Mullets, quiffs and dreads…Oh my!
Picture Halloween in a church where the congregation
have bum length dreadlocks, the priest looks akin
to Beaker from The Muppet Show and the onstagers
hold a penchant for face-pulling screaming and
coordinated ensembles a la a confused Girls Aloud.
This was the scene that affronted me as I entered
Camden’s Electric Ballroom. Electronica
metal from Leprous consisted of screaming, shouting
and turkey neck popping grooves. Sadly not this
reviewer’s cup of tea.
Thankfully, second support band Shining (the Norwegian
experiemental troop, not to be confused by their
suicide-encouraging namesakes from Sweden) took
to the stage. Drummer Torstein Lofthus combs back
his hair with nonchalance before the quintet launched
in with a tirade of punk metal riffs and sand
paper screams. Between the epilepsy inducing strobes,
enough spiralling riffs to send one slightly mad,
vox packed with climactic squeals, Hannibal Lector
seething and bass that literally tickled me from
head to toe, Shining had gifted us an absolute
treat. Then frontman Jorgen Munkeby pulled out
his saxophone; a delectable facet to an already
inspired bout of black metal organised mayhem.
As Helter Skelter swirled in hurricane like fashion,
the crowd were sent into a frenzy of black metal
moshing. Shining conducted their exhibition with
a distinct air of arrogance and it is completely
deserved.
Ihsahn may resemble more black bear than black
metal lord, but the man beholds enough power in
his talented fingertips to make a man’s
head spin around nearly 360 degrees; the gentlemen
with ass length blue locks, demon-depicting graphic
shirt and no doubt a bus pass in his pocket would
surely concur. Mixed melodic riffs with metal
prowess left Ihsahn’s audience salivating
and spinning out. Fire Em Up beat down into thrash
esque onslaughts, you know, real kill-babies kinda
stuff. And everyone fucking loves it.
Like The Brady Bunch from hell, members from all
the support casts jump on stage to add to the
noise, ambience and asylum-bordering sonic chaos.
Tunes In Vocation and Called By The Fire proved
huge crowd pleasers. Cue singalongs and a room
full of thrusting fists of rock which all added
to the ear drum savaging of the night’s
proceedings.
Ihsahn – 3/5
Shining – 4/5
Leprous - 1/5
Review By Jessica Acreman
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