Swallow the Sun ended their set and the stage was set up for a little bit of an American flavor. Warbringer was preparing to bring some thrash to the stage, and I was ready for it. This is the main band I was looking forward to seeing this evening and to make it a little special, I ventured from my usual safe distance into the pit area in front of the stage.
Warbringer took the stage in a thrash driven fury and my mind became a flurry of activity. The band plays an old school style of thrash, reminiscent of bands like Exodus and Testament and as I stood in the pit watching them and the youthful irreverent energy they bring to the stage, I could not help but think that this must be like what it was was back in the early 1980s when thrash was beginning to make its style heard.
At the same time, I had to reflect on what it was like to be back in the pit. It made the music feel more alive, with all of the bodies moving in front of me the floor beneath my feet flexing to the beat, rampant adrenaline flowing freely around me, it was quite exhilarating. Then reality set in and I realized I am not a kid anymore and not really built for life in the pits. I tried to keep to the edge, but could not help getting crushed against the rear railing a few times, not to mention the scary big guy standing in front of me who would spontaneously start stomping the floor while doing the cabbage patch before being accosted by other thrashers in the pit. Yes, I was a little bit frightened.
Having learned my lesson, I retreated from the pit, grabbed a beer, and met up with Jim from Downfire. We chatted about the scene and waited for the next band to take the stage.
Darkane, a melodic death/thrash act hailing from Sweden was up next. They sounded decent, but nothing spectacular. I was not sure what I was expecting, although considering their Swedish home, I was expecting something perhaps a bit more melodic. Still, they are a solid unit and delivered a good blast of metal with that European sound.
Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Nice Review...
(This genre rant isn't towards you)
I know it states that Darkane are Death Metal on their myspace page & Wikipedia but I have listened to both "Layers of Lies"( I saw them live for that one) as well as "Demonic Art" and I have to say that they are definitely Thrash(kick ass Thrash at that) not Death in any sense. Both Andreas Sydow and,now, Jens Broman(both great vocalists) mostly scream but there isn't any growling or guttural phrasing of their lyrics. Plus, they are very heavy & fast with great choice of equipment but there isn't that much Melody in an epic sense to call them "Melodic" Death. I think people should listen to "Symbolic" from DEATH in order to hear what characteristics make up a solid release from this genre.
Ultimately, Darkane is a damn good, modern Thrash Metal band that doesn't need to go "retro" to make a great album.
As for Soilwork....Way overrated. Not as good as people make them out to be.
Warbringer is just a cool straight-forward Thrash band that kicks it old school with integrity and doean't sound like a rip off...Good Stuff!!