SKULLSHIFTER, Various Others
Chris and I arrived at Connections a little past 10 o’clock for this show. I was eager to see Delian League and Skullshifter perform tonight. As fate would have it, Delian League canceled their performance, so I was pretty pissed off from the start. Then things began to get worse……
Everything was running late at the show, so Chris and I only missed three fourths of the first band. I felt like I was in a dream that wouldn’t end………….a nightmare where you start running, but get nowhere. I’m referring to the TORTURE I had to endure to see Skullshifter. All the opening bands SUCKED. I noticed the sad, sad truth about the majority of New Jersey’s metal crowd: they’re not all that metal. Almost every KID (yes, a young crowd was in attendance) wore the same shit: a sock-hat pulled down over the ears, baggy jeans, and an Old Navy shirt. WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT!?!?!?! New Yorkers wouldn’t tolerate this shit. Chris and I commented on the HUGE differences in the scene………it was saddening.
Skullshifter FINALLY was ready to play, and they ripped shit up. It was nice to see a good thrash metal band, and it’s even nicer to know that they’re from Jersey…………there’s hope yet. Guitarist CJ Scioscia was really shredding things up on his cherry red guitar (I think it was a Gibson). I heard a lot of Iron Maiden influence in his solos, yet he maintains his own style. CJ occasionally chimed in on backing vocals, adding grunts and screams to parts of the songs…..it was cool. Vocalist/Guitarist Tom Nolz was crushing on the guitar; he played with great stage presence. I actually enjoyed his vocals live more than on the album. Bassist J. McCaffrey and drummer Dan Davie played pretty tight. I noticed how Dan was playfully spinning his drum sticks around his fingers in between some of the beats……….it was cool. Clearly, Skullshifter are professional musicians who know their stuff………too bad all the other bands didn’t.
The set-list consisted of songs I never heard of, some even being mentioned as songs which weren’t performed in a while. This makes me wonder about Skullshifter’s history. I really enjoyed “I, Punishment”, and I was even able to recall some of the lyrics to sing along with, although I doubt anyone noticed (people were watching the band, not me). I would have liked them to play “Engines”, as this is my favorite song off their album, but hey…………what can you do?
SET LIST
Look for Skullshifter, coming to a venue/bar near you. They’ll take you back to the good old days of thrash, but keep you grounded with some modern influence. Thrash ‘Till Death!!!!!!!
Review by: Anthony DeLuca
PUNK METAL KARAOKE, GODS OF FIRE, GARY LOO BAND
I was REALLY looking forward to going to this show. I have been listening to “Wraith Of The Gods” for some time now, and the thought of seeing Gods Of Fire live was occupying my attention. I keep on missing this band play because of my busy work schedule, but tonight was different…….I’m on vacation this week. My friend Ray and I arrived at The Continental VERY early, and hit the bar for happy hour. I got annihilated; Ray became slightly buzzed (he’s a big dude & can hold his liquor very well).
Four acts were scheduled to perform tonight: Gary Loo and the Last Show Ever, Rayven(?), Gods Of Fire, and Punk Metal Karaoke. As it turns out, *** canceled, leaving more time for Gods Of Fire (I hopped). So, the hell begins…….
Gary Loo band absolutely SUCKED!!! They were a three piece band: A guitarist/vocalist/harmonica player, bassist, and drum. The strange part is this: the bass wasn’t your typical bass…..it was very skinny, and propped up on a stand. The drummer SAT on a BOX!! He hit it in different places, causing different pitches. The vocalist/guitarist/harmonica player seemed quit full of himself and resembled Kevin Nash from wrestling….it was both funny and painful. I don’t even want to get into this, but they did NOT fit the bill. Do I respect them as musicians? No. Did they impress me a little? No. Was I bored out of my mind while they “performed”? YES! I really hope that they follow the influence of their band name, so that no one else EVER has to hear this shit again.
Gods Of Fire were next. They fucking kicked serious ass!!!!!! I could not BELIEVE how GREAT they were live. They had IT ALL: Stage presence, enthusiasm, talent, and a genuine sense of having a good time. I kid you not…..I head-banged through their ENTIRE set, only stopping in between songs and to take pictures. DJ Blood Sacrifice looked evil as hell, clad in a long, black trench coat. He played his guitar with easy and style, head-banging almost as much as I was. Vocalist Prometheus had a playful vibe on stage; he performed as if he was in his natural habitat. Executing an array of high-pitched vocals and arm movements, Prometheus dawned the stage and enticed his audience. Right before GODS took the stage, Prometheus was doing a sound check. He hit SUCH a high note: starting low, then ascending to high. It SHOOK the room…….it fucking SHOOK THE ROOM!!! Bassist Evil Thunder was clad in all black, playing a yellow Warlock Bass. He looked bad-ass!!! Evil seemed to know all the songs (he’s the new guy), and performed with ease and with a grin on his face. Clearly, he was enjoying himself. Fra Diavolo pounded the shit out of his drums; you could feel EVERY beat in your chest. Fra kept perfect time, and clearly gives GODS a strong backbone. Saucy Jack proudly wore his usual: A black top hat, purple zebra striped pants, and a T-shirt. He played with style and talent; I was AMAZED at his guitar playing. It fucking kicked ass. I was additionally surprised to see Saucy take most of the guitar leads; I thought he and DJ would switch off a lot.
