Metal Battle 2004 @ Sherlocks

Week 4

Meet the Reviewer

Darkling

photo by The Reviewer © 2004

First up . . . Darkling

OK. It's week 4 and as usual I've prepared myself by swilling down a Guinness before the show started. MMMMMMMMMM!

Buffalo. They hail from Buffalo. If this is an indication of what's happening 90 miles northeast of Erie . . . . killer! By far the most commercial sounding of the metal acts so far. Hooks, melodic guitar riffs and song structure.

They sounded like an amalgamation of a few German metal acts from the 80's like Scorpions, Lucifer's Friend and UFO . . . only modernized. Ah hell . . . might as well throw in a little Rainbow also.

Overall great sound and professionalism.

review by The Reviewer © 2004

Thirty 3 Cell

photo by The Reviewer © 2004

Second . . . Thirty 3 Cell

OK. More Guinness . . . and my brain is sullied with images of vampires . . . Actually it's more like a Mad Max Thunderdome episode. The drooling mutants are causing mayhem in the East Sector . . .

Wait. What's that I hear?

A titanium reinforced Ford Explorer? . . . tribal rythms from a distant planet? . . . no . . . wait . . . I's Thirty 3 Cell pounding out anthems that would make Metallica run for cover.

And the drooling mutants? Well. Stability has been restored in the East Sector and they are all wearing Thirty 3 Cell t-shirts!

review by The Reviewer © 2004

Waiting For Never

photo by The Reviewer © 2004

Third . . . Waiting For Never

I saw these guys a while back at the Battle Of The bands. It seemed to me that they had progressed light years in that short period of time. Is that possible?. I think the classification that best describes this act is "Rap Rock". This is the kinda thing you SHOULD hear blasting from the sub-woofers in a Dodge Neon filled with sub-urban white youth. (of course usually you don't)

Lots of energy, and style. Anybody ever hear the band "Fat" ? circa 1997? Go out and grab the disc . . . rap rock masters! Waiting for Never sound like Fat's illegitimate stepchild on steroids!

Awesome.

If you ever need a crowd to be rallied . . . these are the guys. Driving rhythms and raps make them perfect for a "Will Of Landrew" type spiritual revival.

review by The Reviewer © 2004

Desecrator

photo by The Reviewer © 2004

Last . . . Desecrator

More melodic metalers. One of the only acts to use dual guitar harmony on licks and riffs. Cool. Last time I heard that kinda thing . . it was 1976 with Thin Lizzy. Actually, Thin Lizzy was just a natural progression from the guitarists in Wishbone Ash.

Desecrator, as the name implies, sound nothing like Thin lizzy or Wishbone Ash. The grey matter trapped within my skull always had neurons firing in a random-access pattern. So. What did they really sound like? I don't know! Believe me though . . that's a good thing!

The only problem with not sounding like anything is . . . you will either be rich or poor. Nothing in the middle. But Hey! Who wants the midrange anyway!

Rock On guys!

review by The Reviewer © 2004

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