Our opening band, High Parasite, gave off huge Keith Allen/Limp Bizkit vibes. The lead singer wore a uniquely white suit, a stark contrast to the black worn by the rest of the band. I wasn’t sure if this was a metaphor for a high priest-like frontman, with the “parasite” being the odd one out. The guitarist’s superb face makeup gave off massive Wes Borland vibes but taken up a few notches. They certainly know how to put on a good show.
I loved the MO of this band. They began with a classic rock opening, counted in by the drums before the beat dropped, and you were suddenly slammed by a spooky, almost ecclesiastical melody, accompanied by the guitars and the emotional screams of the vocalist. I will definitely be looking further into this band. However, the sound was a significant issue. Come on The Garage, what is going on? This is the second gig I’ve been to here where you couldn’t hear the vocals over the music. It improved during the show, but with each new act, we were back to square one. I may owe L1NKN P4RK an apology.
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Italian gothic rockers Messa were up next. The best way to describe them would be similar to Delain but darker, much darker. It was like someone took all the energy from The Labyrinth and The NeverEnding Story, threw in long hair and guitars, and ramped up the goth vibes. Think extended guitar solos with a very Led Zeppelin feel; at times, you forgot it was a guitar as it sounded so much like a piano. The melodic vocals took you everywhere, from cool, mysterious jazz bars to the hypnotic, swimming vibes of a summer sunset. The rippling sound echoed through the auditorium until the beat dropped, and a wall of chaotic, rapid-fire guitars and drumming hit you out of the blue. Very enjoyable.
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I was first introduced to Paradise Lost a few years ago by a guy who was very elitist about his music – he listened to goth and only goth. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t expecting a little of the same from the band. And yet, from the moment they graced the stage after much anticipation, what a laid-back set. It was just five guys in black trousers and black shirts with no over-the-top costumes. The message was clear: “we’re here, this is who we are, and this is what we do, enjoy the show.”
And what an exciting show it was. We had the same issue with the vocals as the two previous acts, almost inaudible to begin with but improving as they continued to enthral us with a very varied set. My first experience of Paradise Lost was the grief-stricken song “Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us”, and they did play this, much to my delight. Seeing it played live brought an element of raw anguish that you may not always hear from the track alone.
This was not the overall theme of the set, however. Some songs began with an exciting, electronic tune that reminded me a little of Inkubus Sukkubus before the beat dropped and the guitars brought the metal. Other opening themes had more of a synthesised, fun, energetic feel. It reminded me of when people joke about me liking 80s pop music, suggesting it’s a bit tame for me. When you think about it though, a lot of metal is just the keyboards they loved in the 80s with guitars added on.
All in all, this was a seriously enjoyable gig. It really does have to be said, though, that whoever does the sound for these gigs needs to check it properly before the show. It’s not fair on the bands.
