Concerts: Absolva Mini Metal Fest at Yardbirds, Grimsby, UK 11/03/2012 - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!

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Concerts:

Absolva Mini Metal Fest at Yardbirds, Grimsby, UK 11/03/2012

Posted on Thursday, November 22 2012 @ 00:33:29 CST by Dean Pedley

This is what being a fan of Metal is all about, five bands in a biker bar on a Saturday afternoon…all for the measly sum of nothing, that's right, not a penny, gratis, free. Headlined by Absolva this Mini Festival of Metal saw support from Triaxis, Eye For An Eye, Crimes Of Passion and Babylon Fire.

What the gathered fans probably didn't anticipate was the high quality of live music these bands were about to punish our ears with. Babylon Fire are on the eve of releasing their debut album 'Dark Horizons', if what I heard today is a reflection of what to expect then prepare for another excellent piece of Metal from Manchester. Their fat metallic groves pound into the venue, pinning you to the wall. Goddamn, those grooves are infectious, Rishi Mehta laying down some power riffs while Mark D parades the stage like he owns it. Good start from a young band with a lot of promise.

Crimes Of Passion, hot from supporting WASP on their UK jaunt are certainly road ready and it shows with a passionate performance from lead man Dale Radcliffe, who has one hell of a set of pipes. A truly entertaining set complete with some 'Rock Star' poses certainly kept the momentum of the evening. Their Metal/AOR hybrid drew the attention of all present in the club, 'Body & Soul' is just so damn catchy, melodic metallic chorus combined with a fantastic voice really lift the venue. The crowd applauds this excellent band with true appreciation, Crimes Of Passion are on the verge of something big, I have a feeling the wait will be worth it.

Bringing things down to grass roots old school sludge/Southern tinged Metal are Eye For An Eye. Some fat riffs are exposed to the Yardbirds faithful bringing their weighty rhythm section out like a steaming pot of gumbo. Treading the same path as Down & CoC this three- piece pile on the pressure and add to a perfect evening of Metal thus far. This no frills riff assault sees some flaying hair, banging around the venue to 'Apocalypse Angel'. Yardbirds became NOLA for a while and we were all the better for it.

Poor old Krissie from Triaxis is not well; she's throwing throat remedies down her neck before the show in a hope of being able to sing or at least retrieve some of her voice. Like a true Metal Warrior she just puts this setback aside and plugs on. What follows is one of the most passionate Metal performances I've witnessed for years, she powers on through the pain and you know what? No-one in the room can tell. The band feed off this enthusiasm to deliver a set at any cost and Yardbirds are treated to a powerful Metal onslaught battering their senses into submission. Some Iron Maiden as an encore and the crowd lap it up, joining Krissie in vocal appreciation. Fuck Manowar, Fuck Metallica, these guys are the real deal, tonight when the odds were stacked against them they stood proud and delivered, Triaxis are the definition of true Metal.

With SoT staff writer Dean Pedley giving Absolva's album 'Flames Of Justice' a mighty 5/5 anticipation was high. I should not have feared, with their Gibson SG's firmly plugged in and producing some exquisite riffs the room is soon filled with classic Metal. 'Code Red', 'Flames Of Justice' and the awesome 'Only When It's Over' wash through the venue like a tsunami. Chris Appleton's unique voice is strong and clear, the solo's are traded with fellow six- stringer Tom Atkinson, and this is classic stuff. Infused in the Thin Lizzy School of rock, Absolva deliver a blistering set, every song a highlight. When Fury UK came to an end with the acrimonious departure of Brother Luke Appleton to Iced Earth things could have certainly fallen apart. To his credit Chris picked himself up and immersed his efforts into Absolva, the hard work has most defiantly paid off. A Classic album on the shelves combined with live performances that make your hairs stand on end and make you head bang in youthful exuberance are a recipe for success. I just hope they get that well earned big break they truly deserve.

Words & Pictures
Mark Davies.