Quick thoughts from train ride back home.
Last time I saw Pseudokommando, was in Oulu. The live side of the project was still in developing phase, rough around edges and clearly still looking for it's final form. And now it has been found. Very dynamic sound control with not blasting at full volume, but keeping it loud enough to feel like a gig, much easier to work with many elements when there's room in the sounscape. Back tapes, WASP synth, contac miced sheet of very nicely resonating metal. Also played with good touch. In my opinion the most important part of scrap metal is of course the metal itself, it doesn't really matter what pedals you use, and most of often less is more. Last time vocals had very twisting effect, this time they came though clean and worked much better. More power to them and you could hear lyrics very well. The end was especially great, somber sample playing and crushing sound of the metal sheet being punched, worked so well for me. Pseudokommando has take leaps forward, now the debut tape please!
Seen quite a few Vigilantism gigs, but this was one was easily the best. Everything worked in balance, everything was in control. Tasty synth sounds after another, with very as classic as it gets background with with school shooter etc. I personally don't mind using "classic tropes" of the genre when the gig is musically very good and convincing. And it was, vocals that usually have been so and so were excellent, just the right amount of wobble to make it sound inhuman enough. This night was off to a great start, with two first acts clearly delivering their very best.
It has been a while since I've seen KSNK live in public. My head wants to say 10 years ago. Table had many sorts of gear, old tape radio being to focal point, besides the stoic face of the man. Sitting behind his gear, mostly letting the sound do it's work. Gig started with such sudden blast that I wept for the PA and it made the italians literally jump in the air. Gig revolved aroubd Murska material, background video had stones getting pulverized, lots of hazy lo-fi footage of insides of a factory. The stone noise avalanche took some turns and twists, some confusion with gear not working as intended and then crushing roar vanished. Very good +20 min shake up!
Grunt & Bizarre Uproar collaboration CD left me a bit cold, it was not what I had in mind but also being interesting at the same time. This gig on other was exactly what I was expecting/hoping for. Best of both worlds, shrieking and shredding sound of scrap metal abuse accompanied with synth sounds bringing dynamics to it, vocals that both have best in the game. It was kind of interesting also to see BU do vocals through the "Grunt vocal sound". Both guys clad in leather and latex, uniform look with leather trench coats and latex masks. It was sort of a collaboration that makes a lot sense, but also now the time was right for it. 30 years after their first split releases. Both at the very peak of their creative output, skill and vision to execute the mix of complex sounds and make it work so effectively. My favorite moment was the duo vocal moment, with BU doing the manifesting, then handing the mic to Grunt direction who shouted couple lines before BU going back at it. Power electronics ecstacy.
Sutcliffe No More, relentless, loud, in your face. Mic cables explode when these veterans trample the stage. Launching track after track, spicing them up with frantic synth + kaosspad (?) work. What made SNM so powerful to me is the sheer quality of the sound, backtracks come with such force it is like getting hit with a shovel to your face over and over. And if you wanna talk about stage charisma, look no further. It is different type of presence than GO for example. It's the face of contempt, face losing your mind. Accompanied by vocals which I am extremely fond of. You can never get tired to listen to these two lads telling "a couple of things" with snarly, vicious, despising tones. Last quarter of the set I am a little so and so about. An hour is hard to fill with such intense music without wearing out the listener, especially when the onslaught of first half was so intense. Respect to the guys for coming and finish the job, and the job was done with excellence.
