THE MOSH PIT

SOULFLY - 3

Released in June 2002 Soulfly is back with its third album 'Soulfly 3'. Soulfly 3 mixes a blend of musical types from the mellow Brazilian tribal themes to the thunderous, hardcore and chaotic anthems Soulfly is respected for. While the album retains the traditional rage and chaotic affair the band is known and respected for - especially on tracks like 'Downstroy', 'Seek 'N' Strike' and 'One Nation' - '3' also unleashes some uncharacteristically mellow tribal themes in the form of songs like 'Tree Of Pain' that made there appearance on the critically acclaimed 'Primitive' album.
"Personally I think '3' F**king rocks and I would recommend it to any fellow metaller, blending a nice mix of Max's Tribal drum sessions to the chaotic guitar rage that is Soulfly, and Soulfly deserve the utmost respect for 9-11-01 a one minute silence to the brave men and women during the trade towers attack.

CRADLE OF FILTH - DAMNATION AND A DAY

Released in March 2003 Cradle Of Filth return from beyond the grave with there first major label release 'Damnation And A Day'. Damnation And A Day was much anticipated would the inclusion of a major label mollify the lords of darkness, the answer is No this is definitely one of Cradle Of Filth's heaviest albums to date mixing the harsh and intense vocals with aggressive guitar riffs and a blend of hallowed orchestral melodies, with the likes of 'A Bruise Upon The Silent Moon' which incorporates a chilling thunder storm to a horror film style intro that smashes straight into the aggressive 'The Promise Of Fever' with a mixture of Slayer type guitar riffs and Carcass type harmonics a must for anyone's collection.

MACHINE HEAD - HELLALIVE

Released in March 2003 Machine Head are back with there first live album called 'Hellalive' named by a competition winner. The album is a high quality live album that focuses in on the music than the crowd making it more of a compilation, it is a perfect blend of old meets new with such classics as 'Old' and 'Davidian' with such new hits like 'Bulldozer' and 'Crashing Around You'. The 'in your face' guitar riffs and superb vocal intro's make this a must and is delivered with the energy Machine Head are known for.

THE HAUNTED / STAMPIN GROUND / DECEMBER

BIRMINGHAM ACADEMY 2 - WED 26TH FEB 2003

I arrived at the gig looking forward to what was potentially a gig of the year candidate. The room looked quite empty but before long was packed as December's entrance grew closer, rubbing salt into the wounds was the lame jazz music being piped in, but was soon replaced with AC/DC. The moment arrived and December entered to a roaring applause although not looking like an extreme metal band, they opened up and blew the crowd away who took until the 3rd song to get going. The mixture of extreme aggressive vocals with meaty power riffs was amazing, in particular the drummer who played like a man with 6 arms and to add to the wow factor had his eyes closed most of the time, they blew the place away and everyone was on a high and sad to see them leave the stage.

After a short break Stampin Ground entered to an amazing reaction as the crowd surged forward, now these looked like a marriage between Biohazard and Extreme Metal and in particular Adam looked right up for it, the energy Stampin Ground put into there set was amazing and the crowd honored them with a similar amount of energy. When the lead singer Adam decided to make a circle of death pit things really ignited seeing Adam hanging off the roof and December's lead singer come out for guest vocals the crowd erupted. When Stampin Ground's set came to an end and after shaking everybody's hand in the place the crowd looked as though they had been through a meat grinder and spat out the other side.

After a well deserved break the place was plunged into darkness and the intro off the new album rung through the place there was a eerie silence The Haunted entered the stage and the crowd erupted now these looked like a death metal band big men with very long hair the aggressive band kicked off and the crowd went nuts the crunchy speed guitars and insane vocals sent the crowd into a frenzy and after a quick happy birthday to the two twins 'Shithead' shook the arena, after there set came to an end they came back on for 2 more songs just to finish us off

CROWD REACTION -

OVERALL -

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD / THE DEVINTOWNSEND BAND / ZIMMERS HOLE

WOLVERHAMPTON WULFRUN HALL - WED 19TH MARCH 2003

I arrived at the gig full of trepidation due to Soulfly playing the next night and I didn't know how many would go to this and it seemed quiet but when I got in there it started filling up. Then to my amazement a big devil viking was stood on stage with a microphone full of body parts Zimmers Hole had arrived and started to play it was like a death metal band with a vocalist that seemed to have several different vocal styles, but the band just go weirder well the lead singer did from cheese thrown out in order to get a free poster to a giant rubber dick then screwing a life size dead female imitation corpse wwwwoooowwww, but overall they were quite good.

