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
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