Brixton Acadamy 07/02/2008
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Anyway, eventually got in at about 7.50 but as the queue was so massive, Carla & I couldn’t meet up as arranged, so we kept in touch via texting….! After purchasing a reasonably priced T at the merch stall, I caught the back end of the first support act of the night….Skindred - who were definitely not my cup of tea for sure…and I was very glad that I missed the vast majority of their set. Hard to describe what style it was……and I don’t think I shall waste my time – and yours – in trying! Next up were a pretty decent band called Still Remains…….musically very good and powerful, but the singing….if you can call it that - was terrible, maybe he was having a bad night, but I could hardly understand a word of the songs, which was a shame because as stated….the musicianship was faultless – complete with a hyperactive, head banging keyboard player! They played for about 45 minutes, which was a bit too long I felt….you could say that they “Remained” too long on stage!
Ok, on to 9.25 arrived & there was a pretty damn cool intro to Bullet’s act. The boys stood behind a white curtain in classic “rock” poses, casting 10-foot tall silhouettes onto the curtain. This tour is in support of their follow-up to the Poison – the splendidly named Scream Aim Fire that – in my opinion – is not quite the instant classic that The Poison was. This one is more of a grower and will take a bit more getting used to…I have to admit that even after listening to it 7 or 8 times before the gig, I had trouble recognising the new material. I positioned myself next to the mixing desk, which gave a great view of the stage AND of the set list, which was very helpfully printed in large letters! This helped enormously in recognising the new material & for putting the set list at the end of this review of course!
As soon as the boys ripped into the new title track, my doubts over the new album subsided pretty rapidly…..it was storming stuff, with their alternate smooth / screaming death metal style vocals to fore with blisteringly heavy riffs, the new material sounded soooooo much more powerful live than on the CD. Matt was in great voice considering his recent throat surgery & was giving it 110%, as were all the other guys….. As mentioned in my review of the previous BFMV gig, Matt isn’t the most interactive front man around, however, he was slightly better on this showing, which was good to see. But mostly, he just lets his guitar and powerful vocals do all the talking. What he did say though was that this show was being filmed for a future DVD release….which will be cool to say the least
As you can see from the set list below, it was a good mixture of old and new….with the classics “Tears…..”, “Suffocating…..” & “The End” rubbing shoulders very nicely with the new stuff . Some people have called BFMV Emo-Metal,which in my view is total nonsense…..they are Metal pure and simple – and judging by the heavyweight Waking The Demon and the number – and quality - of crushing riffs, solos etc….on display here there can be no argument about it really.
Summary: Storming gig – I had my doubts about the new album etc…as mentioned, but they were quickly dispelled by the energy and power put on show here. They are going from strength to strength & long may boys from the valleys continue onward & upward!
Prodigals Star Rating 9/10
Set List
Scream Aim Fire
Disappear
4 Words (To Choke Upon)
Tears Don’t Fall
Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow
Eye Of The Storm
Hand Of Blood
Room 409
Hearts Burst Into Fire
The End
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Spit You Out
Waking The Demon
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