Children of Bodom
Hometown: Espoo, Finland
Amon Amarth
Hometown: Tumba, Sweden
Gojira
Hometown: Bayonne, France
The Rave (Milwaukee, WI)
Dec. 13, 2006
I'm really starting to feel a little like
Riki Rachtman in his days on the Ball in the 90s. Every review I write is a full of adoration and praise for the bands I just saw. Granted, I am not in love with each and every band, but perhaps I'm just blessed with the opportunity to choose who I review.
I was somewhat familiar with two of the three bands on the bill that night, and had a great time bouncing to the music, still missing the pleasure of a pit. I am so totally in love with the Euro-metal in all fashions at this point I can't stand it. I now know metal is back. With such great music starting over there, I expect to see metal take over the world again in the near future.
First up was Gojira (originally named Godzilla, but due to legal issues, they went with the untranslated version of the name) from France. This was the band that was new to me. The Rave basement was
packed for the openers, which gave me a clue that all three bands were going to rock.
I have a hard time classifying Euro-metal bands. I heard elements of both thrash and death metals, however, there was a political undertone to the lyrics. The chunky guitars and bounciness of the thrash seemed to lead it more to that genre. Vocally, it was a mix between the gravely singing of thrash and a lovely deathy growl, and a hella piercing screams.
It was hard to understand Joe Duplantier's heavy French accent when he spoke. The nifty thing was the drum solo by Mario Duplantier (yes, they are brothers). It's unusual for openers to have solos, but it was actually a nice change. Neither too long or too short, it made a nice switch up from the normal rushed sets put forth by the openers. Lyrically, Gojira surrounds eco-awareness. Our dying planet so to speak. Closing with “The Heaviest Matter of the Universe� off their new CD
From Mars to Sirius, this was a great opener, and I hope to see them around for a while. I did pick up their CD that evening so expect to see a review forthcoming.
Next up was Amon Amarth from Sweden. Earlier in the day, I
interviewed vocalist Johan Hegg. I've heard them on the radio, and was looking forward to seeing their show.
Viking metal is the best way to describe them, but that once again doesn’t explain much. A calming melodic lulling intro before all Hades (ok WRONG mythology) broke loose. I admit, I learned something today. Sometimes the music brings the band to life, and other times the band brings the music to life. Gone was the quiet, almost shy man I sat across from several hours before. The music turned the entire brood into Vikings: Strong, powerful and ready to destroy. The first time Amon Amarth ever played in the US happened to be at the very place we were at, although on a different stage. Me, I’m a cheesy chick and I thought that was just damned cool. The audience went completely insane for Amon and they got an amazing reception. The classic “Oy� chant rang thru the Rave so loud, at times it almost drowned out the band. It was magic.
Once again, classifying them in one genre is almost too hard. If I were to try, hardcore thrash might be the best to explain them. Growling vocals, chunk guitar and fabu double bass are keystones. Lyrically, that is where the Vikings come running through. They base their lyrics on great Viking mythology. Currently promoting their new album
With Odin on Our Side as well as their DVD
March of the Norwegian, they still covered their full spectrum of recordings, playing songs like “Ruins Call to My Memory�(my personal fav), “Death in Fire,� “Answer to Odin,� “An Ancient Sign of a Coming Storm,� and “The Pursuit of Vikings.�
Children of Bodom is yet another band I discovered earlier this year and have fallen in love with. Kinda glammy - and if you know me, I LOVE a man in makeup. Anyhoo as I said, kinda glammy, but still very heavy in sound; once again, they jump the classification boat. They mix a smidge of techo/industrial sound with metal, and thrash with a dash of glam, for a lovely mess of just cool ass music. Once again another band whose first time playing the US was right here in Milwaukee (see previous cheese comment). This was my second time seeing COB this year, as they opened on the Unholy Alliance tour this summer with GODS of metal, Slayer. I was so happy this time was not in the Ballroom, and I could actually hear the damned band.
They originally began as a straight thrash, and over time mixed in classic metal sounds. They also stand out in the land of the heavies for having a keyboardist, which is usually reserved for more mainstream and glam-type metal. Something a little different makes for something very cool. Playing some of their best-known songs, “Sixpounder,� “Living Dead Beast,� “Are You Dead Yet?�, “Needled 24/7, “Mask of Sanity,� and “Bodom Beach Terror,� they covered their catalog nicely.
In all, these bands each offer something very different. Doing a bit of research on the bands (yeah the job ain’t just going to the shows ya know), I see that musically, the US is behind. Some great shit is out there, we just need to look a little overseas more often.
The show actually sounded amazing all around. I really love this basement venue in the Rave. Sound quality is by far better than the more photo-friendly rooms upstairs. I personally have some catching up with these bands, and I plan on doing it fairly soon. I just plain can’t let good music go to waste.
The guys in Amon won BIG points at least with me. I gotta give love to a band that after the set mingles in room with fans. That’s hella cool and says a lot about how a band appreciates their fans. And a band that loves their fans like that has a LONG career ahead of them.