• Tag Archives heat

  • M2TM – Heat 6 Write Up

    Posted on by kev36663

    I knew it was going to be tight.

    I just knew it.

    But not even I could predict how bloody tight it would be. Such joy and heartbreak as the final two bands join the semi finals (we’ll get the updated list out when we know which rounds they each drop into)

    First up, Altostratus, they’re like an instrumental Coheed and Cambria – there is a niche here, because instrumental stuff can go two ways – some get really desperate for vocals to kick in. I’m reminded of the old Karma to Burn story, you know, “We’ll give you a record deal – but we want you to have proper song titles and a singer” – well, Roadrunner dropped them and they reissued the album without vocals or song titles and they’re doing well for themselves.
    Anyway… yes.. Altostratus, they’re bloody good like, they captivate the audience with their riffs and it’s quite marmite but certainly many people would like to see more from them.

    Blackjack have been about a bit and they’re back after a break. They are one of those bands that woo’d and impressed with their stadium American Rock in pub venues – but hit the ceiling towards the end, but they’re back with a new fire and passion and fuck they look better for it. They take some swagger into the next round.

    Pits galore for October Ends, metalcore a-go-go : I’ve been very impressed by a lot of metalcore bands in this competition even if very few have gone through! Another time they’d have nailed it as their high energy high tempo slams kill it!

    Erebor are one of two bands tonight who were in the competition last year, last time they went out in the heats in a very tough round which overall winners Souls of Jack Ketch came out of. On that day they were good but lacked an edge. They have found that edge… they’re like a battle to the death between Nile and Amon Amarth with the survivors burning themselves alive to continue the fight. Fucking brutal. Their battle continues in May.

    The first time The Distorted played in M2TM they were in a particularly tought heat and went on last and just took the competition by the bollocks and rolled through – a similar challenge awaits for them tonight and they give a bloody good effort with their horror rock and roll. They cap off what has been an amazing competition.

    What I’ve particularly liked and this is also my tip for the semis and for bands next year or who still have heats elsewhere in the country – the best attitude to have to these is : it’s a gig, with a sure crowd, an opportunity for some fun and networking and showing off to the venue or other promoters. Treat it like that and the performance will ooze natutal confidence and at the worst you’ll hopefully leave with some new fans and contacts.

    And finally, on the fans… I made a rare trip to the stage as I usually get Allan from Truth Hurts to do my compering as he’s better at talking shit than me – but he couldn’t make it so I had to talk to you lot and honestly, I’m humbled by the support given to this – I know you’ve come to watch some good bands and hopefully see friends or favourites go through, but I really appreciate how many have got behind this competition it makes it all the more worthwhile.

    Thank you…

    Right… semis in a month…
    May 21 and May 28 – sweet.


    📂This entry was posted in Live Music News 📎and tagged

  • M2TM Heat 6 – This Thursday

    Posted on by kev36663

     Last time out, Molasses and Coma Violet became the 9th and 10th bands to progress to the Semi Finals – there’s now only two more slots to fill and a very tough round of bands to fill them.

    Round 6 is this Thursday at Trillians, with 5 competing bands.  Remember, entry to this and every heat is FREE entry. Kicking off from 7pm

    So, who have we got for you this time – in no particular order (as running order decided on the night) we will be welcoming…

    Erebor  – Technical Death Metal.

    The Distorted – Hard Rock/Metal n Roll – semi finalists last year


    Blackjack     – Good ole fashioned rock

    October Ends – local metalcore

    Altostratus – Instrumental Progressive Rock

    Having just listened over to each of the bands again… phwoar… it’s going to be tight.
    We will communicate running order on the Facebook event on the evening after the draw takes place.

    Check out the Facebook Event here

    We hope to see you there for some amazing talent.


    📂This entry was posted in Live Music News 📎and tagged

  • M2TM Newcastle – Heat 5 write up

    Posted on by kev36663

    I’m a bit later than usual with my M2TM heat round up (Heat 5 this time).

    Believe it or not, in the crazy world I live in, after the gig I got on an over night bus to London to film a pop music video cover of an RnB classic. No, really.

    Where was I? Heat 5, yesss…

    Opening tonight is Coma Violet. It’s only their second gig. They’re a kind of Fuzz-Pop. Although it’s their second gig, plenty of familiar faces from other bands, the guys have experience and they make it pay off. Plenty of catchy powerful songs. They bounce their way into the semis.

