The Metal Column - May 2010
Seems that when the deadline for this column rolls around, we’re always a bit concerned that there might not be an abundance of heavy music to cover for the coming month; but after adequately trolling the internet and scouring the bars and clubs of the metal underworld for gig flyers, low and behold a list of must-see manoeuvres begins to materialise. Not even a thick quilt of volcanic ash lowering from the sky could keep us indoors this May (that was so last month, anyway).
An unexpected visit from brooding instrumental dark stars Grails at Nice N Sleazy (14 May) boasts ample support from mesmerising song-sorceress Rose Kemp. Hailing from the lonely border region of Northwest England, Ms Kemp has steadily progressed from accomplished teenage folkie to full-blown earth destroyer with her impressive vocal skills and pulverising compositions. Imagine if Joni Mitchell or Sandy Denny were possessed by an ancient Sumerian sand demon and then recruited as lead vocalist for a newly reformed Godflesh (if only). When she moans “I’ll cut your fingers off” on her latest full length Unholy Majesty, she ain’t fucking about. You get the idea. Don’t let her pass you by.
Likewise, be sure to catch grindbutchers Wormrot from Singapore at 13th Note (4 May) and The Tunnels in Aberdeen (5 May) with opening thrash violence from Wheelchair Wheelchair Wheelchair Wheelchair and Afternoon Gentlemen for the Glasgow date. Also at the Note, two-piece firing squad Holy Mountain continue to bring the noise (26 May), while Captain’s Rest hosts noisecore scaremongers Narrows (comprised of blokes from Botch, Some Girls and These Arms Are Snakes) alongside the wounded predisposition of Corpses (3 May).
The Classic Grand welcomes all hessians with two colossal metal showcases. First up is Stabwound, Komatoze and Solstheim (7 May) followed by The Massacre Cave and Engraved (14 May). True metal guardians Hammerfall skewer the entrails of their adversaries at the Cathouse (2 May) before metalcore mathematicians The Chariot and Iwrestledabearonce calculate evil algebra at Ivory Blacks (12 May).
On the stoner side of things, psychedelic stepchildren Dead Meadow telepathically germinate the fertile soil surrounding Captain’s Rest (28 May) and Electric Circus (29 May). Also in Edinburgh, Trigger The Bloodshed and Bleed From Within demonstrate their shared plasma obsessions at Studio 24 (24 May). Speaking of blood, Slayer make their highly anticipated return to the Barrowlands (27 May) after multiple postponements. Finally the end is near. For KISS at least, who might be calling it quits after their current tour struts through the SECC (9 May), makeup and all. Hoping they’ll play something off the Ace Frehley solo album? Don’t hold your breath.