| Gothic Chronicles | Willemeen-Arnhem | May 04, 2002 |
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The Gothic Chronicles concerts in the Willemeen in Arnhem are building up a name in the region. This version was even more crowded than the previous one, so it’s becoming a huge success. There were two acts this time, the Dutch GRENDEL and the German TERMINAL CHOICE. Two industrial-orientated bands. The first act was just with electronics; the second one had a complete band on stage. Grendel The Dutch GRENDEL reminds me most of an act like the Belgian Suicide Commando. The same intensity, the same distorted vocals and there’s only the use of electronics to create the music. There were only two people on stage, so it is difficult to create a live show. The big difference with the Belgian band is that Suicide Commando just hits you like an elephant that’s out of control, GRENDEL however hasn’t got that ability – yet. The voice of Vlerk seems to have to mature a bit more to get out the real frustration and heaviness we are used to from bands of this genre. His live show has to evolve more into an act in which you can see that he really means business. At this moment his act looks more as if he’s glad to be up there. The same critic could be made for the music. Although the band surely has got some good ideas, it’s all a bit too insecure. Sometimes it’s better not to put all the good ideas and samples into one song. If the music is more direct it hits you more than when you’re thrown into different melodies during one song. To make it live easier for themselves, they could use some video material (or other stuff?) on stage because in that way the attention won’t be completely directed on Vlerk. To end with the positive side, GRENDEL seems to have the ability to grow into a live act that can compete with the best. They just seem to lack the experience at this moment.For the music it’s the same. GRENDEL has got possibilities to grow some more, because as I said before the ideas are present, but just dare to keep it simple… Terminal Choice The guitar is not so present as with the big German hype. Have to admit that TERMINAL CHOICE had one problem. On stage the voice of Chris is not the strongest point of the band. He definitely sounds different live than on record. Strangely enough the live mix put his voice in front of the sound. His voice was constantly on top of things so we couldn’t hear too much of the music. And that was a pity, because the band surely has got some great songs. Songs like ‘Collective Suicide’, ‘Castles In The Sky’ and ‘Sons Of Doom’ would have sound much better if the music had an explosive mix instead of this controlled version. This time the explosives came more from the fireworks behind the band… In the end TERMINAL CHOICE proved to be a band with potential, but tonight it didn’t all came out nicely. It was just like the fire show; sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn’t… (Review & Pics: Beautevil ) |
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© Rockezine.com May 04, 2002, viewed 1409 times since 666
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