The set opened with “Nectar of the Gods”, which sounded better live than on the album……not to take anything away from the album version. When those first notes were played, it was awesome. When I closed my eyes, I felt like Helloween were playing in front of me……they were THAT good. Most of their set consisted of songs from their “Wraith of the Gods” album, including a KILLER version of “Hyperion”. It was surreal to finally see these songs performed live. I took notice of the LARGE audience Gods of Fire had in attendance; it was great. We even got a taste of a new song, “Doom’s Dark Hour”. Prometheus introduced it as a ballad, but it was FAR from a ballad. If this new song is ANY indication of the direction of Gods Of Fire & their new album, then we are in for a TREAT! The set was closed with a “requested song from a fan on their MySpace page”……..that’s right, this one was for me!!! “Prometheus Unbound” was fucking AWESOME live, complete with FULL stage show. Prometheus wore black wings, a black robe, and his hands were chained. At one point, he held a battle axe and wore a horned helmet. At the point in the song when “Prometheus is freed”, Prometheus breaks the chains he’s wearing. I really enjoyed the visual portrayal of this song. I REALLY wanted more, but time was up, and little did I know that I was in for another treat.
THE SET LIST
Nectar Of The Gods
Punk Metal Karaoke was up next. This concept is brilliant!! It’s a drummer, bassist, and guitarist. YOU are the vocalist. A clip-board is passed around with a list of Punk songs and Metal songs you can sign up for. Here’s the treat: Prometheus performed a KILLER version of Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. He performed it Gods of Fire style…..it was fucking awesome!!!!
After seeing them live, I have concluded the following: Gods Of Fire are destined for great success. I NEED to see them again……..and again…………and again. DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE! Catch them if you can!!
Review by: Anthony DeLuca
ALCHEMY X, EUPHORIA, EXIT TO ETERNITY, & THE ROBERT KATRIKH OVERATURE
If you’ve read each concert review this year, you’ll notice how EVERY trip to The Hook results in confusion and everyone getting lost. This time, however, was different. Thanks to Kym and Tom, we found our way with ease (thanks Kym & Tom!!).
I was very excited about this show for several reasons. First, I had wanted ALCHEMY X to play this venue; the staff is very friendly, the atmosphere is great, and overall The Hook is a GREAT venue. Second, I was eager to catch ROBERT KATRIKH OVERATURE, as I had missed their performance a few months ago. Third, I knew I was going to have a good time, as I always do….things were looking up, so far.
ROBERT KATRIKH OVERATURE was everything I was expecting them to be: Neoclassical Power Metal ala Yngwie Malmstein. Rob can REALLY shred, playing BETTER than Yngwie at times. Amazing stage presence and talent shined through this virtuoso’s guitar playing; notes played with his mouth and behind his back were some of the tricks Rob executed with ease. The vocalist displayed both power and range in his vocal execution. He prowled the stage as if it belonged to him….and it did!! The bassist of the band played an AMAZING set of slap-hand bass….no picks were used here. His talent and musicianship were evident. The drummer was amazing, and even performed a KILLER drum solo that left the walls shaking. As a whole, RKO was a force to be reckoned with. More please!!!!
BAND LINE-UP
Up next was EXIT TO ETERNITY. Having NEVER heard this band before, I was curious to hear what they had to offer. What I got was a kick in the ass from some heavy, old-school/thrash metal!! These guys tore-up the stage!!!! This quartet of power was led by a bassist/vocalist who played with both style and talent. Their guitarists were absolutely phenomenal! Hints of early Metallica and Kreator can be heard in their playing. It was a breath of fresh air to hear this type of metal again. ETE closed out their set with a type of free-style jam which was really cool. I couldn’t help but bang my head through their whole set. I look forward to their next show!!
BAND LINE-UP
The third band to perform was EUPHORIA. I had seen them a few months ago at The Hook, and I was pretty impressed with their style of old-school/power metal. Tonight would offer a more interesting performance. The stage was cleared except for the keyboard player and the drummer. A very atmospheric introduction was played, which led into the guitarist, bassist, and vocalist jumping onto the stage from in the crowd. It looked fucking awesome!!!! All the guitar parts were played with both talent and phenomenal stage presence. The bassist was brilliant, compliments of Twilight Odyssey, who was filling in. Zandelle’s front man took the microphone and led the band into a screaming metal frenzy. He was also filling in for this performance. I cannot recall the names of the songs EUPHORIA played, but I do remember that each one kicked serious ass!!! The vocals were top-notch, the guitar playing was killer, the bass playing was awesome, and the drumming was thunderous. A great instrumental was played towards the end of their set. Overall, EUPHORIA played a KILLER set and did not disappoint.
