August 11, 2005
After a delayed start to the evening, Big Gay Following ventually start up the musical merry-go-round so we can begin tonight’s ride. With their backs to the expectant crowd, the two guitarists slowly start building up their intent and as the stomping drums begin to pound down, a frenzy of powerful riffs, crazy effects and emotional solos pour out. Like a headache, Big Gay Following get more and more intense until it becomes second nature to have them hammering at your brain. Using great dynamics, the songs grow into a hectic monster of noise and BGF’s sanity disappears before our eyes. The sound and ideas are equally original, but tonight wasn’t the most passionate and energetic performance we have seen from these chaps, yet with only a 15 minute set, they still managed to leave an impression on the night.
Nex are up erm . next, and judging by their last visit to Junktion 7 we were expecting a imaginative show of crazy clown metal. But tonight the stage act seems to have been toned down, and the music does more of the talking. Basing the songs round injections of thumping bass and simple yet immense drumming, they let the harmonised guitar riffs and interesting vocal patterns add variety to their sound. The vocals are blunt but strong and with a fun hint of sarcasm, they carry the songs well. It’s a manic ever-changing hybrid of punk and metal, that mixes great build-ups and odd twists to create emotion and atmosphere. With great movement and stage presence, Nex’s set is really tight and played with bagfuls of confidence. Its like System of a down on ‘happy’ tablets and all the songs are well planned and clever. Using nice dynamic changes and a dark edge, the boys from Huddersfield put on an enigmatic show. Upbeat, insane music played by four unstable, skanking madmen.
So to tonight’s headliners and we are looking forward to an interesting and powerful performance from one of Nottingham’s more experienced bands, Illuminatus. As smoke descends on to the stage, and the eerie keyboards drifted into our eardrums, Illuminatus appear. Powerful and heavy guitars crash down and as the vocalist growls into the mic for the first time, we are treated to a old-skool metal fest, that is given a original and interesting twist with the keyboard and sample interludes. The booming bass and blistering guitars give them drive as the drums and vocals add the anger and rage. It all interlocks beautifully, Illuminatus add plenty of variety to an often mundane genre. The lyrical message sounds political and angry but at times its hard to hear the words, but the music seems almost instinctive and it is obvious that Illuminatus really know what they are doing. Hard-edged and vicious metal with a creepy, emotional underbelly, Illuminatus are metal masons of the 33rd degree.
Review – Steph Photos – Smat
Written By Steph
Photos ~ Smat
