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Tragedy, Lebanon, Iron Lung, Extortion – 30/01/09 – Mississippi Pizza – Portland

published on February 1, 2009 under show reviews. 6 Comments

I’ll shit you not, I went to this one to see Tragedy. How many people have the chance to see Tragedy play in a small pizza place! Quite a lot, if you live in Portland I guess but if you’re from Europe it’s definitely something new. Anyway, the small show room was quickly filled with about 100 or so punks and the show started at around 9.30.

First band to play was Lebanon, a rather new band from Portland with members of Hellshock (and ex-From Ashes Rise) which often share the stage with Tragedy. I wasn’t surprised and neither disappointed by their set. They play of course hardcore punk, but they’re not another Tragedy clone in any way, and I would say they sound kinda like Hellshock but not as metallic. I don’t know if they’ll have a record out anytime soon but if they do I’m definitely getting it.

Next one, oh yes, Tragedy! No introductions here, you should all know them already. Finally, after years of waiting, it was about time to see them live and it was amazing. The band was highly energetic and powerful with lots of fists thrown in the air and so was the crowd. Unfortunately they had some problems like electroshocking microphones, no vocals heard on the first track, some speaker wasn’t working and made the band stop to figure it out. But still, what a fucking show!!!

Next one was Extortion, coming from Australia to play their small set of powerviolence. Usually I can’t stand of powerviolence or fastcore but these guys weren’t bad. The crowd seemed to like them a lot so it’s all good.

Finally, Iron Lung, a duet band (guitar and drums) from Seattle. I guess you can put them under the powerviolence genre but they mix so many more hardcore sub-genres which makes them so unique. They mix ultra fast and slower parts in the most powerful way and they definitely won me and the rest of the crowd.

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Samothrace, Nux Vomica, Nanda Devi – 05/11/08 – The Know – Portland

published on November 28, 2008 under show reviews. No Comments

One day after seeing the Corrupted, it was time for another down-tempo doom metal show. This time it was Samothrace from Kansas plus two local bands, Nux Vomica (originally from Baltimore) and Nanda Devi. The moment I arrived at the Know bar, I’ve heard Nux Vomica starting to play, so I hurried in. The show room is next to the bar room and although it’s just a small room with a few tables and chairs on the back and on the sides, it seems like a good place for small shows. A plus is that smoking and drinking inside the show space is allowed.

So as I entered the show room, about 40 or so people were there. Nux Vomica, had just started and as I was a little late, I thought I’ve missed the first band. The first thing I noticed on “stage” was the singer was pounding the percussions. I knew that these guys have a split 7” with Kakistocracy so I didn’t expect them to play that slow sludge/doom metal thing and they don’t. Amazing fast but depressing neocrust punk with lots of metal touches. Their set was so intense that I didn’t even feel like running to the next room to grab a beer! Truly amazing, please check them out, you won’t regret it.

After Nox Vomica it was Samothrace’s turn to play. Of course first we had to wait for the bands to change all the gear on stage, which I guess it’s after all a typical thing here and although it still seems strange to me, I’ll stop mentioning from now own and just take it for granted. So after the boring long break Samothrace start to play and that’s it.. welcome to yet another sorrowful nightmare. Dark, slow pace melodies and raw roaring vocals, all piling up inside you and by the end of the set you just want to scream to get rid the unbearable weight off your chest. Buy their album, simply as that!

The other band, Nanda Devi, apparently didn’t play in the beginning of the show, so I didn’t miss them and they played last. Unfortunately most of the people decided either to leave or to move to the bar room and stay there drinking. So Nanda Devi played for about 10-20 people that stayed to see them. Ok I don’t know what to write about this band. As far as I remember, on stage they sounded to me like, don’t laugh, fast hardcore or something that I didn’t really like. As I write these lines though, some weeks after the show, while listening their tracks on myspace they sound completely different, more down tempo and dark and also extremely interesting! Maybe they were in a bad night or maybe after Samothrace anything sounds ultra-fast or maybe I am just unable to write a simple review. Well the latter is for sure. I guess you should listen to them yourselves.

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Corrupted, Asunder, Trees, Aldebaran – 04/11/2008 – Satyricon, Portland

published on November 19, 2008 under show reviews. No Comments

This was the first show for me in this country and I have mixed feelings about it. I guess I’m not used of going to bars for shows (I don’t think there are any squats or social/free spaces to host shows) but that’s the rule here. So I went to the bar a bit after 8, paid the cover, got a stamp on my hand (oh this sucks) and got in. Guess what, this was an all-ages show.. which means that even if the venue doubles as a bar.. no smoking and no drinking is alowed in the show area! Fuck..

So the venue seems like a good place for a show: it’s not big, just enough to get full easily, it has a stage, it’s dark and there are a couple of pillars to block the view of the band from some spots. Just about right for a place that hosts punk and metal shows.. but it just doesn’t feel like a punk/metal show without the mix of smoke, spit beer and sweat in the atmosphere. Anyway. I didn’t know the first three bands that were to play so I didn’t know what to expect.

When I entered the venue Aldebaran had already started. They play a ultra-slow doom metal thing that I do like but not that slow! They had some faster parts, fast enough to slowly shake my head on the rythm and it was ok. Trees were the second band and I’m sorry but I just couldn’t like it. Again painfully-slow with some screaming vocals, sorry but it didn’t work for me. I was considering running to the bar in the other room for a quick beer but their set was very small. Next were Asunder from Oakland. They lit up some candles, turn most of the stage lights off, set the atmosphere just right for their very good set of.. yup, doom metal. I guess they’ve been around for a while because they sound really good. I need to listen more from them.

Last to play was ofcourse Corrupted, coming from Osaka, Japan. The place was full by the time they started and they managed to make everyone in the room to hung and stare in amazement. Their set was based on their latest sound and they didn’t play any of the raw stuff of their first releases. They gave and amazing set of slow, depressing, haunted sludge. Very well done! I like the fact that although they’ve playing for so long and have numerous releases, they keep a low profile, just perfect.

To make a last point: what the hell is that thing that in between the bands, the stage is cleared and different sets of drums and amps are brought on stage! Everyone has to play with their on gear? This caused big brakes between the bands and the show ended at 1.30. I didn’t keep track of the time to leave a little earlier and the result was to miss the last bus back home. So I had to walk, in the rain and cold for more than an hour (4.5miles~7km) to get back! that sucked…

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