PLAY FROM YOUR HEART!!!!

I went to Soundwave the other day and I've been trying to figure out how the beast way to write this up would be given it would be just too hard to write a full review for every band I saw. I decided the best way around this problem was to narrow it down to three bands. The three bands that made the most impact on me that day.

So lets get down to brass tacks here. The first band that impacted me was Turisas. The reason they had the impact is because they were close to main reason i went to soundwave and they did not disapoint. It was great to see Turisas walk out in all there glory with there war paint and the band played with such passion. At one point Warlord Nygard was squirming on his back on the floor, playing air guitar, while singing. Robert Engstrand could barely contain himself to his keyboard when he didn't need to play, running around on stage, you could see the joy he had to play and I go by the rule if the band truly enjoys themselves on stage then that will transfer onto the crowd and this was no exception.

I'm gonna keep both of these short because neither is the true message i have for this post but regardless these bands need to be mentioned. On that note, the next band I have to bring up is Kvelertak. These guys blew my mind and were the stand out of the entire day. It was like watching a metal band with punk energy, running around on stage jumping off speaker stacks and at one point the frontman jumped into the crowd to crowdsurf while singing. These guys were amazing and i just gotta see them again. It was just great to see a band with such great passion and sadly there just wasnt enough of this at soundwave.

This brings me neatly to the last band which must be mentioned System Of A Down. Now the reason i have to mention them is because they were the greatest disapointment of the entire day. This is a band ive been waiting 9 years to see, a band that is on my list of 35 bands to see before i die. So naturally i was excited to see them play. I expected to see System play with all the passion and pride, anger and sorrow that i grew up listening to in there music growing up. Unfortunately what i saw was a band come on stage play there set with no heart and barely ever acknowledge the audience. Don't get me wrong the guitar work was tight and the vocals sounded perfect but that was were the problem laid, it was just too perfect, it just seemed too rehearsed. Hell for most of the set I watched Shavo didnt even get up of his stool. Now I've seen bands pay lack lustre sets before but I would never expect it from system I expected to see a band that played from there fucking hearts and those immortal words of bill hicks ring in my head everytime I think of the set I witnessed "PLAY FROM YOUR FUCKING HEART!" The thing that has been driving me insane about the System set, tho, is all the fans I've heard just taking it on my face value, thinking it was System Of A Down so it must have been good. Does no one else see the irony in this? System were a band whos political message taught me to never just accept what im told but to always make my own opinions but the fans aren't doing this the only reasons I've been given is to why System were so amazing are along the lines of "because they were amazing" THAT'S NOT A REASON!!! On top of that those few I've heard accept that Systems set was generally lack lustre just make excuses for them. "They're getting old, they can't play like they used to." You go tell that to Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson or Lemmy, they'll tell you that's a load of crap. Other people have said to me "well we should just be happy they came to Australia". Well I am happy they came but that shouldn't mean I should be happy about the show regardless. I've seen incredible shows played in perth. Also if your not gonna play with you heart don't put yourself on the bill, just dont play. I've gome to the conclusion I would have rather paid $180 to see a local band like Claim The Throne or Voyager pour there hearts out on stage than witness what I witnessed System do.

All in all It was a good day. I will always hate the organisation, or lack there of, that goes into sounndwave but they still get some good bands to come. It was a day of highs and lows, I saw bands I've never heard of before blow my mind and I saw bands I worship greatly disapoint me. But you know, shit happens and this experience wont tarnish my faith in live music it wont even stop me from seein System Of A Down play again. I just hope next time it's a lot better. But one thing i realised while writing this blog in my head as i worked today is that if i want to hear a band play from there heart well i better damn well always speak from my heart. So to anyone who ever reads, wether you be friends, family or random people i may never meet, I would like promise that I will always write from my heart beacuase if I don't well theres just no point in writing.

