TURKU 19.10 perjantai - uus TVO
Peenemunde started with their "new" approach. Debut CD was basically what you could expect from members at that time. Crashing & smashing large metal objects. But the new approach has moved to something far more interesting. Mixture of cold electronics and physical touch. Electronics are played - not programmed. New studio stuff (unreleased) is brilliant, live stuff was noisier, but getting there!
Unclean 2nd live assault and very nice! Broken sounding brutal harsh electronics with shouted vocals and smashing metal .... Very trad. post-2005 finnish sound, but worked out. More comments later.
Jaakko Vanhala is possibly the best harsh noise performed at this moment. And I don't say that as I happen to known the man, but simply as matter of fact. Utmost control, brilliant execution, both energy of playing - yet not just fooling around. What he does, is done for sake of creating sound, not looking violent or dark. Multi-layered, harsh, crunchy, yet also lots of high-fidelity crystallic electronic slashing.
MK9 - I like this more than previous visit in Finland. Even more conceptual.. art? Or should I say it's rather spoken word manifestation in finest idealism of counter culture. Basically we all know, we have all gone through the phases of angst, but while vast majority eventually sinks to plague of living through sarcasm and irony, "FTW ideology" or simply living perfectly satisfied in contemporary society, MK9 is example of having the urge to still scream against the issues he feels strongly. As trite as anti-USA, anti-War, anti-consumerism etc may appear, I personally salute the man who chooses this route. Sonically there was like 2 brilliant synth/electronic tracks, multi-layered, atmospheric... ehm.. "PE". Yet most of stuff was basically sound art. Radio transmissions with vocals on top of it and so on.
HELSINKI 20.10 lauantai - Bizarre Bunker
Chains Of Deathcommand. Worked pretty well live! Very nasty guitar sound, drums driven through guitar amps to give them massive distortion/echo treatment. Demented vocals of grotesque subject matter and great cover version of GG Allin on top.
Unclean did very similar set as in Turku, but lack of PA, and doing it via multiple large amplifiers made sound harsher. Great balance of vocals, electronics and metal junk. Basically only complaint would be almost total lack of personality. While I enjoyed both shows, I think he (like some other newcomers as well), would benefit from conscious move from the basic trademarks seen on many other shows. This was very similar to.. lets say Pogrom and Bizarre Uproar gigs seen at very same "venue". With this good vocal performance, maybe seek ways of creating diversity to sound & composition of live set as well as stage presence. But what the hell.. 2 tapes and now 3 live gigs - most bands haven't been this good at such point.
Will Over Matter - was exactly example how you CAN make things differently. Even if you perform in basement, for roughly 40 people, it doesn't mean all you need to do is hide in corners ass-towards-audience or do it like it was just rehearsal. Like Peenemunde day before (with doctor coats and masks), WOM trusted to simple yet effective show. We're merely talking of lighting dozen candles one by one during slowly starting set and in the end putting them out one by one. With just couple electronic signals and megaphone for vocals & loops, atmosphere was dark and sinister. While you could always say there's hints of M.B. or Club Moral type of projects, it's pretty unusual in its ultra primitive simpleness.
What I said about Jaakko Vanhala show of Friday, I could say same thing here. Now just all amps, no PA. Brutal, high energy, loud, simply brilliant. 11 minutes and that's it, ended in utmost climax.
MK9 show could be said same. Lack of PA was actually advantage. It gave little extra saturation to sound, and that little clipping crackles heard in Turku was no longer there. Basically same set, but some spontaneous elements added extra lines. "You just proved my point! Control yourself!" HAHA! Brilliant.
I suspect some good live pics can be posted later on by people with cameras..
