WORMSTOCK 2.0 : Jour-2 : Vendredi 9 Mai 2014 : HILLDALE - DEFEAT THE EARTH - THE GEEK AND THE ALCOHOLICS GENIUS - IN MY CHEST - SHOOT THE GIRL FIRST - SMASH HIT COMBO @ La Scène Michelet - Nantes

WORMSTOCK 2.0 : Jour-2 : Vendredi 9 Mai 2014 : HILLDALE - DEFEAT THE EARTH - THE GEEK AND THE ALCOHOLICS GENIUS - IN MY CHEST - SHOOT THE GIRL FIRST - SMASH HIT COMBO @ La Scène Michelet - Nantes

Deuxième soir au Wormstock à La Scène Michelet, et 6 formations vont se partager l'affiche.

HILLDALE déboule pour le premier concert de la soirée. Leur deathcore, me rappelant les sonorités des débuts de la scène, met le public en jambe. Ça mosh déjà pour ce court set.

DEFEAT THE EARTH viens ensuite nous avoiner la tronche avec leur brutal death bien senti. Malgré le fait qu'ils furent réclamer par le public, ce même public est peu présent mais réactifs. Les explications des messages propres aux morceaux est intéressant (merci les petites putes lolitas). Excellent show.

Je loupe le début du set de THE GEEK AND THE ALCOHOLICS GENIUS (qui jouait sous le pseudonyme The Illuminati). Les 3 derniers morceaux de leur metalcore à la Architects plaise à mes oreilles et celles du public chaud comme la braise. Le pit est en ébullition pour la première date du groupe déjà bien en place. 

IN MY CHEST, groupe de hardcore mené par une charmante petite demoiselle, nous offrira une bonne prestation, pleine d’énergie, devant un parterre clairsemé. Ça mosh encore et le devant de scène libéré laisse le champ libre aux danses les plus extrêmes.

Place au partycore de SHOOT THE GIRL FIRST. C'est frais à souhait et sa tranche avec le reste de l'affiche, moins violent mais tout aussi efficace. Le petit public présent semble largement apprécier l'énorme prestation du groupe. C'est la fête et sa colle parfaitement à l'ambiance du festival. 

Je loupe le set de SMASH HIT COMBO car je doit rentrer précipitamment. Tant pis, ça sera pour une prochaine fois. 

Quelle deuxième soirée. Le son fut encore excellent et le sera également le lendemain pour l'ultime soirée du festival. 

BATTLE FOR BLOODSTOCK HEAT 3 -SET TO RISE - DRAGONTHRONE - A HIGHER DEMISE -MONUMENTOMB (21/03/14) @ THE IVY, SHEERNESS

BATTLE FOR BLOODSTOCK HEAT 3 -SET TO RISE - DRAGONTHRONE - A HIGHER DEMISE -MONUMENTOMB (21/03/14) @ THE IVY, SHEERNESS

Set to rise start us off.. Not sure what to make of this lot. The front guy looks out of place, but he's giving it some! Plenty of energy, and a voice that you don’t expect from his 'look' It fun hard rock and another good start.

Dragonthrone, do that cardinal sin in a battle of the bands. Cover songs. Plus a Metallica cover. I hate Metallica. But that aside, another young group with a sound along the lines of Iron maiden and Metallica. They are having fun up there, if the nerves do show a little. They aint my cup of tea, but they are a good lot.

A higher demise. Well. Another hardcore style group. Not the crusty nasty punk hardcore, that emo breakdowns r' us hardcore. They are a little more rock than other bands doing the hardcore thing, and they have a good energy. They play well and it’s a good set, its just nothing new. Other than the female bass player. Don’t see that too often!

Monumentomb. You know you see a band with loads of merch, custom amp covers.. all the set up, and you think 'yeah these have been around, worked hard to get all set up'? Well, these guys have that stuff, but its only their second gig! Theres been a lot of 'buzz' about them going round lattly, and I can kinda see why. They play some Blasting death type noise. They play it well and tight. But, it’s a bit.. 'meh' I loves me some death metal so maybe I've just heard it all before, these guys are good, but not great, and after all the hype it’s a bit disappointing. Maybe more time on getting the songs to that next level, and less time on making merch would do them well.

BATTLE FOR BLOODSTOCK HEAT 1 - ABYSS - MANTORA - VULGATE - HUNTER/KILLER (07/03/14) @ THE IVY, SHEERNESS

BATTLE FOR BLOODSTOCK HEAT 1 - ABYSS - MANTORA - VULGATE - HUNTER/KILLER (07/03/14) @ THE IVY, SHEERNESS - by Cez

Bloodstock battle of the bands in Kent kicks off at last! Running through March and April, with the semi final and final in May and bringing out some of the best in local unsigned bands, giving them the chance to play the legendary bloodstock festival!

Kicking of events is Abyss. A hard rock / grunge type group. At first, the whole thing was very … dull. Band members standing like cardboard, vocals forced and fake sounding. But, after 2 / 3 tracks, the boys started to relax and things started to get better! I imagine the weak start was down to nerves, but I'll be catching them in about a month so we shall see!

Next up is Mantora, filling in for some band who I don’t remember who dropped out.. Now, this is more like it! These boys don’t fuck about, getting stuck in straight away with their heavy / hardcore metal along the lines of Lamb of God with a couple of breakdowns thrown in for good measure, and a front man who spends the whole show on the floor, not one touching the stage.

Vulgate are a band I've heard of a lot, but never heard. I'll admit seeing a guitar without a head on just gets on my tits. They just look... wrong. But they prove they deserve the hype with some pretty in your face blackened metal. Its pretty much by the numbers, and the guys are a bit static on the stage, but the crowd love it and the musicianship is just spot on.. Which may explain why they won the vote on the night!

Last up is Hunter/Killer. Silly name if you ask me, since if you try to find them on line you just get US navy ships or rockets, but anyway. Not sure what these boys are about. The whole thing was very dull and strained. I hear their guitarist has only just joined and it shows, stood motionless in the corner in his smart shirt and tidy hair, while the others are all scruffy dress and hair down to their arse. During the set they play 2 covers (not a good move at a battle of the bands lads) and admit that the previous bands have made them realise they have a long way to go. They ain't wrong, but respect due to them for admitting it.