A few bands at Devilution Festival, Wigan
My mateys Purge were set to play Devilution Festival in Wigan last Saturday, so I thought I'd go along and have a look. First thought: why were there hay bales everywhere?
Purge played a good set. They always do. If you've never read my reviews of them before (where have you been?) you can find some in older entries on this blog. The new songs they've added into the mix show how the band is growing and progressing into something really, really interesting. When you consider how easy and fun Purge's music is to listen to, its complexity can be quite surprising. They make their grungy, punky, infectious sound seem positively effortless.
So Purge: they put on a great show. Shame there wasn't really anyone (except the die-hard fans) there to see it. I was wondering why there was nobody there - perhaps it was early in the day? However, later bands helped me come to the conclusion that it just wasn't Purge's type of festival. It was a heavy metal festival at heart. (Yes, in Wigan).
The band before Purge - Invane - hinted at this with their 'soft hard-rock'. Their playing was mostly structured and coherent, but perhaps lacking inventiveness (not to sound patronising - but perhaps this is something that might come with time). That's not to say that the set didn't have its moments: like their cover of 'Careless Whisper'. For me, weirdly, this was the best song of the set and the vocalist's ability really came through. His singing was so flawless it sounded recorded. The vocal harmonies with the guitarist actually detracted from some of the songs - he was powerful enough alone. Sounded like the dude from Alter Bridge, actually. Their cover of 'Man in the Box' by Alice in Chains was another highlight, with some challenging moments that they tackled well. I couldn't help but think, though, that a different song with Layne's more soulful vocals might've been more appropriate. Anyway, keep at it, lads - your enthusiasm was really evident and nice to see. Am I being patronising, again?
Before we left (sorry, I am a bad reviewer) I caught Degeneration Fuzz's set. I'm pretty sure before they started playing the introducer said "It's good to finally see a girl on the stage!" - which was rather funny, considering that it was actually a hairy lad. I think the band were one player down - so fair play to them for coming on and playing a good set. These guys were pretty much pure grunge, like the 90s come back to haunt us. Tormented vocals and distorted guitars. The bassist really had his moments - I remember thinking "whoa, this guy's mint!", but can't remember what he was doing, specifically (again, bad reviewer...). The singer/guitarist sounded like Kurt Cobain with a sore throat (a compliment) and he occasionally took it upon himself to throw himself to the ground and flop like a fish. I wasn't sure whether there was meant to be an element of comedy/self-mocking to their set - I kind of hope there was.
Now... I have left the best until last. Purge, I love you, but you were just not right for this festival. You know who was right for this festival?
OCE-FUCKING-ANIS.... Oceanis.
A (quite frankly) poor camera-phone picture of Oceanis. I need to start bringing my SLR to these things - and to not get so drunk.
When I got home and looked them up, I learnt that Oceanis played this year's Bloodstock Festival (New Blood stage). I was there, and I'm genuinely gutted that I - and all my metul mates - missed them.
There's only one word that accurately describes this band: unhinged.
I had seen the singer earlier in the day, when he very politely talked to us while getting equipment out of the van. On stage, however, he turned into some kind of terrifying demon-man. He periodically left the stage, wandered around the room and squared up to people. He stood on random objects and beat his chest as he growled (and occasionally squealed) into the microphone. The rest of the band stayed obediently on stage, pounding out the heaviest sound I've heard since Bloodstock.
They were described as having influences from 'Mastodon, Lamb of God and Gojira', which made me pretty excited. However, although I heard some of those references in their music, they had a sound that was all their own. It was almost unrelenting, overwhelming heaviness that left me with a permanent involuntary grin (or perhaps a terrified smirk?).
This crushing heaviness was interspersed with moments of respite and clarity, and these different sections were woven together seamlessly.
This is the sort of thing I love: metal that a band has really thought about. Songs that are crafted to be unexpected - so you're never sure what's going to happen next. They took influences from some of the best bands in the genre, but this set was their own.
It felt as though a much bigger, more famous band had 'treated' a smaller, more intimate venue with their presence. They really commanded the room. It was kind of mad that there weren't more people there to see it.
I would pay to see them again, and I'd encourage many of my friends to come with me.