’s set and I glad I did. They were on first on the main stage in the afternoon, their brutal metal attack was brilliantly performed and went down really well with a crowd that could’ve been chilling, but didn’t. A worthy act to play higher up the bill.
Cry for Mercy
You can’t go wrong with the blues based classic rock swagger of Cry for Mercy. Great tunes, all built around the majesty of the riff and a persuasive groove. I loved every second, it’s a shame they were on so early. Never miss a chance to see Cry For Mercy if you get it. Their new songs were just as good as old, new album is out soon!
Victim of Damp
Frank Williams, aka Victim of Damp, is becoming a popular mainstay of Pentre gigs. His bipolar set comprises one half of mellow, hangover curing melody followed by a series of playful, Pythonesque parodies. And he gets more confident every time.
Bad Earth
It just wouldn’t be Pentre Fest without these guys! Bad Earth delivered a reliably ferocious set of raucous biker rock and despite sound hiccups on the first couple of songs, soldiered on admirably. This was take-no-prisoners rock’n’roll to make Lemmy proud. Their acoustic set was also a blinder, cooking up some awesome sing-a-long responses from the crowd outside.
Mike West & the Missing Links
It’s been a good few years since I saw Mike West play a solo acoustic show at Pentre. Mike’s brand of dark country and bluegrass is now augmented by a band of drums and fiddle, adding a certain folky, Levellers feel to the tracks. A brilliant diversion under the surprisingly blue skies of the late afternoon, this set was further proof that a metal festival can experiment with genres.
The Raging Mables
Now I was really looking forward to seeing this band. I’d enjoyed viewing their Pentre Fest pre-event interview with Beany, plus they have one of the best band names ever. No arguments. The Raging Mables were like the Ramones playing ZZ Top, a 200mph Zeke-like melodic explosion of punk’n’roll. One of the most perfect bands ever.
Toranaga
Back to some welcome thrash metal, it was indeed a huge bonus to get to witness the power of Toranaga at Pentre. These guys are exceptional musicians, their shredding guitars creating a sound akin to classic Bay Area Thrash from the likes of Exodus and Testament. And that is very, very good. Their cover of ‘Mad House’ by Anthrax warmed my ancient heart, too.
Stuntface
Stuntface hail from just up the road in Wrexham, and it was great to see them finally bring their brand of flat-out, relentless hardcore punk to Pentre Fest. Their songs are furious yet melodic, played super-fast and with a huge grin on bass player/vocalist Wayne’s face. An absolute treat – Stuntface must play here again!
What a blast that was! The guys at NEW Metal Productions always put on a heck of a show and this was no exception. Didn’t get tickets for the Black Sabbath gig this summer? Get yourselves out there and support underground metal, you’ll feel better.
My favourite Pentre Fest so far? Only time will tell…
UK Subs have been around for a while. Their roots go right back to the early days of British punk rock, incorporating dozens of albums and nearly as many band members. They’ve released an album for every letter of the alphabet, A to Z, and have played all over the world. And guess what? Despite being a fan for years, I’ve never seen them live. Time to correct that mistake, with the Subs appearing just up the road from me in Wrexham.
The Rockin’ Chair used to be known to me as Central Station, and I’ve seen a fair few bands there (such as The Damned, twice, if I recall). This was my first visit to the venue in it’s new guise, though happily not much had changed.
Our fearless support was Birkenhead based The Crapsons, who dealt a reliably fun and furious selection of fast punk rock numbers. Most songs are brief and to the point, played well and enthusiastically, with a healthy dollop of tongue in cheek humour. Highlights included ‘Fuck Off’ and its sequel, ‘Fuck Off Again’, but the whole set was energetic and enjoyable.
Yours truly popped off to the bar, where I spotted legendary UK Subs vocalist/visionary Charlie Harper, who was merrily hanging about chatting to fans. I returned after The Crapsons set, picked up a copy of the newly re-issued “Flood of Lies” album, and asked Charlie to sign it. This he gladly did, as well posing for a selfie. Seems like nothing is too much for this true gentleman of punk, Charlie happily agreed to requests with a pleasant “No worries!” What a lovely bloke.
Unfortunately my selfie was not lovely. I’m a total novice at such things, and made the classic mistake of taking the shot from a low angle. Thus, my rock’n’roll claim to fame features a smiling Charlie, but is ruined by me looking like a huge necked gorilla.