    Pretty Livid Imps are fairly well known although are saying goodbye to a member tonight. They deliver a very enjoyable 25 minutes of rock n roll – pretty entertaining.

    Vindicter have some moments of brilliance, they’re another band with some fairly familiar faces – metal, metal and metal is the order of the day. Metal as fuck, to say the least. With some cool melodies and harsh vocals they were unlucky not to go through, but a touch more consistency would tip them a long way.

    First and last is the order of the day, Molasses deliver some blistering metalcore which seals their place in the semis and lays a brutal ending to the evening.
    So much energy and power crashing around.

    So that’s the 9th and 10th bands through to the semi finals. This is going to cause some serious headaches because the quality of bands hitting the semi finals is unreal.

    So, next up, April 20th… round 6…


    📂This entry was posted in Live Music News 📎and tagged

  • M2TM Heat 5 – This Thursday

    Posted on by kev36663

    Last time out, Vigil and Creature joined the ever-swelling semi finals – and it’s looking to be some serious tight competition alredy and there’s still plenty of bands to look forward to over the next two heats.
    Round 5 is this Thursday at Trillians, with 4 competing bands.  Remember, entry to this and every heat is FREE entry. Kicking off from 7pm

    There is scope for a 5th band, but at time of writing only 4 are confirmed.

    Nice.
    So, who have we got for you this time – in no particular order (as running order decided on the night) we will be welcoming…

     

    Vindicter  – Metal as fuck.

    Molasses – Melodic Metalcore

    Coma Violet – Fuzz Pop

    Pretty Livid Imps – Punk / Alt Rock

    Having just listened over to each of the bands again… phwoar… it’s going to be tight.

    We will communicate running order on the Facebook event on the evening after the draw takes place.

    We hope to see you there for some amazing talent.

    So just two heats below… and then we get into semi final territory

    April 6th – M2TM Heat 5

    Vindicter, Molasses, Coma Violet, Pretty Livid Imps, Wild Fire

    April 20th – M2TM Heat 6

    Erebor, The Distorted, October Ends, Altostratus, Blackjack


    📂This entry was posted in Live Music News 📎and tagged

  • M2TM Newcastle Heat 4 write up

    Posted on by kev36663

    Cor, round 4 has thrown up some interesting ones.

    Creature have helped shake the curse of the opening slot by being the second band to go through despite drawing the early lot. 90s grunge throw back, they like their Nirvana like – but there’s enough enjoyment about them that helps tip them through. Sweet. Just like Honey.

    Potentially the band with the furthest to travel – Vigil – they are a powerhouse of modern melodic metal. I thought they were going to lose it when announcing “the next one is a Drowning Pool cover” – but opting for a triumphant ‘Sinner’ (that much forgotten second single!) stunning. The bar is raised and set. They’re like making love on the edge of a knife. Hope they’ve plenty of petrol money handy… they’re through

    Auto-Immune exitted at this stage last competition – they’ve come an awful long way since then. Some more 90s grunge but this time more shouty. Their energy is appreciated and they make a good effort despite having such a difficult act to follow. They help contribute to the inevitable headache of who goes through – I guess that’s why I’ve always got the blues.

    Odin’s Revenge – you know – I was well into the whole female fronted metal thing. What can I say – Delain are probably one of my favourite bands and I’ve seen them 5 times despite having never headlined here. Anyway. My point… yes, fuck… that voice. Holy shit. Not heard a voice like this in metal for a while and that was stunning. Her lips spoke gold and honey. I think, now, I want to keep these write ups positive, so, they’re a band I would like to see again and I’d like to see how they come along because natural confidence and progression will bring them along nicely.

    To finish the night, we’ve a guest headline appearance from Souls of Jack Ketch – it’s funny, I remember their first gig in this last year and me liking them cos they sounded “a bit like The Haunted” and I quite like The Haunted. Incidentally, any bands who sound “a bit like Tiamat” or “a bit like Paradise Lost” or “a bit like My Dying Bride” are very welcome and encouraged, but to be a dick I’m not saying which era of each band.
    Anyway. Back to point. Holy fucking Christ… how much they’ve come on since the competition is unreal. They just ooze confidence. Brutal and superb. This lads and lasses – this is your bar. Keep raising it.