BAND LINE-UP
Finally, New Jersey’s ALCHEMY X took the stage. Every time I see this band, they seem to get better in some aspect. Songs both old and new were performed to vocal perfection, in joint harmony with the bass, drum, guitar, and keyboard. “Sister” and “Saturnalia Rising” were some favorites of the crowd and mine. Skilled musicianship was evident throughout AX’s performance. At times, vocal duties were harmonized between the vocalist and bassist. Additionally, the vocalist and bassist shared duties on the keyboard. The guitar work was both emotional and powerful. The seven-stringed bass and drum worked in synchronized melody together, keeping the backbone of this band powerful. Every note executed out of their vocalist’s mouth was both powerful and full of range. Overall, AX did not disappoint….they never do.
BAND LINE-UP
Review by: Anthony DeLuca
ZANDELLE & DEVILS ISLAND
The ride from hell, part III. Every time we try to drive to this venue, we get lost. Our first attempt got us into Red Hook, Brooklyn driving in circles. Our second attempt got us lost in China Town. Now, our third attempt found us lost in Manhattan, near Wall Street. There MUST be an easier way!!!!
Upon our arrival to The Hook, Shannon, Chris, and I hung out outside and chatted with Dmitre (Devils Island’s guitarist). We also joked around with George from Zandelle, and then proceeded to the bar. The original bill for this show had ZO2 as an opening act, but they cancelled. That meant more time for Devils Island and Zandelle to play….cool!!!!
Up first was Devils Island. They opened up with a really cool instrumental in which they demonstrated both musical talent and stage presence. The vocals were executed with both power and aggression. Hints of Iron Maiden/Helloween meets NWOBHM can be found in this band’s sound. My two favorite songs performed were “Iron Triangle” and the closing song “Fire(??)”. A nice cover of Guns N’ Roses’ “Night Train” was played. Dominating stage presence and musicianship was evident throughout D.I.’s set. At one point, both guitarists and the bassist lined up and rocked their guitars Helloween style. It was impressive. Overall, Devils Island delivered the goods and did not disappoint. I look forward to their next performance.
Closing the show was Zandelle. Curiously enough, there seems to be a new guitarist in the band (again??). Unfortunately, I never found out what the deal was. Whoever this guy was, I must say: his guitar playing is very good, but he lacks charisma and stage presence in his performance. Zandelle opened their set with “Bringer of Doom”. I always look forward to Zandelle performing songs off their “Shadows of Humanity” album; it’s my favorite album of theirs. Other songs included the classic “Immortal Realms”, “The Cycle”, “A Hero’s Quest”, a new song called “Blood Red Shores” which CRUSHES, and a cover of Judas Priest’s “Night Crawler”, which was nicely performed. As the show was nearing it’s end, George told the crowd the last song would be the one everyone came to hear. It was “Warlords of Steel”. I screamed “Warlords of Beer”. To my delight, Zandelle replaced the “Steel” with “Beer” in the song’s chorus. “Warlords of Beer” was absolutely hysterical!!! Showing the more playful side of Zandelle, “Warlords…” was a great set closer.
Yet another KILLER metal show at the Hook. What are you waiting for???? Get your ass down there!!!!! Thanks and hello to Ben and Pam from Twilight Odyssey, Anthony, Joe, and George from Zandelle, Dmitre, George, and Anthony from Devils Island, and everyone in both Zandelle and Devils Island for a GREAT performance. See you next weekend for Alchemy X, Euphoria, and Robert Katrikh Overature.
Review by: Anthony DeLuca
ALCHEMY X
The ride to see AX on Friday was as usual for Ant, Chris, Ray and I. For those of you that have had the fortune of not hearing about our infamous show rides, too bad cause it’s all coming out now. I drive and Ant navigates. Chris and Ray try to help if I am not screaming at Ant already for telling me to go the wrong way. Normally Chris and Ray give up and begin torturing me with waterfall noises after I have had to relieve my bladder for the past hour while Ant laughs uncontrollably. Then of course we have our “trusty” Expedia directions. Which somehow are just never on the money. So, after making countless U-turns and asking the local paramedics for directions we found it…
The rail looks pretty cool as soon as you walk in. But, it’s all a deceiving façade. The back of The Rail where the stage is set up is comparable to watching a show in someone’s shoe on a hot summer day. But after a few ice-cold beers and the opening sounds of AX it all is soon forgotten.