The crowd in The Rockin’ Chair had built considerably, and when the UK Subs took to the stage, there was a roar of approval. Straight away the band sent forth a barrage of songs from their vast back catalogue. Sadly, however, the sound for the frist half dozen songs was diabolical. Alvin Gibbs’ bass was phenomenal, rumbling and gliding along, but Steve Straughan’s guitars were totally lost. Thankfully this seemed to improve from ‘Down on the Farm’ onwards, with the sound coming to life.
No problems with the drums, played expertly by Stefan Häublein. And of course, Charlie was superb: a benign punk rock general leading his faithful troops over the top, on a charge into a rock’n’roll no man’s land where we could all party together. ‘Warhead’ was rousingly brilliant, everyone singing along. ‘Stranglehold’ (the first Subs song I ever heard, fact fans!) was still a blast of fresh air, all these years later.
Returning for an encore, I remember ‘CID’ and ‘You Don’t Belong’ received by an audience who really didn’t want it all to end. UK Subs persevered through sound problems with power and professionalism, giving the loyal fans an unforgettable night. Personally, I was stoked to finally hear these songs live and be part of a UK Subs audience. Fingers crossed I’ll get to do it again. Thanks to all for making this happen, it’s amazing to see classic bands of this stature in the local area.
November 25 1991, Manchester G-MEX. That was the last (and first) time I saw The Cult perform live. They were my favourite band and being there to witness them in person was a hell of a thrill, I was barely 19 years old and I’d never been to a gig of that scale before. Years go by, and I’m finally going to see The Cult again, this time at the far more atmospheric Apollo, rather than the cavernous aircraft hanger of the old G-MEX.
Yes indeed, it had been a long time since I saw my old mates Billy and Ian up on a stage. A lot had happened during that time – for all of us – but the music was always there.
Our support act this evening, in a seemingly incongruous move, was Jonathan Hultén. Standing solo on stage, swathed in veils and enigmatic face paint, Hultén was not what many were expecting to open the show. His music was dark, ethereal folk, with acoustic guitar and haunting vocals. At first I was intrigued, as the music continued I became thoroughly engaged. Just a few days before Halloween, this Scandinavian folk horror and gothic bombast was entirely appropriate to open this event.
More surprises, even more pleasant, revealed themselves when The Cult took to the Apollo stage – accompanied by a sample of ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ from Apocalypse Now (a genius move in itself). Launching into an earth-shaking ‘In The Clouds’, followed by ‘Rise’, from the insanely underrated “Beyond Good and Evil” album, this was not what I was expecting at all. Both songs are later entries in the band’s cannon, and sit gloriously at the heavier end of their repertoire. I adore both tracks – this was going to be interesting.
“Electric” album cut ‘Wildflower’ was next. One of my favourite Cult songs, I could’ve left at that point and been satisfied. More hard hitting classics followed with the swagger of ‘Star’ and Charlie Jones’s thudding bass introducing ‘The Witch’. New track ‘Mirror’ slots in seamlessly, then we get another mighty song from “Beyond Good and Evil”, ‘War (The Process’). All well known songs to Cult freaks like me, but not obvious choices by any means.
Billed as “The Cult 8424” – a 40 year anniversary tour – I’d expected a Greatest Hits set, culled mainly from the bands mid 80’s days. Early non-album single ‘Resurrection Joe’ was therefore no surprise, otherwise, this set spanned eras and albums confidently. Next was an acoustic ‘Edie (Ciao Baby)’ – I’ve always preferred this song in stripped down form to the “Sonic Temple” production.
‘Sweet Soul Sister’ was my chance for a quick “comfort break” – I’ve never been a huge fan. Great riff, overblown chorus! Another surprise followed, with ‘Lucifer’ from the “Choice of Weapon” record. The huge, epic riff of this song has made it one of my favourites, so a real bonus to hear live. John Tempesta on drums really powered all these songs home flawlessly, with both groove and power.
The latter part of the set delivered all the big crowd pleasers; an anthemic ‘Firewoman’, a truly captivating ‘Rain’ (surely one of the greatest rock riffs of the era), the tribal beauty of ‘Spiritwalker’. Billy Duffy, playing to a home town crowd, performed guitar magic throughout: from gutsy, gritty riffs to mesmerising yet direct, never fancy melodies. Lightning bolt energy from Ian Astbury galvanised the audience, as he revelled in the role of shamanic leader. And with a final roar through ‘Love Removal Machine’, it’s over.
