If you want to do a review of a concert you've been to recently, please email it to us at kevin@burieddreams.com. Please include the lineup, venue and date of the gig.

Entombed, Neurosis, Breach
Misery Loves Co, Dearly Beheaded

Next Issue:

• Machine Head
• Coal Chamber
• much more...

After meeting L.G. and Jorgen from Entombed and having a slight run in with security I was prepared for a crushing set and Entombed didn't disappoint. From the moments the lights dimmed and the Star Wars soundtrack heralded their arrival until the last strains of Left Hand Path, Entombed were more captivating than a gory train crash.

The most surprising and pleasing part of their set was the additions of some surprises. Starting off with the long overlooked Eyemaster was genius but the further airings of Put Me Out, Wolverine Blues and the closer of Left Hand Path kept a freshness about a set which on it's third venture to Glasgow this year could have been in danger of becoming repetitive. Part of the brilliance of the Entombed live experience is the multitude of front men that the band have. L.G. rants and moves like an insane blind man while, star of the show, Jorgen acts like a younger, modern version of Steve Harris with Uffe and Alex ramming home the bands trademark killer riffs.

All the favourites were aired from Hollowman to Lights Out and of course Out Of Hand with its poetic and beautiful use of the word 'Fuck' producing the loudest cheer of the night. Unusually the crowd in the Garage were very vocal and active in a venue which often seems to be very stagnant. Perhaps this is due to the widening of the venue with the seating along the side of the hall being removed.

So if Entombed ruled the day how did their support fair? Despite spending most of the run up to Entombed having my arm and leg removed in exchange for a pint of warm lager I did catch some of Breach's set. They came across as a metal/hardcore act with grinding vocals and animated stage antics, which although nothing unusual, was entertaining in a very heavy way.

Before the show I had some reservations about Neurosis. Through Silver in Blood, despite being an interesting experimental album, was not the kind of music which would suit a live arena. However it seems I was very wrong. With their three front men assault and the use of gloomy back drops the bands layered sound was well complemented.

Although possibly a little confusing for the uninitiated, those who knew Neurosis's work found that, what on record sounds complex and engaging can, on stage, explode into a barrage of riffs and twisted vocals. However the band did suffer from the length of some of their material and from the lack of any conventional hooks but somehow I think these things aren't in Neurosis's plans.

Back to top

Graeme

It came as a nice surprise when I entered the Cathouse to find the name of Dearly Beheaded below MLC's. After a competent if not stunning first album and a highly praised new one coming out, the addition of the British band heightened the expectancy of the bill no end. However when the band took the stage all did not go as planned.

It was not the quality of the material aired or the lack of stage presence that was to prove the problem. In fact if a set was only judged by the antics on stage then DB would be up there with the best, with the whole band putting their all into the performance. No the problem was their new brilliant album. So good is this album that the band decided to play as much of it as possible with only one old track, We're Your Family, played. Unfortunately not many people know these new songs and although the crowd tried to match the ferocity of the material a general feeling of bewilderment crept over the Cathouse. No matter, the band will probably be back and by then we'll have had time to get used to the new album.

So to Misery Loves Company. As the band took the stage a familiar feeling overwhelmed me, that of complete and utter confusion as to what the band were playing. Then it dawned on me. This was a new track from their yet to be released album. As the set progressed it became clear that Misery were another band with a brilliant new album who wanted to play as much of the new material as possible. In the end only four old tracks were played- Kiss My Boots, My Mind Still Speaks, Sonic Attack and The Only Way- while the band flooded the rest of the set with new songs.

Where was Happy?, This Is No Dream, Need Another One or even Private Hell one may ask. Christ knows but I for one did not find the Cathouse a suitable venue to try and come to terms with the intricacies of Dearly Beheaded's new songs never mind a further bombardment from Misery Loves Company. The confusion manifested itself in slight apathy amongst the crowd which Patrik acknowledged by stating the obvious when he said "I know it's hard to get into music you don't know".

It's not that the new tracks are poor, on the contrary, both bands seemed to have progressed for the better, it's just that you might as well be watching two bands you've never heard of instead of two bands who have an abundance of quality material which they are withholding. To me the whole gig seemed like a warm up for a later tour, by which time the new album will be as recognisable as the debut and a full set will be played instead of the half arsed effort they gave us.

I think the gig is best summed up by the final track of the night which was, you guessed it, a new song but it was also the least likely set closer I've ever heard, being both slow and seemingly hook free. All I can say is that I hope both bands come back and put the record straight, but give us a few months to get used to the new songs.

Back to top

Graeme