LIVE REVIEWS

Full Thrash Assault 07
The Snooty Fox, Wakefield 8 Dec 2007

Now in its second year, FTA returns with a bigger and better line up. Starting things off are Empathy, who were drafted in with only hours to spare following the cancellation of Amok. After a brief line check which gives the band the chance to demonstrate their knowledge of the early Metallica stuff, Empathy begin an enjoyable set of originals which merge together a KEA era Metallica sound with a healthy slice of Kreator. There is plenty of lead guitar work and this band shows potential but they are let down by a poor bass sound.

It’s not even tea time yet, but this doesn’t stop Chewin Druids frontman from being inebriated enough to knock over his microphone stand. Anyone expecting to see a group of virtuoso musicians here is going to be in for some serious disappointment, but if a good half hour of fun punk infused thrash is high up the agenda then these Yorkshire lads are sure to make your engine tick with their DRI style flavour.

After the recent name change, one question on everyone’s lips for the past month or two has been “Who are Insanita?” They may be the least known band on the bill but if this performance is anything to go by, their anonymity won’t prolong for long. Thoroughly formidable riffs and antagonistic vocals concoct a brutal death-thrash assault that literally bursts with energy, and a flawless rendition of Reign In Blood makes Insanita one to watch out for.

The thrash just keeps on coming and it doesn’t get any softer with Bradford boys Let Em Burn, who are almost old enough to be daddies to half of the audience! It’s been a rough few months since the new vocalist contracted meningitis, and this is their first gig for a while, having consequentially cancelled their tour. These war mongers sure know how to get the crowd going as they have them lapping up such songs as “War slut” and “First Assault” while the restless vocalist mingles with the thrashers in the audience.

Sekhmet are up next who unleash a dose of competent, albeit generic thrash. These guys unashamedly bow at the altar of Tom Araya & co. and if nothing else, the lead guitars are worth standing up and taking note of although some of the magic from the recording is lost in the live environment.

A shorter break than scheduled leads us into Seregon. At present these guys are unsigned and why that is remains a mystery. A remorseless barrage of brutal thrash in the vein of Sepultura is lead by the charismatic James who evinces a fearsome air of savagery, working the stage to his full advantage.

All the way from Ireland, Gama Bomb are left with the unenviable task of following Seregon and after a hesitant start they prove to be more than upto the challenge. While a mass of hair shielded the stage that didn’t stop one ardent fan from helping himself to a spot on the stage where he firmly stood, windmilling along. As they rip and tear through such beer and zombie fuelled songs as “Hammer slammer” and “Sentenced to thrash”, which sees Philly namedrop a handful of obvious thrash metal influences as Onslaught and Dark Angel, it’s clear that these guys know how to party! One question; when’s the album coming out?

The day may be drawing to a close, but no-one is going anywhere until Evile have performed. Tonight they are playing to an enthusiastic crowd and the energy seems to be bouncing around the room as they carry a rapport with the thrashing maniacs in the audience, inciting circle pits and stage divers aplenty. They imperviously blast through an array of thrash anthems from their debut album, taking us through “First Blood”, “Armoured Assault”, “Man Against Machine” and “We Who Are About To Die”. A worthy headlining band and one with a future so bright it blinds you!

Luci Herbert