Mendeed
Dragonforce
Barfly
London, UK
15 Sept 2005
On back of their latest single, and in anticipation of their new album set to be released in November, the Scottish lads are on a UK trek with power-metallers Dragonforce. This was the first of three nights (not in a row) at the Barfly. The venue is uber-small and not the greatest for a metal gig but both bands made due...despite some tossers decided to most and crowd-surf.
Besides producing Bay-Area-esque thrash with their amazingly tight band, Mendeed are also a bunch of jolly good blokes. In contrast to their performance they are laid-back and very gregarious in person. I was fortunate to have chatted with several of the band members. These guys are amazing live reminding me of the heady days of the Clash of the Titans tour in the US. These guys deserve to be huge and are this Isle's answer to the New Way of American Heavy Metal (bands like Chimaira & Mastadon. See them up close and personal before they are doing enormodomes).
Dragonforce are just as tight as Mendeed and deliver an excellent line in Euro power-metal. Fans of Helloween, Masterplan et al will eat this lot up. The audience were full of rabid fans of all ages some complete with plastic swords and band t-shirts. Quite why Dragonforce are stuck in such a dive is beyond me. No doubt the band would be able to fill a far larger room with their power metal class. It is so nice to see classic metal with its guitar solos, keyboards and multi-range coming back into fashion. Last night we saw the faces of the a new wave of metal-heads and their loyalty was well rewarded. A class show all around.
Rating: 5/5
edited: ME
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
Sound good. I think I may have to look into them....
Going to see Disturbed/Ill Nino tonight!