Concerts: Skindred + SOiL + Viza @ Rock City, Nottingham UK, 01/24/2014 - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!

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Concerts:

Skindred + SOiL + Viza @ Rock City, Nottingham UK, 01/24/2014

Posted on Sunday, February 02 2014 @ 12:08:15 CST by Dean Pedley

A sold out Nottingham Rock City on a Friday night with a diverse mix of bands you probably would never put together, will the ingredients complement each other? Or will it prove to be a step too far, SoT were there to find out.

At the horrendously early time of 6:40pm L.A's Viza take to the stage to a slowly expanding crowd. After taking Hammerfest by storm a year ago the band launch right into their hybrid Metal/Oud flavoured drinking anthems, causing the crowd to warm to their charms. Their infectious rhythms and K'noup's distinctive vocals weave throughout the crowd causing interspersed dancing and overall appreciation. Each track, like a story telling session with guitars and drums leave's you totally transfixed. New album 'Aria' gets a representation, offering slightly heavier material than their previous outings. Tonight Viza proved that Hammerfest wasn't just a drunken appreciation of which ever band was on stage, tonight Viza established themselves as an innovative band passionate in their performance.

The 'Metal' part of this three course sandwich was delivered by SOiL who had a job on their hands to keep this crowd's enthusiasm up after Viza's incredible set. This proved to be no problem, from the off Ryan McCombs launching himself and his mighty lungs headlong into the performance. Having been touring for many years they sure know how to whip up a frenzy in a crowd and get the set list spot on. Kicking off with new track 'Loaded Gun' shows the intent to keep the set at full throttle for its entirety.

A cover of Ram Jam's 'Black Betty' even has the security showing appreciation from the pit. Ending with every bodies favourite 'Halo' sees McCombs enter the middle of the crowd to perform it. Lets be honest if soil had left that track out they'd not have been able to leave the building. Awesome set that proved how appreciative Metal/Rock audiences are of all styles of music.

As the furious strobes flicker ensuring epileptics have a job staying in the building while the 'Imperial March' from Empire Strikes Back booms out of the P.A, Skindred's very own Dark Lord, Benji Webb enters the stage. Within seconds the sold out room goes bat shit crazy! I kid you not, Skindred are a phenomena, more infectious than the clap and twice as hard to get rid of when they get under your skin. Benji is the future of British Rock frontmen, he holds a crowd in the palm of his hand like no one on the scene today. Skindred as a whole have worked hard to get to this level and with new album 'Kill The Power' ensure's you won't be witnessing this band in clubs for much longer. The solid riffing of Mikey Demus laying down some fat tunes get's Rock City moving like I've never seen. People taking off their tops from the start for the 'Newport Helicopter' makes the sight at the end a whole lot more satisfying. As the intro to 'Doom Riff' washes over the crowd the intensity is raised beyond expectations, participation is compulsory and no one dare not join in.

A sprinkle of tracks from the new album is greeted like an old friend, 'Ninja' is a masterpiece live and rightly so with it's solid metal infused rhythms. Skindred proved tonight that their hybrid of Metal/Regge and everything in-between works, and works well ! Skindred are the real deal and 2014 will see them crowned as Rock Royalty and take the throne they truly deserve. What a gig! What a line up! You just had to be there.

Words & Pictures Mark Davies.