VoivodFlierThis was going to be a slow gig to start as most people are only really interested in the headliner and the supports are not exactly well known or a particular draw to the average Voivod thrasher. This meant that Desert Storm were playing to just a handful of people and I had no idea what to expect from the band apart from going by the name having the fear that they were going to be playing metal of the severe ‘meathead’ variety. It would appear that the band are from Oxford, not rednecksville USA and have several albums under their belt and it was kind of a relief when they started, to note that opener ‘Outlander’ was more of a groove-laden stoner-fried affair. They had a vintage sound and some good riffs that kind of made you want to sup some cold suds. Kind of perfect for a support band really. They had their Orange amps maxed up high and if you stood too close it was a case of instant deafness. As they moved on to numbers like ‘Shadow Of An Eagle’ they got feet tapping and boogied on down with some smoking licks that seemed to get those wandering in heading down the front to have a look. By the time they moved on towards the end of the set songs such as ‘Sway Of The Tides’ took on more of a NOLA edge and got heavier and vocally more rawkus, perhaps they have got a bit of a meathead thing going on with the newer material. They really could do with changing their utterly shite name though!

I had a feeling that Krokodil were not really gonna be my bag. Although I knew nothing about them I had noted that they were playing Temples Festival soon and also on the bill at this venue as support to All Pigs Must Die in the future, put simply I expected them to be a bit on the ‘core’ side. As soon as they came on and ploughed into ‘Sleep Well, Medusa’ I knew that I had well and truly hit the nail on the head. Songs are choppy and twisted masses of conglomerating riffs and vocals are harsh, barking full blooded screams. Vocalist Simon Wright looks the part covered in tattoos as he fearsomely screams at us and some unexpected clean parts seem out of place turning the song somewhat emo. I am already backing off not liking what I am hearing in the slightest and looking around most of the venue which is now much fuller is looking suitably bemused too. Songs from their debut album Nachash are brutal, fast and chest beating slabs of ruggedness. The chug from ‘Dead Man’s Path’ makes its intentions very clear and it was a song very much in need of its own circle pit, something the band had bugger all chance of getting here. I was by now driven towards the bar but at least I noted that the clean vocals seemed to be a one off. Krokodil were severely out of place on this bill, if they had been supporting the likes of Converge, DEP or someone of that ilk no doubt they would have prospered but with temper tantrum vocals and posturing they were not going to impress anyone here and I was relieved when they finished.

It’s all very quickly forgotten though as it’s time for the main event! Voivod are not over here particularly promoting anything new but they are here for the first time since October 2010 and the release of last album ‘Target Earth’ and they have got the hordes rammed in to go mental. It’s from here they start with the odd tribal bombast of ‘Kluskap O’Kom’ which has Away rolling out the drums at the back and Snake at the front looking happily over the throng in front of him. Mentioning tribal was perhaps fortuitous as the band go from the relatively new right back in time and launch out an absolutely flattening rendition of ‘Tribal Convictions’ to say the crowd go for it would be an understatement. This is one of the bands mightiest blasts from the past and it goes down a storm as it thrashes wildly through us building into the screams of ‘Who’s God’ which has everyone yelling along. Chewy is really going for it on our stage left filling up his side of things and hair flying wildly about as he hammers away at his guitar getting a nice thick sound out of it. His excellent Cardiacs shirt is good enough to warrant a mention of its own too! We may not have the blower but the bass courtesy of new blood, as Snake introduces him in a between song pause, Rocky sounds pretty damn hefty and formidable. As far as we are concerned it’s a case to batten down the hatches, stand ground and get really into the selection of songs from throughout the band’s career for the next hour or so.

They pull some unexpected ones out the woodwork too, really mixing things up. ‘The Unknown Knows’ from Nothingface builds with a doom laden flow before futuristically thrashing away with choppy beats and Snake’s melodic harmonies flying towards the roof. ‘The Prow’ from Angel Rat is equally unexpected and it takes a second to realise what they are playing here. One that doesn’t is ‘Psychic Vacuum’ and that is exactly where the clamouring riffs and brutal backbone of the song fling us. The spiralling riffs of ‘Forgotten In Space’ definitely have all systems go and many a person bouncing around with shit eating grins on their faces. It was like having been flung through a vortex and landing back in the late 80’s grabbing a pint and noting that the price was very much in the present was a jolt back down to earth. We also got a first live taster of new track and single ‘We Are Connected.’ I don’t think we could possibly have expected a better set-list and as I supped away an encore of the classic ‘Voivod’ and Pink Floyd cover ‘Astronomy Domine’ were the icing on the cake. I was rather glad that it was quickly apparent that stage diving was a no no at this show as if it had been allowed I think I would have hurt myself during this one. The Canadians blasted us back in time brilliantly tonight, here’s to the next instalment and whatever future endeavours they have in store for us.

(Review and photos © Pete Woods)