To be completely honest, it took me some time to get into these guys. Anthony first introduced me to them a few years back when Bob was singing. Even though he has a distinctive voice, it wasn’t a style of singing I enjoyed. Soon after that Steve gave me their first album to listen to. With the amazing guitar work and kick ass rhythm I couldn’t take the CD out of my player for weeks. Although, I still thought they were lacking the perfect vocalist to fit their style.
Enter Tom Engel and even though it was their first show you would assume these guys have been playing together for years. I have known Tom for quite a while and have always enjoyed his vocals. As soon as the first few notes of Saturnalia Rising came out of his mouth it was clear he was meant to sing for these guys.
Once they began Sister, the show got really good for me. That’s my favorite Ax song. And for some reason the lyrics evoke some very powerful emotion from me. If you know me then you know what a feat that is. I was used to hearing their first singer and had some hesitance how it would sound with Tom fronting. To say the least it was much better than anticipated. Except for the small microphone mishap. Every song to follow was just as amazing with their new front man who seems to have an endless supply of energy. Their song Virtuous though seems to have been written for Tom to sing. The powerful chorus sucks you in and makes you want more.
I can only expect amazing things from these guys further down the road. Can’t wait till the next show.
THE SET-LIST
1)-Saturnalia Rising
Review by: Shannon Brehme
AXES OF EVIL STRIKE AGAIN…..THE RETURN OF 3 INCES OF BLOOD
3 INCHES OF BLOOD, various others
My first thoughts on this show were immediately dispelled upon our arrival to the club. I was under the impression that this show would have a very small crowd because of its last-minute addition. Boy, was I wrong. There were metalheads EVERYWHERE!!!!! I then began to wonder where all these people were for the show I attended in Asbury Park. Whatever…..the important thing was that I was going to see this band again (third time in less than 6 months) AND there was a decent crowd to cheer them on.
The usual 3IOB crowd was with me: Chris, Ray, and Shannon. This time, however, my brother Joseph came along too which once again shocked me. We waited through the opening bands…..finally, the time had come. As the band took the stage, guitarist Shane immediately recognized us, saluting us with a big smile & hello, and the \m/ sign. Drummer Matt also remembered us, and was glad to see us again. Vocalist Jamie remembered us too…..shit, the whole band did, and we felt very welcomed by them (cool, hugh?). Their set was absolutely AMAZING!! The sound was great, and their stage presence was enticing. When “Crazy Nights” was played, the whole crowd just went nuts!!! Vocalist Jamie introduced each song with a little comment here and there; everything worked well together!! The set was closed with a blazing version of “Deadly Sinner”, to which the crowd also went nuts to, as heads were banging, fists were pumping, and all simply marveled at this bands aura. This was truly an unforgettable night.
THE SET-LIST
Fear...
I didin’t take photos of this show……I video-taped it, with the kind permission of the band, of course. After the show, I interviewed vocalist Jamie, and guitarists Shane and Justin. We all reminisced, laughed, and had a GREAT time. Look for this band AGAIN in late summer, on tour with Cimmera (I think).
Review by: Anthony DeLuca
TWO CRAZY NIGHTS DRENCHED IN 3 INCHES OF BLOOD
3 INCHES OF BLOOD, various others
The last time I followed a band from one venue to the next on their tour was a long time ago, when I saw ANGEL DUST. It was a BLAST, and I’ll never forget it. I pretty much relived my concert going experience I had with A.D. recently. I had the privilege to see 3 INCHES OF BLOOD two consecutive times on their tour, only days apart. These two concerts are being review as one for several reasons, as you will see.
Tuesday, April 26 was the start of it all. This actually stems back to Friday, April 15. My friends and I were getting ready to go down the shore. I was bored from waiting for one of my friends (we left around midnight), so I decided to go to the 3 Inches… website. As usual, I checked their tour dates section to see where they were going next. I was upset while doing this because they had played CBGB some time ago, and we missed it. Well, behold my eyes what I saw….they had a few more dates added in the USA!! They were returning to CBGB!!! We absolutely HAD to go!! I made arrangements with both my jobs to have the evening available. April 26 was upon us….
Thursday, April 28 is upon us. Bad news has put an obstacle in our path. The club has posted on its website that they only cater to 21 and over for shows. This meant that Ray and his brother could not go. However, Ray managed to get in touch with the club, and they made an exception for him (thank you!). So, Ray, Chris, Shannon and I headed for Asbury Park. We arrived on time, and waited 30 minutes for the doors to open.
Overall, it was a TERRIFIC two nights with this band. They are all very nice, and I look forward to their return to the area. Extol the Necrowizard!!!!!!!!!
