Metal Hamsters run wild

http://www.alteye.co.za/articles/metal-hamsters-run-wild

Posted 2009-08-10 @ 01:03:04 In articles > reviews Metal show at ROAR featuring 6 heavy bands

As we pushed on through the cold wind and looking forward to a sonic rush of metallic proportions on the night of August 1st, ROAR in Observatory welcomed in speed-hungry metalheads upstairs for the Metal Hamsters show. With women in free and a score of opportunities for free alcohol, this event was not poorly attended. Six heavy bands were warming up for a night of moshpit mayhem and drunken headbanging. The musicians anticipated creating a winter-warming metal inferno above Gandalf’s in the presence of live broadcasters of the night, Rock Out Radio.

First up were Fear Strike, who certainly got the embers flaming brightly. Their thick rhythms and solid, melodic vocals raised the temperatures in the upstairs venue. Starting off with stately riffs and ending off with booming, 7-string chunk, they set the stage for the five upcoming acts.

Cold Hand Chemistry began concocting ethereal moods and powerful melodies to compliment their heavy demeanour. They nurtured the fiery start to the evening by stirring up the first moshpit by the end of their set. At this point, the flames were licking violently as the sound engineers repositioned the front-of-stage monitors and satisfied fans helped their fallen moshers off the floor.

Pariah Born delivered with their consistent, groovy professionalism. Their rhythmic swaggering and classy riffs kept the heads bobbing in the audience. They had armed the stage with their twin guitar stacks and musical euphoria. Their flailing dreadlocks danced in sync as the rhythms trudged on through the electric air.

And so the heatwave brought the destruction of ideals, embodied in a musical, heavy metal army. Dismantling the Architects dominated the searing arena with speed-metal riffs juxtaposed with sophisticated keyboard-driven themes. Their sing/growl motifs were rendered such that there was beauty in their chaotic stage anarchy. The audience consisted mostly of a riotous mosh throughout the set.

Taking a risk with a new singer, The Plague continued the speed-metal cause. With rhythm playing as fast and intricate as anyone’s lead playing, the band’s guitarists wowed the audiences with their aggressive yet whimsical style as they pulled off classical arpeggios as if by telepathy. The substitute frontman came as a surprise, but all in the band agreed afterwards that it was one of the best risks they could have taken in their dire situation.

Deharmonic ended off the blazing evening with a hard attack on their poor guitar strings and drum skins. The vocals were equally powerful, conjuring up evil hatred towards all but metal. Their obscure yet intricate playing style drove home the fact that the Cape Town metal scene is one that is becoming increasingly competitive. The blissfully entertaining bands and range of heavy styles of the evening ensures that the followers and fans of this cause are in for a hyperbolic spectrum of quality acts.