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Armageddon Adelaide III The Enigma Bar, Fri 27 Aug, Sat 28 Aug The third instalment of the annual Armageddon Adelaide metal extravaganza saw twelve groups perform over two days. Starting things off on Friday were locals Lord of the Command. Playing to an already large crowd, they churned out lots of brutal old school death, their bare-chested vocalist strutting about with the words "I AM THE AXIS OF EVIL" daubed on his chest in bloody-looking fluid. Wollongong's black/war metal band Battalion are much like Adelaide's Slaughter Thou in both the lyrical focus of their material (Australians at war), and stage show. Queensland black metallers Carbon (minus the corpse paint I recall them wearing when they played at the first Armageddon Adelaide), tended to be mid-paced overall. Victorian outfit Gospel Of The Horns have appeared at every Armageddon Adelaide so far and, as always, were very well-received, their set comprising thrashy old school black metal. Headlining Friday's show were Sydney occultists Nazxul, playing their second show here in only a few months. While the crowd who saw them during their first visit was a little disappointing, this time around they put on an impressive show of blistering black metal, their set enlivened - albeit inadvertantly - by a fight that broke out in the crowd. Local death metal band Juggermath brought things to a close with a selection of epic songs. Death metallers Slaughter Thou kicked off Saturday night, adding a bit of atmosphere to their performance with a video screen playing war footage. Another interesting touch was bassist and backing vocalist Justin Wood's sporting of a tea towel on his head. New Victorian band Nocturnal Graves played blackened old school thrash, sporting spikes, chains and bullet belts to project an image appropriate to the music. Sydneysiders Bludgeoner treated the crowd to some fairly straightforward death metal. While not the headlining act for the night, locals Darklord put on probably the most visually impressive performance, resplendent in evil-looking stage regalia, and surrounding themselves with fog. They didn't so much play as simply blast the audience away, and it would have been interesting to know what sort of an impression they made on a couple of police officers who mysteriously appeared on the fringes of the crowd during their set (and just as mysteriously disappeared before it was over). Saturday's headline was Queensland "Nazi black metal" band Spear Of Longinus, who were a late addition after Grenade pulled out unexpectedly. SOL proved something of a surprise, if for no other reason than the fact that their vocalist and guitarist resembled an ageing hippie! They belted out an impressive selection of songs, and as was the case when Nazxul played, some of the audience seemed to get a little violent during their set. Locals Raven Black Night elicited the most enthusiastic response of both nights: the plastic weapons and other stage props they use quickly seized (and, in most cases, destroyed) by the audience, who generally went nuts. A memorable show for them no doubt, and a great end to what was again a well-organised and well-run Armageddon Adelaide.  |
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