Review by: Anthony DeLuca
OVERKILL, ARTIKAY, CORE DEVICE, ARCTIC FLAME, & AVATAR
This was going to be a special show. Not only was this to be my first time at the Starland, but I was also going to be there in odd company. The usual friends came with me: Rich, Chris, Ray, and Shannon. However, my brother Joseph was also going to this show. He and I NEVER go to the same shows together, so this was going to be cool. Problem number one: getting there…
We kept missing our exit off the parkway, so we were running a little late. I didn’t care, as I only wanted to see Arctic Flame & Overkill. At first glance of the club, I felt reminded of my old grammar school I attended when I was a kid. This place looked weird. The inside, however, was beautiful. Every side, corner, or open area of this place had a bar. I’m not kidding……there must be a LEAST seven bars in this place. While wandering around the venue, I ran into Bill and Debb from Metal Fury Webzine (metalfury.com). Check out their site, and if you see them, say hello. They are VERY nice people. I also ran into Rod, the guitarist from Arctic Flame. Rod and I became friends at a party around Christmas time. I later saw him playing in A.F. in Brooklyn. It was a cool coincidence. Anyway, Rod led me over to the rest of the band, where I met up with Mike Paradine, and Steve Campbell. It was nice to meet both of them. We shared some beers, and laughed about how crappy the other bands sounded. Let’s get into that…..
The first band, Avatar, was already playing when my friends and I entered the venue. They sucked.
Next up was Arctic Flame. The audience received them very nicely. Opening with “Steel Angels”, Dave belted out that first great power metal scream, as heard in the song. He was energetic and full of stage presence. The crowd was head-banging, pounding their fists, and giving the \m/ sign. This band stole the show from the other bands opening for Overkill. Other songs included in the set were “Levellers Wish” and “Kingdom of Illusion”. A new song was played, which was cool but I forget the title of it. A lot of people in the audience were not familiar with AF’s material, although after the first song, heads were banging and curiosity was flowing. After the band completed their set, the audience roared and applauded. There was even a demand for an encore, but unfortunately there was no time for one.
Core Device was next to play. Again, I am plagued with the endurance of listening to a crappy band’s entire set list before I could indulge in Overkill. Boring and completely unentertaining….next please!!
The last band to play before Overkill was Artikay. I swear, every time I see Overkill, this shitty band opens for them. They must have some incriminating photos of the band, or SOMETHING, because this band ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!!! The vocalist obnoxiously starts introducing the band members. When she gets to the bassist (who is her sister), she asks the audience, “Isn’t she hot?”. After this, she proceeds to tell us “Well…forget it, because that’s her husband on guitar.”. Here’s my complaint: said bassist STAYED on the SAME fret of the SAME string for about 90 percent of each song. Play bass much??? Additionally, the husband guitarist played the same shitty chords OVER and OVER AGAIN. This must be hell. At the end of their set, the vocalist once again makes an ass of herself by saying “Remember girls: ANYONE can do this. It’s not just a man’s world up here. Women can play metal too,” Well, apparently ANYONE can get a concert gig AND record an album, because Artikay SUCK, yet they have succeeded in doing BOTH! STANDARDS PEOPLE…..WE MUST HAVE STANDARDS!!!!!!
Finally, Overkill takes the stage. They NEVER disappoint me. Several songs were played off their new album, which I wasn’t familiar with. Other songs included “Hello…From the Gutter”, “Fuck You”, and “Wrecking Crew”. I was even bold enough to try out my first attempts in the mosh pit. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not into moshing, but I figured why not. I mainly did it because my brother was with me, and he LOVES to mosh, so I went at it. Hell, I knocked a few people on their asses and no one really bothered me, so I guess it went okay. I then returned to the bar to watch the band. As usual, Bobby Blitz jumped right into the crowd and was passed around at the end of their set.
I wish Starland wouldn’t book all these shitty bands to play before an opening act. Arctic Flame was the ONLY opening band that musically fit the bill AND was talented. Once again, it all comes down to money, as the evil “Pay to Play” policy reveals its ugly head. I’m going to hang out at The Hook more often. They don’t believe in “Pay to Play”, and neither should you!!!!!!
Review by: Anthony DeLuca
MASTERMIND & FOUNTAIN OF TEARS
After driving almost two hours, Shannon and I arrived at The Pirates Den just as Bill from MASTERMIND was doing his sound check. This was our first time being in this venue; the staff seemed pretty nice, and the layout was okay (I felt the bar was way too close to the stage). Over all, this is a nice venue. Shannon and I had a few drinks, and anticipated the beginning of the show while speaking with Bill and Rich. I must say, it’s always a pleasure to run into these guys; they’re both professional and down to Earth.
