SIGNOS
Experimental electro the flyers (which were exceptional this time, with time schedule and all – so, good work promotion team!!!) announced, but that’s probably a bit too much credit for these two Dutch musicians. Sometimes Santi didn’t get his voice on top of the music. He sometimes sings normally, but he changes as easily into a more whispering voice.

Therefore it’s probably impossible for a sound mixer to give this band a constantly good sound on the vocals. A song like ‘Velocidad’ proved that. The more upbeat song ‘SigNos’, with a ‘nasty’ beat in it, got some people on the dance floor.

Still, the band seemed a bit out of place today. Their appearance had something different… Maybe it was the more positive vibe to their dancing or maybe it was that the audience that was interested in SIGNOS clearly had another background than most of the people out there.

CENOBITA
Hell(o)!!!! What’s this? Two masked men on stage and a sound we are used to hearing from fellow countrymen Hocico. The dark electro industrial of these two Mexicans is loud and impressive. It’s confronting as well.

Their performance is a bit shocking. Military clothes and masks make you wonder if this is good or bad… In combination with their pounding blasts of electronics and a heavy, distorted voice you realize that there’s no stopping this force. At least, that’s your first impression.

After a while the songs (mostly from “Neo Milenia”) lose their power. It’s not that the band holds back, but the lack of variation is playing them false. You get used to the music and that’s not a good thing if you want to be heavy and extreme. Strangely enough the band seems to realize that as well, but when CENOBITA takes a step back in power and strength their song writing isn’t good enough to keep your attention.

In fact, when the band takes of their masks as well the tower that’s been built during the first explosive songs is falling down quickly. At that moment the magic is over and is it time to look for the next act…

INSCAPE
This German band plays a solid version of dark electro. It’s a band that pays a lot of attention to their song structures, but actually got the same problem as Re/Work. It’s a bit too obvious sometimes. Another problem is that INSCAPE got no room for a live show. The band therefore leaves a static impression. Especially if you consider the fact that INSCAPE is performing with two people behind the keyboards and the singer is mostly hiding behind his microphone.

Still, the band isn’t bad, but on the other hand just isn’t good enough to impress too much. The band got its moments with their so-called big dance hit ‘Immer Ich’ and newer song ‘Traumzeit’. The conclusion remains the same: good band, but…

MALOCHIA
Strangely enough I’ve seen MALOCHIA only once before this show, two years ago on Eurorock in Belgium. Later on I would go to a special show, but this Beautevil had an evil experience and broke his leg (it’s not always fun, you know…). Unfortunately the band is still touring for a record (“Dreamhunter”) that’s as old as the hills.

On the other hand; this gave the band the opportunity to create an almost perfect show. The band members wear different bizarre costumes, which create a perfect atmosphere. Fact is that it isn’t easy to pigeonhole this band, because of the different influences evident.

Gothic, industrial and electro are the main ones, but MALOCHIA actually combine all these elements into their own sound. MALOCHIA live is therefore a combination between good music and theatre. Listen to more melancholic songs like ‘Malochia’ and ‘Dreamplanet’. Remember however that MALOCHIA can sting as well with heavy industrial tracks like ‘Whiplash’ and ‘Crush’.

Most remarkable are the deep intense voice of Antoinette, the dark voice of Niels (which complement each other perfectly) and the look of guitar player Patrick (screaming Twiggy, Twiggy all the way). By the way, his guitar and programming should be mentioned as well. Just like the drumming of René, because those two men complete the picture. I have to admit that there are few bands better than this one. Musically and as a live band…

So, where is that new album? Record labels should be screaming for this. They even played some new songs, so…

After this spectacle it was time for the after party. Most people were however that tired after all this that at two o’clock most of them had ‘left the building’. Still, Light Of Darkness proved once again that there is a market for this kind of music in the Netherlands. And it’s growing, people…

(Review & Pics: Beautevil )