Abyss's Review (8/29/00 CBGB's, New York, NY):
Contamination 2000- or I Ain't Cleaning That Bucket
I would like to start this review by thanking my dear friends (fiends) Pestilence and Famine for filling in for me on the most recent concert reviews, of which there has been endless speculation about the reasons for my absence. Without delving into specifics, let's just say I'm feeling much better now, no animals were injured, and I have a newfound respect for cardboard.
Anyway, I was pretty excited for Contamination 2000. It had been awhile since I had gone so long in between shows, and a grind/death-fest was just what I needed. I was so excited that I actually got to the show early (can't remember the last time that happened), and immediately ordered myself a martini. At this point I would like to thank the owners for having the foresight of stocking Bombay Sapphire, as well as the bartendress for actually being able to follow directions. Now I know what a lot of you are saying, "A martini? That's not very metal." And you may be right. But, as ashamed as I am to admit this, it seems I've been drinking an awful lot of beer lately, and I figured I better make some changes before I develop a problem (an ounce of prevention, don't you know… and three ounces of gin!). After a few cocktails I was in high spirits for the beginning of the show (sorry for that terrible pun).
Origin
Photo by Cynthia PelznerOrigin started the evening off very well. Them being a new band (to me at least) I was quite impressed with their confidence on stage, and they gave a wholehearted performance despite the sparse crowd due to the early time slot. Their sound is a wall of distortion, both voice and guitar and they were the perfect gateway drug to get me back into the live metal forum. Their album is also quite good, and I suggest that y'all check it out if given the opportunity.
Next up was what has to be my favorite live metal act. Cephalic Carnage, in my opinion, has the most technically adept, brutal, and heartfelt performance in extreme music. Their ability to play such technical pieces while thrashing wildly seems to defy all of the forms of physics that I ever studied, and their enjoyment of their own music is so evident on stage that one can't help but get sucked in and go along for the grinding rollercoaster ride that ensues. Again they melded "Dr. Seuss is Dead" by Acid Bath with a Bloodduster song, with beautiful results, putting their own twist of "hydro-grind" into the music of others. I know I say this in every review of which they've been a part, but I can't stress it enough. Get to know this band, be it on CD or live.
Burnt By the Sun took the third slot, due to their tardiness. But rather than ask for a note from their parents, the crowd just encouraged them to thrash and scream about. I had no previous experience with this band, but I've enjoyed my first taste of them, and will try to acquaint myself with them further. It's hard to get into new material in a live setting, especially among such talented bands, but they've definitely piqued my curiosity. Standing out slightly, because their style touches on some slower material than a lot of the other bands, Burnt By the Sun were able to keep my attention and sound good even after following Cephalic Carnage's brutal set. This is no small feat, and they should be recognized for it.
Cephalic Carnage
Photo by Cynthia PelznerExhumed took the stage next, and what can I say? If you want gore… you got it. Exhumed aren't ones to just rest on the quality of their music, they deliver an all out theatrical event for their gore-starved fans. The sped-up death of their last two albums, even though excellently executed (I was going to write "played", but this seems more appropriate), took a back stage to the macabre spectacle that is an Exhumed show. If you like chainsaws and a whole bunch of blood, you'll enjoy these sick fuckers… somehow I get the feeling that these guys have sex more often when it's their girlfriends' time of the month. They also showed their talent for vomiting on cue, a beautiful ochre cascade accentuated by the house lights (I don't know why they think they're so great, I did the same thing an hour later, and I didn't see anyone cheering for me… but that's okay, I'm not in it for the fame.) I gotta admit that it was pretty fun, although I'm not usually a big fan of bodily functions.
Deceased took the stage next and played their 80s thrash-inspired hands off. King Fowley is just fun to watch, and I've always admired this band for staying true to their inspirations, but making a vital sound at the same time. I think every head in the place was a-bobbing during their set, which sounded like the best I've ever heard from them. Amazing what they can do when they're not playing to a curtain. They were the perfect ending to a metal filled night for me. Unfortunately, I missed Today is the Day due to the fact that the show went late, and I'm a little baby and need at least four hours sleep. So look to Hel and Death to fill you in on the ending of the show, I'm just happy that there is a tour with this many bands that doesn't have a weak set in the bunch.
Death's Review (8/29/00 CBGB's, New York, NY):
Year two of Relapse Records' apparently annual Contamination Tour has been pummeling the nation this summer with a fresh roster of "Cult Members." Although obviously on the one hand not so much a festival as a one-label summer promotional junket, on the other hand it is one of the better U.S. underground extreme metal packages, and it amounts to the most interesting traveling assembly of today's true underground metal scene. The bands tour in vans, carry their own equipment and hang out with the fans. These are the bands hanging out in the beer garden at March Metal Meltdown and the guys making all that noise in the hotel room next to you at Mass Metalfest. They post on bulletin boards, geek out for heavy metal records and party before, during and after the show. And to top it all off, they collectively play some of the most brutally sophisticated and magnificently next-level extreme music existing on the planet today. Welcome Contamination once more, despite your corporate motive you are nevertheless a defining, relatively-high-profile vehicle for some really cool acts.
Contamination 2K hit New York on a Wednesday night. The start time of, like, 7 or 7:30 was just silly, considering CBGB's is a late venue. I decided early on that I couldn't stay there and get plastered all night in the middle of the week. So I worked late and got there around 10-ish, walking in, to my surprise, with the set further along than I expected, in the middle of Exhumed. I was, of course, incredibly disappointed to be missing this, but I immediately saw Hel and Abyss (who got there early, I think) thrashing away, heads bobbing toward the stage, and I got right into the sprit of a show very similar to the killer performance I saw from Exhumed in Milwaukee a month back. Of course, that means it had the same combination of killer metal spirit and sickly theatrical glee. Images of bullet belts, armbands, long hair and headbanging mixed with forced vomiting, severed heads and blood poured over members in triumph. It works, and the fans at CB's ate it up.