    Anyway. Class. Enough ramble. There were loads of gigs on in Newcastle tonight, thanks all who came to ours. I wanted to go see The Jesus and Mary Chain – so, for all the bands tonight, take it as a backhanded compliment you collectively were worth missing JAMC for… I have been adding their lyrics to your reviews.


    📂This entry was posted in Live Music News 📎and tagged

  • M2TM Heat 4- This Thursday

    Posted on by kev36663


    Half of the semi-finalists are now decided with The Unholy Concotation and Decrepit Monolith advancing to the semis last time out.

    Round 4 is this Thursday at Trillians, with 4 competing bands and 1 guest band.  Remember, entry to this and every heat is FREE entry. Kicking off from 7pm

    Nice.
    So, who have we got for you this time – in no particular order (as running order decided on the night) we will be welcoming…

    Creature  – Newcastle Alternative Rock

    Odin’s Revenge – Local Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

    Auto-Immune – Darlington Alternative/Grunge

    Vigil – Groove/DJent Metal from… err… Poland.

    and, very special guests…

    2016 Winners Souls of Jack Ketch – we’re looking forward to welcoming back the band who took the competition by storm last year

     We will communicate running order on the Facebook event on the evening after the draw takes place.

    We hope to see you there for some amazing talent.

    A full break down of all the heats below

    March 23rd – M2TM Heat 4

    Creature, Odin’s Revenge, Autoimmune, Vigil + Souls of Jack Ketch*

    April 6th – M2TM Heat 5

    Vindicter, Molasses, Coma Violet, Pretty Livid Imps, Wild Fire

    April 20th – M2TM Heat 6

    Erebor, The Distorted, October Ends, Altostratus, Blackjack

    *Non-Competing


    📂This entry was posted in Live Music News 📎and tagged

  • M2TM Newcastle – Heat 3 write-up

    Posted on by kev36663

    On paper, Heat 3 is one of the more diverse line-ups.

    This wasn’t deliberate at all – but – certainly, the type of thing I was hoping for when I started running this competition in Newcastle, so a chance to see bands you’d not normally get to see or get to see together.

    In the 2016 competition, no band who took the opening slot progressed. It is a very difficult slot because among anything else you can’t see what you’ve got to “beat”.
    But, The Unholy Concoction buck that trend and taken on a riff driven booze metal approach to take them to the semis.
    It does take a little while for them to warm, but a lot of people have made the effort to check out the early bands and they leave impressed.
    It’s actually the crowd response that tips them through. As every judge has a different second choice band tonight!

    I’m in awe watching Snakes Don’t Belong in Alaska. Sublime and hypnotic psychedeliac rock. Stunning riffs and great atmospheres. They help give the judges a nice headache, you know not the “will this noise ever stop” headache, but a “it’s tight, who is going through headache”

    Saints of War are competition tradional rock, it’s funny – before they set I noticed Tim “Ripper” Owens has announced show at Think Tank and maybe this has me in mind for the nods towards Priest in SoW’s sound. Pretty good stuff.

    Sworn to Secrecy, holy Hell, there’s quite a few young bands in this year and I love it. Absolutely. These kids tear up the stage with a high energy metalcore machine. Unlucky not to go through, but they’re another one of those bands that are good, they have the energy and enthusiasm and will only get better.

    I mentioned earlier every judge had a different second choice band – well – they all had the same first choice band… Decrepit Monolith… fuck me. They’re tight. They take the competition to a new depth of Hell with their melodic Black Metal. Fearsome!

    I already know the Semis are going to be too tight to call… I am mulling an idea….


    📂This entry was posted in Live Music News 📎and tagged

  • M2TM Newcastle – Heat 3 – Thursday 9th March

    Posted on by kev36663


    Round 2 saw I’ll Play the Villain and Trendkill progress, they join Kraken Waken and Blood Moon Bandits in the Semi Finals.

    Round 3 is this Thursday at Trillians, with 5 competing bands.  Remember, entry to this and every heat is FREE entry. Kicking off from 7pm

    Nice.
    So, who have we got for you this time – in no particular order (as running order decided on the night) we will be welcoming…

    Saints of War  – Teeside heavy rock

    Sworn to Secrecy – Newcastle metalcore

    The Unholy Concotation – Darlington Booze Metal

    Snakes Don’t Belong in Alaska – Psychedelic / Krautrock / Noise

    Decrepit Monolith – Newcastle Black Metal
    We will communicate running order on the Facebook event on the evening after the draw takes place.