MASTERMIND finally started their set, opening with a new song from their upcoming album. Vocalist Tracy McShane performed with grace and power, adding to MASTERMIND’s overall performance (as she usually does). Drum god Rich Berends pounded the hell out of his drums all night; he is a both charismatic and talented drummer, always keeping in pace with each and every song. I would like to see him perform a drum solo one-day!!! Guitarist Bill Berends once again handled all guitar work with ease and entertainment. Filling in on bass was Mike Fillus. Mike is primarily a guitarist, but is helping out the band until they find a permanent bassist. Having said this, I have to point out that Mike was simply AMAZING on bass. He handled EVERY song like he had written them himself. Songs like “The Beast of Babylon” and “Queen of Sheba” were performed off their “Angels…” album, plus some new songs. A cover of TOOL was also along MASTERMIND’s set list, which was cool to hear with Tracy on vocals. Once again, Mastermind did NOT disappoint.
Up next was Pennsylvania’s FOUNTAIN OF TEARS. Having heard only two songs from this band, I was anxious to hear what they had to offer. If the two songs I heard were any indication of this band’s talent, then I was in for a nice treat. Complete with both talent and incredible stage presence, FOUNTAIN enticed and enraptured its audience. Vocalist Bonnie was simply amazing; she hit EVERY note in both low and high octaves. Her long fiery red hair added to her wicked look, which reminded me of Matt Barlow of ICED EARTH. She ruled the audience. Guitarist Mike DiDonato played some incredible guitar solos and did so with ease. Playing both melodically and fast, Mike is a nice element to FOUNTAIN’s musical drive. Bassist Erik Ney played with great stage presence, right along side the drumming of Joe Daub. Adding to the atmosphere and backbone of the band is Jeff King on keyboard. Overall, FOUNTAIN put on a great show and left its audience (and myself) wanting more. Look for them in the Pennsylvania area.
Review by: Anthony DeLuca
**NAME** BAND, INVIDIA, DEVILS ISLAND, EUPHORIA, & VISCID
The Hook…could this be the new Lamour?? That certainly would be nice, as upon my second visit to this club I found the staff to once again be accommodating, friendly, and very nice. Second time around, I once again found my friends and I getting lost in a circle of repeated side streets, unable to locate The Hook. We need better directions…..
Once we entered the club, *** BAND was just finishing the last song in their set, which seemed like a KILLER version of Yngwie Malmstein’s “I’ll see the Light Tonight”. This band seemed very tight, although I cannot properly review their performance, as I came in on the last two minutes of this song. Their set closed out with the guitarist (dressed like Yngwie, complete with medieval shirt and such) tossed his guitar into the crowd, right into someone’s waiting hands. The crowd’s response was loud and enthusiastic….I’ll have to look for this band next time.
The main reason we came this night was to see INVIDIA. They were EVERYTHING I thought they would be live. The duel guitar work was simply amazing to see, and the bass playing was both recognizable and full of stage presence. My favorite song, “Rise of the Unborn” was performed to perfection. A mosh pit was inevitable, and INVIDIA played to its crowd like any professional band does. Some random fist-pounding “Hey…hey….hey”’s were demanded by the vocalist, and the crowd responded with interest and attention. At one point, the vocalist introduced the band, and mentioned that it was Good Friday. I almost pissed myself laughing after my friend’s comment, which echoed though out the entire venue. “Jesus is a zombie”. ….I fucking love it!!! Only Chris can come up with such ingenious humor!!! I was head-banging my brains out through the whole set. When INVIDIA was done, the audience demanded MORE!!! This UNSIGNED band received cheers for an ENCORE!!!! Encore they did, and this was just before the icing on the cake. After a BLISTERING guitar solo, one of the guitarists took off his guitar and SLAMMED it onto the ground. It fucking broke RIGHT IN HALF!!!!! This was COMPLETELY unexpected, and VERY metal!!!!!!!!!!! Their set was finish, followed by raving cheers from the audience. INVIDIA are pure metal. Funny observation: most of the crowd LEFT after INVIDIA was done. They were clearly the highlight of the night!
Up next was DEVILS ISLAND. I had only heard one song from this band, which I liked. Musically, DEVILS.. was tight as hell and full of all the power metal hooks and melodies you look for. The vocals were good, in vein of a Blaze Baily meets a high octave vocalist. I think this is a new band, as they didn’t have any material available…just a small demo. Their songs were interesting, and the one song I heard was played which was really cool. The guitar playing was great, and the chorus is very catchy. At one point, INVIDA’s vocalist joined DEVILS.. on stage for a song, which was interesting. Overall, I feel this band has potential, but they need to fine-tune their performance and vocals. I look forward to see what they can do don the road.