Burnt by the Sun
Photo by Cynthia PelznerThen came Deceased, which Hel, Musashi and I ended up watching from the tiny area to the side of the stage. This was the first time I'd ever focused my attention on King Fowley himself in the live setting. Surprisingly, doing so gave me a new level of appreciation for the band. Fowley is a madman, a heavy metal cartoon character who is both a loudmouth and a metal icon at the same time. But more important than his personal characteristics is the fact that this colorful personality comes through in every ounce of his performance. Fowley communicates with his playing, hitting the drums with passion, integrity and a love for metal, and while he might miss a rim or two he far more than makes up for any mistakes with his attitude, energy, enthusiasm and presence. In fact, his technical playing ability is subtly quite high - there is an accomplished musician underneath the rough and tumble thrash exterior. Vocally, Fowley struggles at times but again injects such energy and integrity into the performance that you'd rather listen to him than someone with twice the pipes who wouldn't be as entertaining to watch and/or listen to.
Beyond the band's originals, Deceased played several covers, including choice old-Kreator, Iron Maiden and Fowley favorite, Hirax (rough quote of Fowley's introduction to the song, "If you don't know Hirax, you should know Hirax, 'cause if you do know Hirax you love Hirax 'cause Hirax is fuckin' metal!") The fists were pumping, the crowd was captivated, and "The Thirteen Frightened Souls" absolutely crushed. Deceased put on a killer set, and totally drained me of the last bit of my Wednesday night energy. I was through.
Exhumed
Photo by Cynthia PelznerI did stay to see a couple of songs from Today is the Day, and what I saw was impressive. Today is the Day is a good band, and one I haven't paid enough attention to. Raw, powerful, technical, primitive, honest and true. There is definitely something going on that is worth understanding. Unfortunately, for me, beyond the first few songs, that Wednesday night was not the night.
From my perspective then, the night was primarily about Deceased, not only by default but by showmanship. But the national tour is about Relapse. Metal Judgment did not make the trip to Philly for the label's 10th Anniversary Show over Labor Day weekend, but let's all have a drink now, shall we, to salute the passing of the label's first decade. Bottoms up Relapse, you threw a good party in New York this year, and you could have done a lot worse for yourselves than having Deceased give the main toast.
Hel's Review (8/29/00 CBGB's, New York, NY):
Yes, it's true, miracles can occur: I made it to the venue in time to see the very first band. Origin kicked things off since Burnt by the Sun wasn't even there yet, but I adapted. This was the first opportunity I've had to absorb their live "vibe", considering the only other time I witnessed them onstage was at the always-joyfully-overwhelming Milwaukee Metalfest. I confirmed something this time that I had noticed last - there is one particular song in which a segment of the vocals sounds oddly like a barking dog. A unique approach, one that, to me, epitomizes their quirky yet undeniably aggressive style. A great set, and I was happy to have the opportunity to give it my full attention.
CEPHALIC CARNAGE was next. Why do I like this band so much? Well, have you listened to Exploiting Dysfunction? If not, it isn't your place to ask such a thing. And I don't think you would have bothered to ask if you have heard it. Each time I see this band live, they consistently impress me with their ability to bring the chaotic brilliance of their music to the live setting and make it look easy. Now that's metal.
Deceased
Photo by Cynthia PelznerAt long last, Burnt by the Sun graced the (by this time) respectably sized crowd with a crushing set. Again, as with Origin, I did not have the leisure to peruse their live set at length during the Metalfest and that was my initial live experience with this band as well. It was extremely enjoyable, and I realize now that these newcomers to the host-label are even better than I initially thought.
Earlier we were speaking of things that are metal - I've never seen anything more metal than the onstage antics of the next band on the bill for tonight's festivities. Exhumed put on the most unabashedly disgusting, over the top stage performance imaginable. Even though the same elements are used each time, seeing it again was even MORE fun than seeing it the first time (see my Metalfest review for the details). Knowing what was coming was an asset, first because it enabled our talented photographer to get some killer shots, second because it was great to see each reaction from those who didn't, and finally, because I was able to see the parts I didn't get to see the first time. And, oh yeah, I think the music's great too.
Deceased had a hard act to follow, but it was no problem for these veteran metal warriors. King & Co. did it the way they do it best - old school - denim and leather all the way! One of the fun parts of seeing these guys live is watching their loyal following enjoy the show. The other times I've seen Deceased live were at this year's Milwaukee Metalfest and March Metal Meltdown, and they seem somehow to have borne the brunt of certain shabby situations that existed at both of those events. While I thought they were great each of those times, seeing them in the proper setting puts it all into perspective. It was great to finally seem them "clearly".
Today is the Day wrapped up the night. There is no question that there is a lot of passion in this band. They put on an intense set that, unfortunately, I didn't manage to see the end of. You see, I'd been sick all week, and I just didn't have the stamina to keep up with the pace they set. And set a pace they did, with their frenetic jam-metal style. A great ending to a great evening.
Today is the Day
Photo by Cynthia PelznerLast year's Contamination tour was one of my favorite "festivals" of the season. It was hosted at the same venue last year as well. This particular venue is my favorite in the entire city. I like CBGB's dinky dinginess and layout, albeit unique, plus, it attracts mostly fans that are actually into the bands, and not the trendmeisters that flock to other places. That makes a show like this feel like a mini-metalfest, with all the fun and none of the hassles - you can even leave and come back! Sure, it's more expensive, but there are reasons why few people live in Milwaukee. ;) Kidding aside, there really wasn't much that could have made this evening more fun.
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