Artist: Various Artists
Label: Relapse Records
Release Date: 3/16/04
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Title: Relapse Records Contamination Festival 2003 DVD Artist: Various Artists Label: Relapse Records Release Date: 3/16/04 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
With very rare exception, I never get overly excited about a DVD release. Live music, for me, is about being there and soaking in the sights, the sounds, the smells, and the liquor available at a metal show. It's an experience that can't be relived while sitting on your couch. That being said, I also have trouble getting into concert DVDs because the speakers on my TV suck. Oh sure, I could put them through my stereo system, but that reeks of effort, and effort has never really been my style. Add to this the fact that about 90% of metal video is just amateurish and sad, and you may understand why I don't find things like this exciting. So as you read this review, keep my prejudices in mind.Whether you enjoy this DVD or not pretty much completely hinges on how much you like the roster at Relapse Records. I personally love the label and have seen each and every band on this disc live before (usually numerous times). For both of these reasons, I found myself enjoying this festival DVD a great deal. Of course, I'd probably like it so much more if I actually went to Philadelphia to see the fest on that frigid January weekend last year, but as it is, the label has done a very good job of capturing what the show was all about.
"One word review: Killer." The first thing that struck me is how professional the footage is. There are numerous camera angles and smooth editing, making the footage easy to watch. The audio, while clearly limited by the speakers in my TV, is also professionally done, using many different channels to ensure the sound comes across effectively, or at least as good as it sounded in the venue. Relapse also went beyond these technical aspects and put on a far more visual show than I've ever seen them attempt before. The lighting is impressive, mimicking the type seen during far more 'theatric' shows, and there are even a few instances of pyrotechnics (during The Dillinger Escape Plan).
The bands hold up their end too. The sound was generally the same for each of the acts, but the 'slower' bands seemed to come across better. It's no surprise that my favorite acts on the label were my favorite on the disc (Cephalic Carnage, Pig Destroyer, Neurosis, and the godly Mastodon!), but I honestly think that my least favorite bands were less impressive (Burnt By The Sun, Bongzilla). The Dillinger Escape Plan were the 'headliners' of the fest, getting the closing position on the second day, but hearing songs like "Hollywood Squares" and "When Good Dogs Do Bad Things" without Mike Patton on the mic is simply a letdown. That's not really fair, I know, but true all the same.
In addition to the concert footage there is some bonus stuff with Daylight Dies, 27, Dysrhythmia, and The End and a 'behind the scenes' segment which shows a lot of drunk and stoned band members hugging and saying how much they love each other. So, assuming you like Relapse (and you should), this is far better than the average 'live show' DVD out there. I do have one question though. WHERE THE FUCK WAS NASUM?!!!!!. One word review: Killer.
Death's Review:
I am so mad at myself for not having been there, but at least I get to relive it with this comprehensive, awesome two DVD set. Anyone who likes anything Relapse needs to check this one out immediately. Unlike many thrown-together metal DVDs that have hit the market in the last couple of years, this one's the real deal, the kind of product that true fans need to add to their collection. Beautiful packaging is the first thing you notice. My only complaint is the lack of a true booklet - instead you get what is basically a glorified Relapse catalogue/advertisement. But that is a nit pick. Both discs are jam packed with awesome material, documenting the one of a kind festival (I thought this was going to be an annual event?) from January 2003 in Philadelphia in all of its glory. Sure, this should have come out a year ago, but who can deny the awesome, professional-grade multi-cam footage of what I promise you is going to be the next generation of metallic heroes - Mastodon, Pig Destroyer and Cephalic Carnage all absolutely destroy all over this disc like only they can. Best part is you get four tracks from each, and the Cephalic footage even features a bonus appearance by Ben Falgoust of Soilent Green/Goatwhore fame. Neurosis is as trippy and as mesmerizing as always, The Dillinger Escape Plan is as chaotic and High on Fire as stony and as lo-fi brutal as you'd expect, along with footage of Relapse roster stalwarts Alabama Thunderpussy, Bongzilla, Today is the Day and Burnt By the Sun.
