The Masque, Seel Street, Liverpool Thursday 6th October 2011
Whiplash returned once again with something of a mixed bag this time around. The night was headlined by Polish melodic black metallers Christ Agony, who are something of a ‘supergroup’, featuring current and former members of Vader, Supreme Lord and Incantation, among many others. The bill also featured grind, melodic death/doom and thrash infused death metal. Rarely has a Whiplash gig been this diverse!
Kicking things off were Nottingham’s Merciless Terror, who actually only arrived very shortly before they were due onstage thanks to traffic issues. Apparently though, they didn’t let that stress affect their performance, which was bold and confident. With their debut EP ‘Perpetual Devastation’ released in June, the band blend thrash and death metal with aplomb, and throw in the occasional slow and brooding passage for good measure. Definitely a band to look out for on the live scene!
Scotland’s Cancerous Womb debuted their new bassist Joe, who also happens to play in local favourites Neuroma. After missing out on playing their Whiplash slot last December due to being snowed in at home, the band were eager and ready to burst out of the traps on The Masque stage. This was more than evident from their set. They were ferocious and maniacal; exactly what you might expect from a band whose debut release was named in tribute to the antics of Josef Fritzl. Expertly executed death grind.
The best band of the night for me were London’s De Profundis. There is something fairly unique about this band. Their influences are clear and diverse. Everything from melodic (and not so melodic) death and thrash metal to the more somber elements of doom. All this factored in with the distinctive bass stylings of Arran McSporran, and their sound is refreshingly old school. In a metal scene which is largely cursed with a lack of invention and imagination, bands like this stand out like a beautifully sore thumb. It was truly a pleasure to watch this band. Highly recommended.
By the time Christ Agony were due to hit the stage, the Masque venue had filled with a palpable sense of anticipation. The band certainly delivered. Their set was interspersed with some highly effective atmospheric passages which were slotted in well amongst the monolithic black metal noise. There were also occasional slower moments more befitting of doom, which helped to keep us on our toes. Christ Agony’s performance was engaging and assured.
Another good night for Whiplash then, and this time quite a lot of people turned out to witness it. Next up is Saturnus…a doom gig. Doom metal is, in proportion to its merits, the least heard form of metal in the musical realm. Tragic really. Expect my next review to feature a massive rant about how undervalued doom is!
Photograph courtesy of Joe Speak.
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