EUPHORIA took the stage next. Their vocalist reminded me of James Rivera of HELSTAR. Everything from appearance to vocal capabilities reminded me of James. This was a cool touch to the band, adding that wicked HELSTAR touch to an already talented band. The guitar work was good, however an addition of a second guitarist would definitely spice things up AND add different dimensions to their songs. The drum and bass were pretty tight, and each song had great melodies, hooks, and powerful screams. During their set, the guitarist mentioned that they had an E.P available, but had none with them that night. Based on what I heard from this band’s live performance, I would live to hear what their E.P has to offer.
The final band of the night was VISCID. Unfortunately, we had to get going before they took the stage. I hope to catch them next time.
I hope to catch more shows at The Hook….it’s a GREAT venue with a VERY friendly staff. See you at the nest show!!
Review by: Anthony DeLuca
ZANDELLE, MAGUS BEAST, ARCTIC FLAME, & SEVEN WAYS OUT
I have to admit: I was very excited about this show. I hadn’t been to a metal show in a LONG time, and this was MUCH needed. Chris, Shannon, and I arrived at the club a little early, so we immediately hit the bar for a round of shots and beers. We ran into some old friends, including Gab from the Russian Metal Squad. The overall appearance of the club was nice; the layout is good and so is the sound. The ENTIRE staff was extremely nice and pleasant, which is unheard of. I wish the stage was a little larger, but for what was there, it was nice. Onto the music…
First up was SEVEN WAYS OUT, which was a female fronted band. Musically, they were okay but no lasting impressions were made. Their vocalist was nothing too impressive, except for being some eye-candy. I didn’t feel this band belonged on the bill, but they did okay for themselves despite my feelings. Yawn….next please.
ARCTIC FLAME took the stage in full power metal force. Their vocalist reminded me of my friend Jay; they look identical. Weird. …..Anyway, my friend Rod plays guitar in this band, and he did a kick ass job. This band has a lot of potential. I remember at one point, the vocalist was introducing the band members. When he introduced their bass player, who resides in Jersey, he asks “Anyone out there from Jersey?”. I was the only guy going “Yeah!!!” thanks to all the beer I had. I don’t care….I had a nice time with it. One song which stuck out for me was “Battle of Heaven and Hell”, which fucking kicked ass. Heavy, melodic, and killer drum work. This was a nice showcase for AF’s musicianship. I enjoyed this band, and hope to see them again soon.
Next band was MAGUS BEAST. This band NEVER disappoints! Chris and I were speaking with their guitarist John earlier, and he let us know that a lot of new songs would be heard in their set list. Absolute raw power and aggression can only describe the feeling you get when you see MB. Their energy and enthusiasm is top notch. Their vocalist was quite drunk, and made a point of it in between each song. He still maintained his composure, making his vocal performance seem flawless. Covering on bass was a guest musician. My compliments to TWILIGHT ODYSSEY’s bassist; he did a great job filling in. Shortly after a few songs were played, Joe from ZANDELLE graced the stage and played bass for a few songs. Joe has come a LONG was as a bass player. His stage presence is unparalleled. A sheer pleasure to watch, Joe added a nice touch to MB’s already fine tuned stage show. Closing the set was MB’s newest bass player, who did a great job. He seemed to fit the band well, and I wish him luck with the band.
Finally, ZANDELLE took the stage, opening with their musical intro found on their “Twilight On Humanity” album. Not too many old songs were played, to my dismay. “Bringer of Doom” was the only pre “Twilight…” song played. No matter, as ZANDELLE ALWAYS puts on a great show. The crowd sang happy birthday to front man George, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves quite a bit. “Warlords of Steel” was a great crowd sing a long, and a new song called “Blood Red Shores” was amazing! I’ve seen this band come a LONG way, and I have to saw that this is one of the BEST line-ups for ZANDELLE, although I wonder why T.W. is gone; he was a great guitar player. ZANDELLE closed out their set with a trio of IRON MAIDEN songs, with one leading into the other. “Aces High”, “The Trooper” and ?? (I don’t remember the other) were played nicely, however needed more aggression in the vocal department. Remember: not EVERYTHING is supposed to be sung in the higher octave rang. This was overall, a GREAT set and a GREAT time.
One thing I learned about The Hook was that it isn’t a “Pay to Play” venue, which is GREAT. Today, just about EVERY venue is “Pay to Play”, and it ruins any chances of an undiscovered band from gaining fan base or becoming known. The Hook is trying to resurrect the metal scene in Brooklyn, and WE SHOULD SUPPORT THIS VENUE. Go to the shows and support the bands. This will bring larger name bands over, and the scene will flourish. We have to show that there IS a scene. In other words: GET YOUR ASS OVER TO THE HOOK!!!