"This absolutely is must-see material, and Relapse should be proud." You also get footage of the cool afterparty stuff from up-and-comers Daylight Dies (I really like their brand of melodic death metal as seen here), 27, The End and Dysrhythmia. Add to it cool "behind the scenes" footage where Relapse "cult leader" Matt Jacobson takes you into the video production truck and shows you the process of assembling the footage and get a glimpse of the backstage area where the band members are chillin', drinking and rockin' out throughout the show. All in all, there are over four hours of footage mixed in 5.1 stereo surround sound, enough to keep the party going all night long. This absolutely is must-see material, and Relapse should be proud. They just need to gear up for round two of the festival, and get the DVD out quicker this time! I'd also love to see them release some of the Mastodon, Pig Destroyer or Cephalic Carnage footage as an Headbanger's Ball or Uranium video clip. Regardless, pick this one up, and let it contaminate your mind and pollute your soul.
Hel's Review:
I was greatly relieved to learn this DVD was coming out. I had really wanted to go to this festival, but moving to the other side of the country has severely hindered my ability to attend East Coast festivals, and of course, following my departure, it seems that there are tons of them. This one, however, was to feature many of my favorite bands, and it pained me to miss it. Fortunately, this 2 DVD set has finally arrived, and after viewing it, I feel almost as if I had been there myself.Boasting “over 4 hours of footage” – and boy, do they mean it – this truly is the next best thing to being there. The ability to watch it from the comfort of my own home instead of being sore-footed from standing for two days, well, that’s just the icing on the cake. Disc one covers the first day and features excerpts from the sets of Bongzilla, Alabama Thunderpussy, Cephalic Carnage, Mastodon, and Neurosis. Disc two, naturally, spans day two with selections from the performances given by Pig Destroyer, Burnt by the Sun, Today is the Day, High on Fire, and The Dillinger Escape Plan.
Every performance was memorable, and most of them leave you wanting more. Each set is distilled down to a mere four songs. My personal highlight was the back-to-back Cephalic Carnage – Mastodon combo. These in particular left me salivating and wishing I could see the rest of the devastation wrought by these two mighty bands. I was disappointed that the Neurosis offering was done in a grainy black and white – obscuring the details of the performance itself and giving me a headache in the process.
The rest of the offerings were also outstanding, with each band clearly giving their all and collectively demonstrating the depth and breadth of the Relapse roster. I had always thought I didn’t like Alabama Thunderpussy, but the performance featured here made me wonder where I came up with that idea. One and all, the bands on the bill gave brilliant performances.
"One and all, the bands on the bill gave brilliant performances." But wait, there’s still more! Yes, folks, this DVD comes complete with bonus material! You also receive two songs from each of the four bands that played at the “after parties.” This was a particular treat for me, since I had never before had the pleasure of witnessing any of these bands live, unlike the majority of the bands who played the festival itself. Daylight Dies, 27, Dysrhythmia, and The End were all also given a chance to shine, and shine they did.
27 proved to be the anomaly, being on Relapse’s alter-ego label, Release, and demonstrating the mellow bent of that imprint. Nevertheless, this female-fronted three-piece awed their audience and further displayed the depth of the Relapse empire. The other three bands, Daylight Dies, Dysrthymia, and The End, all devastated with the two songs allotted for them, and made me long to seem them live.
Finally, the DVD concluded with behind the scenes footage from both days of the festival. Credits roll at the end of each day, so don’t let that throw you after day one – just let it play and you’ll get goodies from day two also. These scenes are mostly of the bands socializing, but there are also interviews with some of the Relapse staff and other luminaries in attendance and other interesting items.
The packaging all of this fun is wrapped in is attractive yet somewhat plain, with very simple menus on the DVDs themselves. However, underneath the tray for each disc is a listing of each band and every song included on that disc. This is the info I was looking for, and I was gladdened when I made this discovery. Basically, everything needed is included somewhere on here, and really, what more can you ask for from a box?
All in all, I was pleased with this DVD collection. It sounds fantastic and looks really good. But most of all, I got a taste of a festival that I was disappointed to have missed. I think everyone who feels the same should make a point of getting a copy of this, and those who were there will have fun trying to spot themselves in the crowd shots. Definitely a keeper.
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