Ostensibly, something of an odd couple, in reality, the pairing of Derbyshire alt.metal rockers, Isolysis and Evil Scarecrow, The Most Famous Parody Black Metal Band From Nottingham In The World, was something of a dream ticket.
Plundering territory successfully mined by Stone Sour, Disturbed et al, Isolysis delivered a forty five minute set showcasing the best of this year’s debut album, Condemned.
While the effect of their most obvious asset, the gritty soul of front man, Bane, was somewhat blunted thanks to a poor mix, the band delivered a tight, punchy set that didn’t lack for metallic bite.
Ties That Bind, The Condemned and Age of Revolt blended their customary down-tuned assault with a rich melodic finish that saw both the assembled black metallers and the more traditional rock elements of the evening’s audience well served.
The band worked hard to win over the initially apathetic audience and a stage that split the venue in two didn’t make life any easier. Even though Bane seemed oddly out of sorts, the band has such a high minimum standard of delivery that those seeing them for the first time wouldn’t have noticed a thing out of place.
By the time the closing numbers were despatched with their trademark panache, the crowd were on-message. While Isolysis wouldn’t have rated themselves particularly highly tonight, given the exacting standards they set for themselves, the crowd had nothing to complain about. Mission accomplished and another triumph from one of the UK’s best unsigned bands.
As the Dies irae from Verdi’s Requiem filled the venue, Evil Scarecrow ascended the stage to a furious roar. Possibly Black Metal’s best kept secret, the parody band achieves the seemingly impossible task of combining a deep respect for extreme metal while mercilessly taking the piss.
Sixty Six Minutes Past Six, Vampire Trousers and Blacken The Everything contained enough blast beats, death growls and bowel-churning riffola to satisfy even the most po-faced of Norwegian Church burners, while simultaneously serving up a large side order of pure comedy genius.
Main man, Doctor Hell’s, famous 4 Note Solo triggered laughter all over the venue while Ashes induced moshing of such intensity that bodies crashed over the monitors and onto the stage, with wince-inducing regularity. Bassist, Kraven Mordeth, skinsman, Papa Bongo and keyboard player, Princess Luxury played on, unconcernedly. Just another day at the altar.
Lead guitarist, Brother Pain’s end of show crowd surf to the strains of the “…best Black Metal cover of The Final Countdown, in the world, ever” had to be seen to be believed. Superb stuff and the best metal theatre since Alice Cooper exchanged guillotined babies for God and golf. Peerless.