Before you read this, let me point out, I am not a journalist, I am a huge underground metal fan! And I got just as wankered all weekend as the rest of you did, so I'm sorry if this falls a little below typical review standards, but hopefully you'll see it as a fitting tribute to one hell of a weekend.
Septic Tank
First open blender, then you take
1 pair of tights, 1 fluffy hat, 2 wrestling masks, 1 18inch black dildo and a blow up doll that has clearly been around a fair bit, and shake.
Then add Lividity and Morician, liquidise the lot, and drip feed the mixture directly into the vein of some really talented musicians and you have the awesome display of grind/porncore that is septic tank! Whole crowd is either laughing, crying or going crazy right from the start as these guys take the stage, my only criticism! I wanted more!
9/10
Entity
They don't call this guy 12 fingers for nothing! A fantastic display of neoclassical, progressive metal! Not one person in the venue would dare to criticise despite this band clearly being very different to the majority at this years gathering. Topped off with an awesome slayer cover, I dare say Yngwie Malmsteen himself would have been glad to have been here for these guys! Very good ndeed
6/10
Sekhmet
Now I have to admit at this point, that I'm not a big fan of "Proper" Thrash, respect where it's due, I just ain't the biggest fan, but Sekhmet for me are something else! I have seen these guys over ten times over the space of about 4 or 5 years and they just keep getting better! The three of them are tighter than an ant's asshole, and Weymouth fucking loved it! Call me biased all you like, I don't give a shit, for me, Sekhmet are the best thrash band on the fucking planet, An awesome cover of domination thrown in for good measure, Everybody happy!!
8/10
Seregon
These guys have an amazing amount of energy and the crowd react accordingly from the off, very good, very tight, a perfect equilibrium of Thrash and Death metal, with a very melodic edge, that any fan of either genre should definitely check out. If max cavalera hooked up with vader, this is probably a very good bet at what they would come up with. The only band of the weekend that I was unable to give my full attention to, and I'm gutted twas the case because what I did hear was Fanastic
7/10
Viscera
Remind me a lot of old fear factory in some places these guys, then the next minute it's like listening to nile, then just when you don't expect it, you get some messugahesque brutality shoved right up ya ass! These guys take tight to a whole new level with this ultra technical. Abstract display of Brutality (2 DAYS RUNNING!) I first saw these guys last year and some advice Dave Axcell gave me literally fucking changed my life! But no need to rush back Mr Axcell because Mr Anderson, not content with being a distgustingly good drummer, is doing a fucking fantastic job of keeping your seat warm for ya! Oh and p.s I love Mr benini's bass soo fuckin much! That guy must have huge hands to conquer that axe to the amazing standard this guy plays to.
8/10
Archaic Arcanum
Pure Christ Raping Black Metal at it's absolute finest, when you watch Marduk live, something evil happens to the crowd, and these guys seem to have the same effect, it's impossible not to go insane when these guys are onstage, (that is unless you've bumped into Squid their guitarist one too many times in the build up) They have so much stage presence, Charisma and passion, all these guys need is the right break and I can't see anything stopping them. Can't really say much more other than thank you so much Archaic! I can't wait to see you again in Exeter soon.
10/10
Theoktony
On a night like tonight Archaic are a very tough act to follow, and by this point the crowd is soo drunk, me included that even standing up is becoming an issue!
But Theoktony are not phased by the challenge and are definitely up to the Job! All the way from the midlands, these guy's are another band that go from strength to strength, last year they were brutal, now they are re-writing the definition of the term brutality! Death metal at it's finest, the barriers came down and the pit literally got out of control!! Theoktony means the death of god, and if he is up there, and ain't dead yet, stick these guys in the CD player at the pearly gates and I've be very surprised if he/she would stand much of a chance of hanging around any longer! An awesome end, to an awesome day! BLAUS!!!!!