Except it isn’t! Of course not, we all know The Cult will be back for an encore. But what will it be? Any more surprises?
‘Brother Wolf, Sister Moon’ is a classic track from the wonderful “Love” album, but wasn’t a single and so a very welcome reward. Finally, of course, the legendary ‘She Sells Sanctuary’ rings out and unites the crowd in a euphoric shared moment – Astbury’s air raid siren vocals leading the throng. I swear that man doesn’t need a microphone.
My return visit to The Cult’s sonic temple took a few years longer than anticipated. It was great to see them on such fine form, revelling in the classics and confident in their position as genuine, treasured heroes. What really made the gig for me though, was the sheer joy of hearing a very generous helping of less obvious, but very beloved tracks that I wasn’t expecting. No ‘Lil’ Devil’, but the rest of the set made up for it. I’ll return sooner next time.
PS: we need “Beyond Good and Evil” re-releasing on vinyl, please lads!
Well, The Tiv managed to do it again! Another legendary band enticed to play this great venue in Buckley, North Wales. The list of classic bands who’ve played at the Tivoli Venue over the years is, quite frankly, ridiculous. This time, renowned Birmingham punks GBH were our headliners. Trust me when I say, I snapped up a ticket as soon as this show was announced.
Leading the charge this evening were Bogans, from up the road in Wrexham. Sadly I missed them, but have it on good authority that the band were great. I’ve checked out their tunes online and this is true. Shame I didn’t get to see ’em, their hardcore punk with melody would’ve been a fine way to start.
Next up were resurrected Wrexham punk rockers Stuntface – brought back to life with some kind of bizarre voodoo ritual, it would seem. Their super fast merging of classic UK punk (UK Subs, Vice Squad) and US hardcore (Misfits, Cro-Mags) was a rousing, WOAH-OH chorusing, adrenaline soaked set. Great fun and so good to have them back.
GBH playing at the Tiv was a no brainer for me. I’ve owned their records for well over 30 years, but never seen ’em live. And get this: an early bird ticket cost me just £12! Now that is just crazy, and makes very good financial sense to an old miser like me. Thankfully this wasn’t a budget set: GBH ran through a mighty wedge of their back catalogue with all the fire and fury of a band of whippersnappers.
Song after song, it was relentless. I checked my watch and was stunned that they’d only been on stage for half an hour, so intense was the setlist. “Sickboy”, “Momentum”, “Wardogs” and more raced past with barely a break between songs. “City Baby Attacked By Rats” was a much welcomed highlight, before the night ended with GBH covering the Motorhead classic “Bomber”.
The full GBH set was, of course, much longer than half an hour – cram packed with fantastic songs from right across their career, it was extremely good value for money. Twelve quid well spent, but I’d have happily paid a lot more to attend this gig. Simply unmissable.
Following in the wake of Pentre Fest earlier this year, McLean’s Pub in Pentre, Deeside North Wales was again the home of a bunch of raging metal/rock bands for a day. The good chaps at North East Wales Metal Productions held one of their fantastic alldayers, featuring several bands from all over, gracing up with their magnificent music.
Sadly, a couple of bands couldn’t make it on the day. I was gutted that Master Charger dropped out (great band), and also The Human Condition have sadly decided to call it a day. But never mind, we soldier on, and there was plenty of music still to enjoy.
Kicking things off in good style was Victim of Damp, aka Frank – a long-time supporter at NEW Metal Prods events. VOD opened with some lovely Pink Floyd acoustic guitar, before launching into a rousing set consisting of amusing anecdotes, shots of booze for the crowd, and sing-a-long humour. And yes, Bean’s car is still full of shit.
Any Given Reason were on stage next, a six headed monster of a band with two (two! Count ’em!) vocalists. Neither vocalist stayed on stage for long, preferring to take their brand of in your face metalcore right out into the audience. Great musicians too, giving us prime chunky riffs with dynamic skills. One to watch for, AGR are very entertaining with a super confident delivery all round.
All the way from Belfast, Northern Ireland, to good ol’ Deeside were Nomadus – on the last date of their tour before returning home. If they were tired, it didn’t show at all – these guys are a devastating live band that left us all exhausted. A powerful combination of groove and thrash metal, with songs that are mature and progressive, make sure you see Nomadus live whenever you can.
