National Capital Rock: Brand new heavies

Thursday, March 03, 2016

Brand new heavies

Let's see, I'm at Pressed, there's a cello, a synthesizer and a violin ... yup, it's a heavy metal show! You have to wonder what a time-travelling headbanger from 1980 would think of the explosion of experimental and avant-garde music being released under the now extraordinarily distended banner of metal. I like to think he or she (or anyone) would be mightily impressed by the sounds on offer from Gates, Volur and The Visit last Saturday. First on the bill were Gates, a largely instrumental outfit centred around guitarist Bryan Bray (the only musician actually wielding a six-string that evening, come to that) which I suspect would be quite comfortable on a bill with, for example, Godspeed You Black Emperor. On this occasion Bryan was backed by Lucas and Laura from Volur and Joel from Jugurtha. Here's Joel, adjusting a device.

Here's Laura and a much-obscured Bryan.

Lucas bends!

Slow-building action!

Extra Joel!

Guitar action!

This was the loud bit.

Bryan shouts!

And a bit more Laura.

Volur's songs were a bit more concise. In addition to Lucas (who also plays bass in Blood Ceremony) and Laura, Jimmy P. Lightning from Do Make Say Think plays drums.

Lucas sings!

Laura again!

Rhythmic action!

Laura sings!

Extra Jimmy!

Extra Laura!

The Visit played a really magical set. I bought their album Through Darkness Into Light on Bandcamp a little while ago; they sounded even better live. Raphael has appeared in Musk Ox, among other combos, while I gather from Herd magazine that Heather has a background in dance. Here's Raphael!