Review by: Anthony DeLuca
November 18, 2005 @ Connections - Clifton, NJ
(out of order)
1. I,Punishment
2. Etched In Sand
3. Exploiter
(can't remember the rest)
October 24, 2005 @ The Continental – New York, NY
Eternally Strong
Hyperion
Welcome To Hell
Doom’s Dark Hour
Prometheus Unbound
August 6, 2005 @ The Hook – Brooklyn, NY
Robert Katrikh – GUITAR
Josh King - VOCALS
Phil Coard - BASS
Justin Willems - DRUMS
Mike Khalilov - KEYBOARD
Robert Tighe - GUITAR
Carmine Cafaro - VOCALS/BASS
Dmitriy Shnaydman - DRUMS
Mike Levak– GUITAR
George Tsalikis - VOCALS
Gennady Khirich - BASS
? - DRUMS
? - KEYBOARD
Chris Fox – GUITAR
Tom Engel – VOCALS/KEYBOARD
Steve Ratchen – BASS/BACKING VOCALS/KEYBOARD
Chris Scorsesse - DRUMS
July 29, 2005 @ The Hook – Brooklyn, NY
Return performance featuring new vocalist
TOM ENGEL
July 15, 2005 @ The Rail - Bound Brook, NJ
2)-Sister
3)-Angelika
4)-Penance
5)-A Kiss Before Dying
6)-Beyond the veil of sorrow
7)-Virtuous
June 15, 2005 @ DINGBATZ – Clifton, NJ
Crazy...
Revenge...
Wykydtron...
Axes...
Darkhorse...
Premonition...
Orcs...
Isle...
Deadly...
April 26, 2005 @ CBGB – New York, New York
April 28, 2005 @ The Saint – Asbury Park, New Jersey
After a little debating and stupid arguing, Shannon was able to drive. We took the path train into NYC & got off at the Christopher Street stop. From there, Chris and I knew the trek we had waiting for us. It was about a 30-minute walk, and we were already running late. So, we hailed a taxicab, and tried to get a ride with all five of us. Unfortunately, the driver was not having it, and informed us that it was illegal to ride with five people in one car. So Ray, Ray’s brother Chris, and Shannon took that cab, while Chris and I took the immediate one after. We arrived to the club on time, but there was a HUGE line waiting to get in. A LOT of people came for GOD FORBID, who really suck. Funny….when I saw ANGEL DUST, they were touring with G.F…..now I have to relive this shit again?!?!? AAHHH!!! The fucking club was letting people in five at a time!!!!!!!!! You believe this shit???!!! We could actually HEAR 3IOB’s set from outside. By the time we got into the club, they had already completed most of their set. I rushed to the front to snag some pictures. My friends and I caught about 2 and a half of their songs. GOD DAMN IT!!!! Was our trip in vain…was it all for nothing?? Sure, seeing “Deadly Sinner” live was awesome, but this was no show….we missed it!! I was not having it. I caught the attention of the drummer, Matt. I asked for autographs, and he took me to the back stage area with Ray and Ray’s brother. It was back in the bowels of CBGB’s back stage area that we met the entire band. Our albums were signed, and I had even offered Matt a beer. We bull shitted a while, then headed to the back of the club where there was more room. I bought Chris and Shannon a round of beer, and I then hung out with Matt again. The poor guy…I was looking to buy shirts for everyone, and he had to keep running back and forth. Anyway, we made a new friend that night. I told Matt we were only there to see 3IOB, so we were leaving. Upon our exit to the streets of NY, we ran into the rest of the band, in which we partook in conversation. I winds up that they were playing New Jersey 2 days later. We HAD to be there, and make up for all the shit we missed out on. We began our trek home…..
Having made an immediate decision, Chris and Shannon already knew they would be going to The Saint for the next 3IOB show. Ray decided to call out of work, and his brother was all for it. I was the problem. I needed to get out of my full-time job early AND get out of working my part-time job. Lucky for me, my boss is really cool and let me leave early. I made up some excuse for my part-time job, and that was it.
The first two bands, Lanky (who was having a CD Release Party) and an unknown, had a small crowd of friends and family for support. There really wasn’t a lot of people there, plus 3IOB was added to this show last minute, so there was virtually no time to promote it. As far as we were concerned, this was OUR show, and it fucking ruled. 3IOB took the stage, playing several tracks off their second release (first “Official” one), which included “The Wickedtron”, “Axes of Evil”, and “Deadly Sinner”. My friends and I offered the band a relentless cheering section. It was fucking great. Each band member played as if they were at any other show, with stage presence, talent, and enthusiasm. Once their set was over, we demanded more, AND so did the club owner, announcing over his P.A. system that he wanted more!! So, 3IOB encored, and that was it. We spent the rest of the night talking with the band, hanging out, and drinking. It was absolutely amazing!!!!
April 23, 2005 @ The Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
April 1, 2005 @ The Pirate Den, Gloucester, NJ
March 25, 2005 @ The Hook: Brooklyn, New York
February 25, 2005 @ The Hook: Brooklyn, New York