9/10
DAY 2
Ezikiel
Another one of many amazing local offerings open up the second day, I was hugely impressed with these guys. Blackened death metal, with equal amounts of melody and intensity with Guitar work that reminded me of the likes of Naglfar and Chthonian, with also much of their stuff being very thrash orientated, these guys should appeal to anyone who like's their metal to incorporate that extra range/variety factor. Tis a shame these guys had to go on so early, but someone had to, and they still did a great job despite the fact that half the crowd were still recovering from the day before! I look forward to seeing these guys again very soon hopefully
7/10
Ancient Ascendant
Modern Progressive death metal, and I should have written more notes for these guys, but I was too busy enjoying their set, and then got so drunk over the course of the night that a full review is a little difficult. But like I said, it's their own fault for being so good. Very clever, and very tight, I'd say a fight between Zyklon & Death, with opeth as the referee is a fair description. Anyone reading this that hasn't heard Ancient Ascendant! Do it now or I'll send Septic Tank round to your mum's house, you be glad you checked em out I assure you
7/10
Dissonance
All the way from Liverpool, these guys do an amazing job of reminding people exactly what traditional death metal should sound like, Dirty, Groovy, and disgusting, with vocal's straight outta the bowels of hell. Fantastic guys too, very new band, but you'll be hearing a lot more from them in the future I guarantee it! I had the pleasure of sharing accommodation with 3 of their 5 members, had a fantastic weekend with them, and shall definitely keep in touch. And if they don't come down here again soon, go see them elsewhere, they will definitely be worth the journey
8/10
Artisian
Been looking forward to seeing these guys live for a long time. Despite possibly coming straight out of Black Mass the night before, and clearly being ready to take on Satan himself if the situation arose, Ian and co are fantastic guys, that I recommend every extreme promoter in the country check out! And there's no bullshit with these guys, it does exactly what it says on the tin! RAW FUCKING RAGE! 9 inch spikes, camo all over the stage, corpse painted, black beat mayhem, Lucifer himself would have been honoured to have been on the quest list, but then again, he'd probably wait for their upcoming tour with gorgorth, but they would definitely be worth him rising from hell to come see, HAIL SATAN! HAIL ARTISIAN! BLAUS!
9/10
Shallow Intentions
I like a lot of folk metal and I fucking love these guys, and it always goes down better when the crowd is plastered so moving these guys to a late slot due to last minute line-up issues was a fantastic idea! The whole crowd is going fucking wild from the second they kick in to their first song, and after taking some photo's I didn't move from the front for the majority of their set. Every track played was a worthy tribute to the best of the best within their field, "Bleeding years" live sent shivers down my spine it was so good. Their covers Of Finntroll's "Trollhammeren and Amon Amarth's "Pursuit Of Vikings" had everyone in the house screaming along and throwing horns and fists everywhere! Archaic Squid, joined them on stage, just at the point where I was thinking of doing the same myself, and I dare say many a vocalist was ready to join in on the epic outing of one of Weymouth's finest! Be warned guy's at the Gathering, I may not be able to help myself! SKOL!
9/10
Bloodshot Dawn
When attempting do describe precisely just how good these guys are, I realised that the word that is worthy of these guys is yet to be invented! So basically, in the Word's of vocalist Josh, as soon as their set began! BBBLLLAAAAAAAUUUUSSSSSSS!!
Life has many great questions, How was Stonehenge built? What are we here for? Is Varg Vikernes a legend or just a lunatic? Why did the ancient egyptians allegedly draw spacemen? I would like to add another question to this list! WHY THE FUCK HAVEN'T BLOODSHOT DAWN BEEN SWEPT UP BY A FUCKING HUGE LABEL YET? No offence to the queens but these guys should be playing Wacken, Hellfest & Bloodstock! They are so fucking good! Seriously! These guys are the best Metal band in the Southwest by a long way in my opinion, literally the perfect balanced death metal formula.
They have all the dirt, anger and brutality of traditional death metal but with a very modern unique sound. They successfully incorporate melody and technicality into their mix without overdoing it, and losing that true extreme factor like so many other tech death bands are doing nowadays! The guitars are fantastic, the drum's make you feel like your head is about to explode, and the vocals make you want to go on a killing spree. All delivered with so much personality and passion! I saw them a year ago and they were awesome then, but this year at Finnstock, Bloodshot Dawn pulled off one of the finest live performances I've seen by any band on any level, and to be present to see them end the final day, of one of the best weekend's of my life was an honour beyond words! Thank you so much!
10/10
Thank you also to Lorraine, Ewan, Squid, & everyone else involved in making it such an amazing event and making us feel right at home, and proving that the Underground is still alive!
Overall ferstival Rating based on pure mathematics 8.25/10
and the following year! ie 2009 BLOODSHOT DAWN did play Bloodstock!
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