Surprise of the day was Crisis, who I was embarrassingly oblivious of. I was tipped off that Crisis were a NWOBHM band, which was true but doesn’t explain enough. The bands playing was razor sharp, and the songs varied from aggressive rockers to more epic, expansive numbers. This ability to let the songs breathe and grow, explore ideas and still remain in musical control set Crisis apart. If Iron Maiden were a Rush covers band, they would be Crisis.
There’s been a bit of a buzz about Warlockhunt recently, so I was very happy to finally get to see them. This band are unlike anything else: a three-piece consisting of two bass players (one singing) and drums. It’s the gloomiest of treacly doom metal decorated with beautiful, ethereal female vocals, like a dark fairy tale that may not end happy ever after. Doom pop, anyone? It’s enthralling stuff: I loved it and you need to check them out asap.
Finally, our headliners for tonight, the mighty Scarfoot were back, and justly bumped to top of the bill. These guys were not fazed at all, powering through another set of intense stoner rock with a hint of grunge (at least to my ears!). The electric steel and 12 string guitars lend Scarfoot a characteristic edge, but the whole band pounding away is like Godzilla knocking at the front door. As well as being joyously heavy, Scarfoot’s songs are also epic and engrossing. Scarfoot did a superb job and closed the evening with conviction.
Variety was the secret spice for tonight’s event at McLean’s. Each band offered something unique and each played their hearts out. A thoroughly enjoyable event, thanks to all involved. If you couldn’t make it, readers – please try next time: nights like this need your support.
Pentre Fest is a big deal to me. And I’ll bet it means a lot to plenty of other people too, who are just as keen to enjoy this festival of underground – but not unloved – metal bands. I look forward to this event every year. I mean, after the Christmas festivities, how else are you gonna survive the misery of January?
Yours truly was the lone representative for Ever Metal at Pentre this year, so all the reviews were my responsibility. I tried to see as many acts as I could, but it wasn’t always possible. And so I can cover as much ground as poss, the summaries will be short and sweet this year. But trust me, I’ll keep you on the straight and narrow.
The festival began on Friday evening, Edd Case and his acoustic set on the new outdoor Keymo stage being my introduction. It’s a proper stage this year, with steps and everything. Edd played a great set of acoustic tracks, including some Maiden, Neil Young (nice Soundgarden segue/tribute) and plenty more. Most impressive.
Heading inside, Omega Throne was on next. Their set was an exciting blend of Death/Black Metal, with some intriguingly dark, gothic elements peppered through the songs. A great set that combined power and fury with a little mystique.
That was followed by the lunatic genius of Mad Spanner. Now a one-man band of crazed thrash metal with a backing track, Mike aka Mad Spanner offers brilliant musicianship, wry humour and furious energy. I’m still recovering from this set, God know how he does it.
Back inside and Bloodmores were up next. This was a great set of pounding, heavy Thrash/Death metal, excellently played and with a surprising amount of foot stomping groove.
Tonight’s original headliners, I Saw The World Burn, were sadly unable to play. We sincerely hope all is well in that camp. At the final hour, however, Cadence Noir were able to fill the headline spot with their gothic tinged folk punk’n’roll. Cadence can always be counted on to get everyone jumping and jigging around, and they did a fine job of finishing Day the First of Pentre Fest.
Saturday’s wake-up call was DAM.G, alias Rob from Thrashatouille’s “grown up band” (not my observation, but one overheard on the day!). A melting pot of progressive metal with Rob’s growl augmented by phenomenal female co-lead vocals, it was certainly a powerful and memorable set.
Outside was a pleasant surprise: the disco funk of Mrs Gizlo. Who’d have expected that? Not me, but it was great fun to hear something different and it certainly got the crowd moving.
In Which It Burns took to the indoor stage next, and gave as a relentless set of thrash metal. It was only mid-afternoon and these Pembrokeshire ragers delivered the goods with super-fast, aggressive tracks. Nice work.
Liverpool’s Ogun were on the main stage next, with some meaty thrash metal of their own. Fast and brutal, I really enjoyed these guys and their total take-no-prisoners approach. Wish I’d bought a t-shirt.
