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By the time Oceans Black hit the rather cramped stage there is a reasonable crowd to see what turns out to be an excellent set from this relatively new band. Although only formed back in 2014 they have been honing their individual talents for a number of years and it certainly comes through in their performance.
Standout tracks like ‘Where Darkness Resides’ and ‘So Lost’ both from their self-titled EP shows a great riff laden sound a solid meaty drum beat and clear and quite melodic vocals. A sound similar to early G&R with maybe a bit of Creed thrown in it’s definitely a great start to the night.
NitroDive add some dirt and downright grunt to the proceedings, a three-piece hard hitting punk rock band from Sweden. They hit the stage like a shot of adrenaline between the ribs and ooze energy, from the machine gun drums of Johan Gren to the thumping bass from Robert Johnson (no not that one) and the sharp raspy vocals and guitar from Albert Norberg they show that the sub- 4 minute song is where the raw music is. ‘Dead Or Alive’ kicks out a great sound as does the final track ‘Dying To Live’ where crowd participation was called for and dutifully fulfilled.
Swedish Rockers Bonafide have been busy hammering home their music to anyone and everyone they can and spreading their love for Rock n Roll to the many denim and leather clad fans, formed by Pontis Snibb (vocals, guitar) back in 2006 they are now signed of Off Yer Rocka records and touring the release of ‘Denim Devils’ their fourth studio album. With obvious influences from the early rock bands like AC/DC and Saxon they pull no punches and just play balls out Rock and Roll.
Pontis’ vocals are clear yet rough and the guitar work split between him and guitarist Anders Rosell is a style instantly recognizable and likeable, huge riffs and plenty of licks and fills. Filling the backline is Niklas Matsson (drums) and the ever charismatic Martin Ekelund (bass) who it seemed wasn’t in the best mood tonight judging by his quips about the stage lighting or lack of it on his side of the stage!
Tonight’s show like all their others is straight forward rock and no frills, kicking off with ‘Doin The Pretty’ and ‘Hold Down The Fort’ you can feel the heavy rhythm guitar hitting you smack between the eyes before it is followed by a searing solo.
’50/50′ from the new album mixes a cracking riff with some excellent Bon Scott-esque vocals and certainly has the 70′s AC/DC sound to it. Finishing this awesome set with their signature track ‘Fill Your Head With Rock’, or as the setlist stated ‘Fill your Cock with Head’!, and it’s very true what the lyrics say ‘When you feel like you’re sinking like a stone; the only medication you will ever need is to crank up the volume till your ears bleed and fill your head with ROCK’.
The main headliners tonight Hardcore Superstar played a storming set at this year’s HRH Hammerfest on the sleaze stage and we are hoping for the same tonight, while still not a massive turnout there is enough to give a great atmosphere.
They launch their new album ‘HCSS’ on April 22 which sees them going back to their roots in style and a feel which is a mixture of thrash and sleaze metal.
Leather and stud clad vocalist Jocke Berg is a great frontman, larger than life and encouraging the audience to sing along, especially when they kick into one of the new tracks ‘The Cemetery’. They do have a bit of a Hanoi Rocks sound about them but definitely a heavier version, ‘Wild Boys’ being one of the meatier tracks of the set and with some great guitar work from Vic Zino and some steady bass from Martin Sandvik.
Whilst the crowd were really into the set I seemed to be left waiting for the ‘Hardcore’ side to arrive, perhaps the music wasn’t ‘Hardcore’ enough for me.
Final track tonight ‘Above The Law’ sees the roadie dismantling the drum kit drum by drum whilst Adde Andreassonis is still playing it, not sure if this is the norm or they had to do a runner with the door money but, whatever, another awesome set to end a great night of music.
Review and photos by Simon Dunkerley
Hardcore Superstar – https://www.facebook.com/OfficialHardcoreSuperstar?ref=br_tf
Bonafide – https://www.facebook.com/Bonafiderocks
NitroDive – https://www.facebook.com/NitroDive
Oceans Black – https://www.facebook.com/oceansblack
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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
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