Untill next time metal on my friends.
The Oompa Loompa

Voyager Video Shoot

So a couple of days ago I went to the Voyager video shoot and well, 'twas fairly epic. I walked into the pub got myself a drink and seconds later heard, yelled from the stage in style that reminded me off sex bob-omb, "Dead Set Radio". So I figured I should movemy ass to the stage and im glad i did. The band was what one might call pop metal, metal for the kids really and while at first this seemed like a deterrent after not too long I didnt seem to mind. At first the music was average with nothing that made me go "wow" but from the moment i started to wathc this band i was captured by the lead singer, a small blonde girl with an incredible stage persona. Her presence reminded me of a yound Cherri Curry. She was kind of timid but still had this real sex apeal about her. Her vocals reminded me of a mix between Hayley Williams of Paramore and Patricia Day of Horrorpops. Needless to say i was thoroughly impressed her and just started to watch and enjoy the show while the band still did nothing for me. It wasn't until almost the very end that the band also impressed me with each member giving a solo it was at this point i really thought "shit! These guys can play". Unfortunately this was, as i said, almost at the end of the set and i found that once i finally got into them the set ended. Alas this is the problem with having the opening slot  at a gig.

Dead Set Radio

Temp tattoo by DSR support crew

what i then woke up with on my face

The next band, by the name of Laws of Attraction, I cant really say much about. They reminded me of a mix of Slipknot and Sugar Army, which basically boiled down to Slipknot but a bit gayer. I didn't find this band particularly bad I dare say they were even listeneable, all but for one thing. The thing that drove me insane about thit band is every now and then, for no apparent reason and with no lyrics the bassist would just scream into the microphone. This can be good to make the music heavier but only when it fits into the song, this screaming did not. ultimately I found this band quite disapointing.

Laws of Attraction

Next up were Empires Laid Waste. Now not only do Empires play music that makes you want to start a fist fight with a grizzly bear (and feel you can win), frontman Pete has an excellent repore with the audience. He talks to the crowd as if they were his mates and in the end you feel like you are. But the important thing is the music is great. It's fast, loud and it's ballsy. Empires is the kind of band that goes up on stage to a) play for there fans and b) have a good time and this transfers into there live show. When they enjoy themselves you cant help but enjoy yourself too. The main thing I can say is it was a fucking awesome set.

Empired Laid Waste

Empires vocalist Pete

Finally Voyager took to the stage and I must say its the best show ive seen all year. I found myself at the front og the stage directly in front guitarist Scott and his playing blew me away. It was fast it was precise and it sounded incredible. But the reason we were all there was to make a music video. So when the band announced they were playing Seize The Day everyone pulled out there smart phones and started recording. I recorded for a while untill my friend was nice enough to take over for me so i could lose my shit in the pit and trust me when I say I did just that. The amusing thing was tho every time I took a small break from headbanging, to watch the band and look at the crowd, I'd notice somebodies camera on me. I'll be honest it made me feel like a champ. The one thing i always look forward to at a Voyager gig tho, is there medleys and this time was the best one ive seen starting with What Is Love moving onto Silverchair's Freak then the Pulp Fiction theme, Blind by Korn, and then an amazing metal rendition of Whitney Houstons I Wanna Dance With Somebody, then breathe then just a snippet of Voyager own I Am The Revolution. Like i said it was the best ive seen them do, but its all well and goos for me to tell you all about to trully understand it's greatness you'll have to get of your ass and go to a voyager gig. After the other night thats something i couldn't more highly recomend. The show just blew me away and i just lost my shit. There was such energy in the crowd that even my inner punk came out and i couldnt help but pump my fists.

Voyager

Scott of Voyager shredding away

All in all it was an awesome night with a little something for every metal fan and the only words I'm left with now are; this is why you need to support local music because bands will come along that blow your mind and if you don't go out and support them they may not be given the chance they need so if ever given the chance i strongly reccomend anyone reading this should go see Dead Set Radio, Empires Laid Waste or Voyager. You wont regret it.

So until next time, metal on my friends.
The Oompa Loompa