Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
Thursday September 25, 2014 :
It’s cold and raining in Newcastle, but inside the Cambridge Hotel on this Thursday night, the heat was turned up and the blood was surging through the audience witnessing some of the finest heavy metal acts to hit the city. ORIGIN OF JANKEN opened the night, with a groovy musical sound, deep tones and an intense bass player. With vocals blending between melodic and scream, and the styling of the mask and paint with the eerie contact lenses worn by the guitarist, there was a strong presence on stage, and were a great opening act.
THE SIGN OF IV added a techno dance beat as the backing track to the first song. Some technical difficulties restricted their performance as they lost these tracks after the opening song but they played on anyway. The lead singer had a good look about him but as a group, the rest of the members need some styling to unify their branding as a band. As a young band they have room to grow and can only get better from here.
NOT ANOTHER SEQUEL, JUST ANOTHER PREQUEL had me smiling from the beginning as the dolby digital track resonated through the room opening their set. From the notes hit by the lead singer, to the melodies within the songs, I found the sound exquisite and overall so great to listen to, his high energy performance also gave a strong element of entertainment making him fun to watch. Many of the band’s songs are parodies of movies, and this provided an entertaining set for the audience. The best response came from the reference to Christopher Lambert in Highlander 2. In spite of further technical difficulties, I greatly respected their ability to keep going. With a strong end to their set beginning with a charming guitar intro, it was complimented as the perfectly timed drums dropped in, with the melodic vocals leaving the impression that they are a united band, and one that will be worth seeing again.
Homegrown Newcastle band, LET THE NUMBER BE X, continued the show with a mix and depth to their sound. The lead singer ran sounds from what appeared to be a dj like desk with a variety of sound effects which helped the songs evolve in ways I did not expect. It added a real charming element to the set. The vocals were alluring, I loved the blend between melodic and screamo, with every lyric articulated perfectly and understandable. His vocals reminded me of a blend of Jared Leto and Clint (Butterfly Effect, Like Thieves). With enthusiastic responses from the crowd, they did Newcastle proud.
Then it was time for the band we were all here to see, and DARKC3LL brought everyone to the front of the room and pumping before they had taken to the stage. With The Adams Family theme as their walk on song, there was an electric atmosphere built up that continued growing as they moved through their tracks. Instantly captivated by the styling of each member, their characters showed through as they moved through each song. An intense, deep and dark sound was complimented with the energetic and technically talented performance.
I really enjoyed the groove and technicality of the guitarist; the deep resonant beats of the drums, the poignant vibrations of the bass to vigorous vocals and charisma of the man in front. I found myself hypnotised between songs as I watched the movements of each member. The level of interaction and eye contact with the crowd was a real strength for the band. Having the lead singer jump into the crowd never fails in my eyes and this was not an exception, those closest to him got into the music harder.
A rock chick at heart, I thoroughly enjoyed and valued the musical education I felt I had with this performance, which had so many dimensions that drew us all in and left the desire for a longer set. It was a real treat to be apart of the audience for this show, and they are a band worth seeing in the future when they come back to town.
Reviewer and Photographer: Courtney Laura
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