Revoker
Motherload + Black Iris
Face Bar, Reading
It’s been a while where we’ve been to a gig and the support bands have left us with our ears ringing and great big grins plastered across our faces but that’s what the fantastic pairing of Black Iris and Motherload did to us at the Facebar on a cold January night while waiting for Revoker.
Thanks to the sort of performances that leave lasting memories, both bands are now well and truly on our Ones-To-Watch-In-2012 radar. First up is Black Iris, a band who impress right from the off with their raucous, groovy, modern metal. Now it might be the metalcore sound which initially gets our attention but it is the Iron Maiden thread that runs through their sound which really sets their sound off and we can’t to hear more from these nutcases. The same can be said for metal bruisers Motherload who do all sorts of damage with their old-school vibe and Motorhead levels of volume. While the quartet may peddle a sound planted firmly in the old school metal scene, they play it with such force and freshness that the new metal brigade are soon running for the hills with their tails between their legs.
Welsh boys Revoker are warming up for their upcoming stint with Chimaira with a quick jaunt around the UK and, as their set soon kicks up a gear, the band are clearly ready for a month or so on the road ripping it up with the US metal heavyweights. Fronted by Jamie Mathias, a vocalist who comes across as an amalgamation of Matt Heafy, Dave Mustaine and James Hetfield but with the heart of a guy who just loves his fucking metal, Revoker soon have the gathered punters headbanging and throwing the devils horns. Their Roadrunner Records debut may have worn its influences proudly on its sleeves but, in the live environement their 80′s tinged thrash metal/hair metal bastardization really moves up a gear as tracks like Psychoville leave you wondering whether the shaking floor is down to some dodgy foundations, the energetic crowd or the glorious heavy metal blasting out from the stage?
http://www.facebook.com/revokeruk
http://www.facebook.com/BlackIrisUK
http://www.facebook.com/motherloadband
Review by Graham Finney
