Grifter and Orange Goblin at The Underworld

Here's some shots of Grifter and Orange Goblin from earlier this year.

Grifter's primary mission on planet Earth is to deplete the world's Guinness reserves. Lucky for us Arthur can brew it quicker than those boys can drink it.

When they're not quaffing, they're rocking...

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Grifter


Grifter


Grifter


Orange Goblin


Orange Goblin


Orange Goblin

General Sludge, Doom, Noise, Evilness @ The Grosvenor, 21st August 2009

Excellent debut gigs from At a Crawl and Toad (In The Tree). Nice one to Jim from At a Crawl for organising the night as well.

Band of the night for me was Dopefight - superb sludge grooves with minimal but effective vocals. Go listen to them.

I don't really remember what Art of Burning Water were like cos I was too drunk but I stayed down the front so they must have been good. I do remember the drummer looked absolutely mental which was cool.

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Art of Burning Water:


Dopefight:


Dopefight:


Dopefight:


Toad (In The Tree):


Toad (In The Tree):


At a Crawl:


At a Crawl:


At a Crawl:

Invasion, Bo Ningen, Lasers From Atlantis @ The Cross Kings, 29th July 2009

I hadn't been to the Cross Kings before and it turned out to be a really cool venue. It's underground which always helps with the atmosphere and it's the kinda place where the walls are covered in a mix of graffiti/paintings and so on which is much better than the stock blackwashed better known London venues.

It was an excellent night all round and I had a good chat with Invasion's Marek (guitar) and Zel(drums) early on who were kind enough to share a beer or two. Speaking of which I did manage to drink so much I managed to leave my front door open all night long. Thinking about calling myself a drunktographer.

This was the second time I'd seen Lasers From Atlantis and they were as good as the first. The word atmospheric springs to mind with these guys as they create some cool musical spaces with use of reverb, delay and various other effects. I'd say they make pieces of music rather than songs and I'd love to hear some good quality recordings of their stuff.

Bo Ningen were pure entertainment; tripped out psychedelic rock with amazing shirts, non stop riffing, phalic guitar pumping and one frankly mental falsetto.

Invasion delivered as usual. There were no cymbals on fire this time round but everything else was there. It's a very simple formula of metal/trash/stoner riffs on a single guitar, high energy drumming and very powerful vocals and it's one that works so well.

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Invasion


Invasion


Invasion


Invasion


Bo Ningen


Bo Ningen


Bo Ningen


Bo Ningen


Lasers From Atlantis


Lasers From Atlantis


Lasers From Atlantis

Metalbrew Party 2009

You're in Mill Hill, it's a Saturday afternoon, it's an overcast day in a typically schizophrenic UK summer so what are you gonna do? You're gonna go to Metalbrew and party, that's what you're gonna do.

Normally this all takes place in a fenced off field next to Mill Hill rugby football club with the bar open for beers and a BBQ in the field. This year was cut back to an indoor party so the organisers can plan big for 2010 which meant the bands played on the floor in the bar and in your face. Just the way it should be.

Afaktor
As an opener they couldn't have been better, playing proper old school metal minus the modern wannabe poses and generally grinning a lot and having a great time. Ace of Spades was thrown in at some point and they finished their set gnashing at guitar strings like Hendrix and invading the crowd.

Chug
Similar in style to Afaktor but with a bit more grinning and drumstick shrapnel. Best band name of the day cos you know what you're gonna get with a name like Chug.

Sick To Death
Politically charged/motivated mix of traditional hardcore with a little bit o metal thrown in too. Crowd pleasing and chant inducing. Good stuff.

Drawbridge Man
My personal fave of the day. I had consumed the perfect quantity of beer, the sun had more or less set and these guys laid down some awesome and vocal-less sludge/doom grooves that ventured beyond 4/4 and did it well. I was rocking, bobbing and nodding like a madman.

Nebukadnezza
Fuck me I love this band. Dunno why cos it's not my normal choice of tunes but the combo of blast beats, ridiculous speed and spiky guitars (that white Jackson Randy Roads is one sexy little bitch) really pumps my nads.

Battlewitch
Doom or die baby, doom or die. Nuff said.

I have absolutely no doubt Metalbrew is the most fun you could ever have in Mill Hill.

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Battlewitch:


Battlewitch:


Nebukadnezza:


Nebukadnezza:


Drawbridge Man:


Drawbridge Man:


Sick To Death:


Sick To Death:


Chug:


Chug:


Afaktor:


Afaktor:

Another All Dayer @ The Unicorn 4th July 2009

Yep, another day, another all dayer at the unicorn. Another interesting mix of extremes of speed and styles of goddam heavy music. Lovely.

This time I was far too drunk though and I missed a few of the bands and don't remember some of those I did see. Luckily I seemed to be able to work my camera and didn't leave it at the gig or in the garden when I got home.....had to try and clear my head and at the time being with nature sounded like a good idea. It wasn't.

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Lazarus Blackstar:


Lazarus Blackstar:


Nebukadnezza:


Pombagira:


Pombagira:


Dead Existence:


Dead Existence:


Hovadah:


Hovadah:

Mindzap all dayer @ The Gaff 3rd May 2009

Here's some pics from the Mindzap all dayer at the Gaff 3rd May 2009.

Standout bands were Roadsaw for just plain rocking out, White Lightning for old school AC/DC worship done well and Lasers From Atlantis for originality and somethin a little different.

Hats off to Jack for organising a fine day of music.

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Roadsaw


Roadsaw


Roadsaw


Obiat


Obiat


Grifter


Grifter


Grifter


Ten Ton Tabby


Ten Ton Tabby


Lasers From Atlantis


Lasers From Atlantis


White Lightning


White Lightning


Cujo


Cujo