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For many years now, I've been
trying to find a perfect date abroad in order
to attend a Bolt Thrower show, and it had to be
far north, in Glasgow for this event. The first
announcement included re-united Gorefest and that
was a real thrill, yet things turned out and Kataklysm
took their place-before they give theirs to God
Dethroned. It was more than 300 people in the
crowd, crazy Scots emptying their beers in the
same speed as I did. Amok was a local band, much
in the vein of S.O.D./Nuclear Assault and had
some serious tunes filling a great, warm first
half.
 The
last time I've seen God Dethroned was with Marduk
in 2001, where they kicked serious arse. Their
latest albums are weaker than the first half of
their career, new members also joined the slot
and I wasn't that enthusiastic seeing them on
stage. Although they played some older songs like
"Boiling Blood" and "Villa Vampiria"
(well, not that old, heh!), their setlist was
based upon the latest two albums which I consider
mediocre. Less profanating moments, less excitement.
Not up to my expectations, the fulfilment of them
has yet to wait until the next act, which still
plays an important role in my soul (and body)
excursions.
The warmasters from the UK had
a new satisfying album to present and upon which
most of the setlist was based. Therefore, a lot
of the old gems would be left aside. Luckily,
from the first second the armed force of double-bass
drumming and devastating basslines put everything
under their tracks with "At First Light",
"Entrenched", "The Killchain",
"Those Once Loyal" from the new opus,
a middle part with older (some legendary) stuff
like "World Eater", "When Glory
Beckons", crowd-pleaser "Cenotaph",
"The IVth Crusade", "Powder Burns",
"Mercenary" and a fine, lyrically match-y
closer "When Cannons Fade". Despite
their age, Bolt Thrower remain one of the few
bands that have got an almost stable line-up that
can deliver the same granite-wall piece of death
metal music. I'd be happy though if they had been
playing some songs that were in the first leg
of "Those Once Loyal" tour and were
obviously missing from this one. If it hasn't
been for this significant detail, this would be
one of my best shows ever. |
