!-- Begin Adify tag for "Leaderboard" Ad Space (728x90) ID #1000001096207 -->

Log on for your daily fix of ROCK, METAL AND HARDCORE REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, MP3s and much more

Planet Loud Dot Com - rock, metal, hardcore and punk, news, reviews, interviews, live photos, live reviews, new bands, mp3s, videos


IN THE PIT
| MORE REVIEWS | SUBMIT LIVE DATES
VIEW COMMENTS [0 Comments] | ADD COMMENTS |
Marduk
The Asylum, Birmingham
29 January 2010



If you’ve just got rid of a hangover, a black metal gig in a miserable reject of Birmingham city centre is a definite way to motivate another one.

Zebadiah Crowe, possibly the world’s most directionless band, punctually opened tonight. They definitely had good riffs here and there, and were competent musicians, but what they were trying to accomplish was beyond anyone present. They attempted being darkly-theatrical, which they might have pulled off if they could write songs.

Artisian followed, who were the very essence of stereotypically miserable black metallers. Their insistence on this persona (or lack thereof) really killed any sort of presence. And while it wasn’t a bad set, it certainly wasn’t boundary-breaking. Sure, that might be a high expectation, but they sadly fell too neatly into the oft-mocked black metal stereotype.

Suddenly jumping into a different level of quality, Anaal Nathrakh began. Any comments on a Nathrakh set could have easily been said before, but it can’t be stated enough that they are always epic. They’re able to turn a grey factory in the arsehole of Birmingham into a truely powerful display of hatred. Dave Hunt’s presence is seriously imposing, and is brilliantly upfront in a way that’s neither arrogant or irritating. Anaal Nathrakh are far more than just a black metal band. Simple as.

Finally, Marduk came on after some wait, and despite the hype, and generally how good Marduk are anyway, there was an odd sense of stagnation. It was a perfectly executed set, and undeniably powerful, but started to drag, perhaps overshadowed by Anaal Nathrakh and wounded by the build-up. It was all well and good, and a good mix of old and new, but was oddly tiresome. But the hangover-motivation arrived strongly, and I’m currently working on curing another one. Thank you, black metal.

Reviewed by Sam Hunt

Find more articles on Marduk
Related Tags
USER COMMENTS - 0 Comments


ADD COMMENT

Name

Email

Link

Comment


Join Planet Loud on MyspaceJoin Planet Loud on MyspaceJoin Planet Loud on Facebook
Planet Loud interviewed by the BBC

Planet Loud sponsors the 2010 Big Finger Festival

Planet Loud sponsors the UK Marionette tour..

NEW CONTESTS
Avenged Sevenfold
Win copies of the new A7X album..

FREE MUSIC
Cephalic Carnage - When I Arrive
»Download MP3

Deaf Havana - My Life Is Average
»Download MP3

Since Yesterday - Episode 2 (Worst Case Scenario)
»Download MP3

Arceye - Time And Tide
»Download MP3

The Sword - Tres Brujas
»Download MP3


LATEST REVIEWS
Black Label Society
Order Of The Black

»Read Review
The Sword
Warp Riders

»Read Review
Heights
From Sea To Sky

»Read Review
Blutmond
Thirteen Urban Ways..

»Read Review
Pin Up Went Down
342

»Read Review


OTHER LOUD SITES
»Diary Of A Rock Photographer
»Ed Stone Clothing
»Graham Finney Photography
»Karen Mcbride
»Live-Metal.Net
»SchwegWeb
»Tidy Ink
»Visible Noise



QUICK LINKS
News
Record Reviews
Live Reviews
Interviews
New Bands
Introducing Interviews
Photo Galleries
Videos
Contests
Events
Lifestyle


SOCIAL SITES
Myspace
Twitter
Facebook Group
YouTube


CONTACT US
Latest Content Feed
Contact Planet Loud
Search Planet Loud
Join the Newsletter


(c)2006-2010 Planet Loud Dot Com | Site Design by Graham Finney