After a short break (a fag) out came Devin and The Band, as The DevinTownsend Band hit the stage to a chant of God echoing around, and what a shock everyone expecting a SYL type band were surprised by the mellow Guns 'N' Roses / Soundgarden band and they were fantastic the ultimate chill out and jig type of band with Devin playing a 10 minute solo absolutely amazing he is GOD.

Then it was time for Strapping Young Lad everyone was ready, Devin had explored his softer side now it was time for as Devin Put it Smash Your Balls, they came on stage and exploded into action with Devin's trademark scream how does he keep it going to the "Death" of the drums as they took a right pounding, one of the most intense sets I have seen and it actually got the crowd going as they had been rested but by the end of SYL's set would be dead on the floor absolutely fantastic night. Come back soon Devin

CROWD REACTION -

OVERALL -

PARADISE LOST / TAPPING THE VEIN / KILLING MIRANDA

DUDLEY JB'S - SAT 29TH MARCH 2003

I arrived at the gig full of excitement as I hadn't seen Paradise Lost at a small venue before, the room seemed half empty but I didn't care then Killing Miranda made there entrance and to say the singer looked exactly like Saliva's lead singer was an under statement. They started to play and were a mixture of goth and power riffs with a Saliva sounding singer. I could see what they were trying to achieve but it didn't really work this showed by the fact there was only one person listening to them in a wheelchair on the floor in front of them.

After a short break the room was packed with people I couldn't believe it. Then Tapping The Vein made there entrance and I could see why the blokes were at the front with a female vocalist. They played a mixture between heavy metal and mystical melodies which is very commercial and people seemed to enjoy the tunes just genially swaying with there beers aloft, but after 2-3 songs I was bored as it was too soft metal for me but others seemed to enjoy it.

Then it was time for Paradise Lost to blast onto the stage with a venue smashing ovation and the place surged forward as they kicked off with One Second which had heads banging, there mixture of heavy metal and keyboard melodies rocked the crowd and playing such hits as Ember's Fire and Remembrance really got them going and after a long set they went off to a huge ovation but then came on to play 2 more songs that included As I Die which finished the night off superbly.

CROWD REACTION -

OVERALL -

ONE MINUTE SILENCE / GODSIZE / KOMANCHI TRIBE

WOLVERHAMPTON WULFRUN HALL - FRI 11TH APRIL 2003

I arrived at the gig and after a security search went inside the place was packed and I thought to myself this one is going to be great. Komanchi Tribe arrived on stage to a K-Tribe, K-Tribe chant, they started to play and were a mixture of aggressive power metal mixed with a Biohazard type of in your face melodies. They were excellent and they were a fair few people moshing and a Pit started that was swiftly stopped by security for some reason I had never seen a pit stopped before and the band were equally stumped and pissed off but the moshing continued and it was a great start to the night.

After a short break Godsize entered the stage to a huge ovation and started to hammer out the Pantera style of metal that they are known for, with heads banging to the power metal a pit started but was stopped again to the bands pissed off shouting at the security, but they continued to blast the metal songs into our faces and we soaked up the vive and went for it people even getting ejected from the building for starting a pit didn't stop them they ended to a huge Godsize chant. I meet the band and had my cd signed by the whole band cool.

Then it was time for One Minute Silence who hadn't been here for some time the crowd surged forward to the point they my fags got crushed I was in heaven (apart from my fags lol) they came onto the stage after a 5 minute tape of messages about life and the world they opened up with the superb Rise And Shine and a gigantic pit started the security had been stopping the pits obviously so we were ready for One Minute Silence as the metal raged on and the pit got more violent, people started to surf bobies were flying. Then Glen Diani got onto the speakers and dived 15 feet down itno the crowd while playing the bass which was met by a huge cheer, after a few more songs they went off but came back on after a Silence chant and was going to finish us off in style with Revolution the crowd went nuts and the whole place became one huge pit and ended with everyone knowning they had a good night Superb.

CROWD REACTION -

OVERALL -