It was freezing outside, so deep apologies from me to the various artists I missed outside, whilst huddled inside with a pint. North Wales Deathcore deviants Dystopian Sun kept the fires burning with some intense yet bouncy metal that roared by like a Sasquatch driving a stolen pick-up truck.
Rule of Six had an early start on Saturday morning. Whilst most of us were still hiding from encroaching hangovers, these lads set off at 4am to get from Northern Ireland to North East Wales for this gig. I’ve never seen so many guitars on stage (four plus a bass!) but all Rule of Six’s instruments were well employed, with their melodic metal proving an uplifting and thrilling experience. Maiden comparisons are a bit obvious, but apt. Great show and nice contrast to much of the bands so far.
From one band who crowded out the main stage, to another band who spent little time on it: Broken Jaw refused to be restrained and preferred to wander around the room! Their blend of punk energy and attitude with metal riffery made sure no-one in the audience was allowed to put their feet up.
Afterward, I dared to make a rare venture outside to witness Skinflick, who I’d heard very good things about. This two-piece outfit gave us some filthy Industrial EDM dripping with sleazy beats – another very cool divergence from the expected.
Beyond Salvation made their way to Pentre from Manchester, and pretty much laid waste to all with a blistering set of thrash metal. The band were both brutal and energetic, with superb playing, that kept the gig going on full steam. There was no chance for the audience to flag here!
I’m actually gutted that I missed SOOTO out on the Keymo Stage. Blame the cold, blame the drink, blame me for being useless: I should’ve been there, sorry. Can we get SOOTO back please? I promise I’ll pay attention this time.
Every year at Pentre Fest, there’s at least one band that I go full-on Fan Boy for. This year’s recipients of the accolade were the amazing Struck/Down, who played huge sounding groove metal riffs that immediately had me hooked like a fish. For me, Struck/Down were the best band of the weekend by a distance. T-shirt purchase? Tick. CD purchase? Tick.
Finally, our last band of a fantastic event were Extreme Metal leviathans Krysthla. The foot was down on the pedal as Krysthla hurtled us through the last set of the weekend with a rapid fire, unrelenting batch of songs.
And that was it, Pentre Fest was over for another year. I’ve been downhearted ever since, missing the camaraderie and fell-good vibes of the event – not to mention the out of this world music. Thanks and huge respect to Fozzy and Beany, North East Wales Metal Productions, McClean’s, and all the bands and crew who made this happen.
It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid… Certainly not when North East Wales Metal Productions are having their Christmas party! Yes, it’s Chrismosh, an annual celebration featuring awesome metal bands, playing live in McClean’spub in Pentre, North East Wales. Also the site of Pentre Fest, an event I regularly go crackers for – not to mention other gigs aplenty – this evening was a special seasonal gathering.
First up were Divinitas, from over in Manchester, who stepped in to fill the bill at the last minute, saving the day like Prince Charming on a steed of steel. These lads are loud and ferocious, unleashing chunky riffs that made the room bounce. The songs (particularly the closer, ‘Mirror Fiction’ – if I recall the name correctly) feature harsh vocals wrapped in torment and frustration. Divinitas played a devastating set that was energetic and performed with admirable conviction.
Next up were Liverpudlian metal titans Devil’s Henchmen, who not only have some of the best t-shirt designs I’ve seen in ages, they can also utterly destroy. These guys play music that reminds me why I loved thrash so much back in the eighties. Reminiscent of old school Slayer, Devil’s Henchmen are fast and utterly brutal. They even play a Misfits cover (‘Where Eagles Dare’, YEAH!!!) in a set that had usjumping around like the Krampus with his hooves on fire. Absolutely bloody marvellous.
Our final band of the night, the mighty, magnificent King Kraken, had travelled up from South Wales (a fair old trek, believe me) to deliver a sleigh full of Christmas cheer. Since they played at Pentre Fest back in February, I’ve waited impatiently for the return of this band and their groove metal machine. The boys don’t disappoint, with monsters like ‘Green Terror’ and ‘Devil’s Night’ as exciting and powerful as ever. We’re even treated to a couple of new tracks, never performed live before – truly, Christmas has arrived early! With a superb set, King Kraken are simply unstoppable, a perfect way to end the night.
Three great bands, a welcoming venue, organised by the ever-reliable NEW Metal Productions. Thank you. Merry Chrismosh to all, and to all, a good night.
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