    We hope to see you there for some amazing talent.

    A full break down of all the heats below

    March 9th – M2TM Heat 3
    Saints of War, Sworn to Secrecy, Unholy Concotation, Snakes Don’t Belong in Alaska, Decripit Monolith

    March 23rd – M2TM Heat 4
    Creature, Odin’s Revenge, Autoimmune, Vigil + Souls of Jack Ketch*

    April 6th – M2TM Heat 5
    Vindicter, Molasses, Coma Violet, Pretty Livid Imps, Wild Fire

    April 20th – M2TM Heat 6
    Erebor, The Distorted, October Ends, Blackjack, Altostratus

    *Non-Competing


    📂This entry was posted in Live Music News 📎and tagged

  • M2TM Newcastle : Heat 2 Write Up

    Posted on by kev36663

    Although most of our heats are a Thursday, to avoid other clashes, Heat 2 was a nice midweek warmer.

    Four competing bands again this week and interesting mix of bands and styles.

    “We’re from the bad side of the Tyne,” announce Sunderland band Razorjack who play an enjoyable and competent slice of modern metal, influenced by the likes of Slipknot, they’ve a mild stage presence and some interesting songs.  A cover of ‘Gay Bar’ is also quite amusing and they warm up nicely.

    It’s another good way to start the evening, good quality and hopefully they will grow in confidence.

    Teeside Thrashes Trendkill (I love alliterations.   Mr Scorer called them the Parmo Pantera.  If you don’t know what a Parmo is, then, you need one in your life… your arterys don’t, but you do.)
    Fuck me, what they been feeding kids these days?  The teens deliver face-melting thrash.

    They’ve travelled quite a distance to be here, but are going home with some new found friends.

    Horrorbilly band Dead By Dawn remind me one of the things I dislike about the competition is the inevitability a good band will have to go out.  They’ve got a bit experience and play a very enjoyable set of songs about zombies, more zombies, reanimation of zombies and general horror songs.  Massive kudos that they carried on despite illness to their drummer, borrowing Dan from the bar to drum their set in his break.  He did this for Lovely Wife last year.  He’ll get through one day.

    I did wonder, with the standards tonight, if last year’s finalists I’ll Play the Villain could fall at the first round.  But, they play tonight with a massive whim of confidence, added to their mix of melodic metalcore (alliterations!) and they take the competition and grab it by the balls and punch it a few times.  Last time round, I enjoyed them in the heats, loved them in the Semis but they weren’t on top form in the final, tonight’s performance is probably better than their semi performance last time and they’re going to be one to beat.

    Talking to IPTV afterwards I discuss that the 4 bands already through could make one Hell of a final already – and – there’s still 4 more heats to go…. eek…

    So, genuinely, there were no bad bands tonight, but congratulations to Trendkill and I’ll Play the Villain who join Kraken Waker and Blood Moon Bandits in the semi’s in May.

     


    📂This entry was posted in Live Music News 📎and tagged

  • Metal 2 The Masses : Heat 2 – This Wednesday

    Posted on by kev36663

    After an exciting first round in which Kraken Waken and Blood Moon Bandits progressed, Heat 2 is this Wednesday, February 22nd, at Trillians.

    A late decision was made on Thursday to make the launch night free entry and that offer will continue for the remainder of the heats, so, each night you’ll get to sample 4 or 5 local bands with no cover charge.

    Nice.
    So, who have we got for you this time – in no particular order (as running order decided on the night) we will be welcoming…

    Trendkill  – thrash/groove from Redcar

    Razorjack – 4 piece metal band influenced by the likes of Slipknot and FFDP

    Dead By Dawn – Horrorbilly/rockabilly

    I’ll Play the Villain – Metalcore, they were finalists last year but they’ve got a very tough opening round

    At time of writing there’s just 4 bands confirmed, but a 5th may be added.  We will communicate running order on the Facebook event on the evening after the draw takes place.

    We hope to see you there for some amazing talent.


    📂This entry was posted in Live Music News 📎and tagged