CLUB LED Grand Opening

I've often been very critical of "Grand Openings" of goth/alternative night clubs (especially those in Newcastle). One of two outcomes - they either hit it off or they fail miserably. Thank god it wasn't the latter (Does anyone remember the dismal Club Necro?)

SAY GOODBYE TO NECRO. WELCOME TO NEWCASTLE,  CLUB LED.                

For it's first night Club LED was tearing the asshole out of any previous attempt at a Goth/Alternative Night Club. It had everything - cheap booze, women, a costume competiton, concert tickets (as prizes to be won), 3 quality DJs and some great local live bands.

All in all - win, win, win for $7.                                                             

Event organiser Ceejay Thrillhouse had certainly outdone himself this turn around but that's not to say there weren't a few bugs to send him running around (to the amusement of this reviewer) like some raving lunatic.  Still, all was taken care off whilst maintaining the highest calibre of proffessionalism. For once - no Lady Gaga as soon as I walk out of the band room to grab another beer. Thankyou for giving all of us Newcastle metalheads somewhere new to party and ultimately for keeping the music evil throughout the bowels of the entire club.           

Making sure to stick to the DJ room and dance floor whilst all the technical difficulties were worked on for the initial headliners - I was thankful not to hear the token Tool or Coal Chamber song on repeat. This isa metal club for christ sakes. The DJs made sure of that with a very ecletic mix of songs from the beginning to the end that took me on a journey stretching from the earliest memories of my teens to right now.       

The DJs kept the crowd on dancing - very rarely do I see someone try to shuffle to the likes of Chimaira or Rob Zombie but hell the DJs rolled with it feeding off the crowd song after song. 

The lads from GRIM DEMISE took the stage right in the midst of the festivities with a sight this reviewer has said he's always wanted to see for years - GRIM DEMISE as a four piece. Having struggled to keep up a constant singer within their ranks over the years it was more pleasing to see the shared vocal duties between lead guitarist Luke Pendlebury and Bassist Leigh Jansen.

They absolutely tore up the stage with the twin guitar assault of favourites 'Abandon' and 'The Despair' keeping everyone headbanging with beers raised high but it's sure not a gig until a certain repeat offender skinhead is evicted from the premises (Don't ask).  The highlight of the set certainly came with the opening notes of 'Deadlights', that memorable and almost Mustaine inspired solo that soared through the PA showed off the GRIM DEMISE at their very best.

They've definitely moved on to a point where they provide a solid performance and know how to have fun. Cue drummer Ben Good yelling at the crowd for someone from the audience to provide vocals for the next song (You're a beast Ben. But we all love You!).  Yes sir, nothing like a good old death metal jam to  'House of the Rising Sun' to put a smile on everyone's face.

Word of advice gentleman - Keep it a foursome. It's the icing on the cake!

Truly a late start for REQUIEM OF THE DAMNED , but then, can you picture seeing them play at daylight? I sure as hell can't. I haven't witnessed a Newcastle metal band that evokes as many different emotions with their music, lyrics and various movements through each song as much as REQUIEM... have.

If you want the solid musicianship of SENTENCED and the dark beauty of  KATATONIA all reimagined by 6 malevolent madmen onstage then you've definitely got what you paid for. The spooky eery guitars of 'Infect Me' haunted and stalked its way through the speakers as vocalist Josh Allen creeped his way across the stage. Accompanied by keyboardist Greg Sher looking to be conjuring up the spirit of ex-manson keyboardist MW Gacy.

Bring on the catchy chorus of 'Cold' that stands out as an easy to sing along to track for the fans of which the lyrics are not difficult to interpret the exploring Vocalist Allen is taking us through here but still it's a song catchy enough to be on the radio.

The highlight was hearing 'The Descent' which really sums up REQUIEM... all in one song. The twin guitar harmonies of Daz Firth and Stuart James dig down so deep into the very bowels of hell as the single almost operatic piano notes seem to lift you back up out of the soulless journey you've just been taken through. Still at the same time providing that creepy mold between vocalist Allen's melodic and death metal growling vocals of which I've grown so fond of.

Ladies and Gentlemen, you may not realise it right now but you've just been on a trip through the misty hazes of the underworld and back.