PESSIMIST
/ SEVERE TORTURE / TORTURED / THE KARMA PAYMENT PLAN
Hal Daddy's; Baltimore, MD;
04/21/01
Reviewed by Christopher J. Kelter
Deep in the heart of the gritty streets of
East Baltimore lies a little club that caters to the expansive plurality of the
mid-Atlantic music scene - that club is Hal Daddy's. Hal Daddy's, like
most other clubs in Baltimore, is really nothing more than a converted rowhouse
that serves as a gathering place for minions who seek comfort by moonlight and
cathartic music.
The young ruffians of The Karma Payment Plan opened the proceedings and played a
quick 25-minute set that managed to mix noisecore within a variety of other
extreme music styles.
Tortured have been playing around the Baltimore area for a few years now.
Blending death metal with metalcore, Tortured's 30-minute set mixed these two
styles into a unique package. "Perfect Scar" is a excellent
example of how Tortured are able to combine the death metal and metalcore styles
into potent hybrid.
Having arrived on American shores for the first time, Holland's Severe Torture
played a blistering set of gory death metal in the vein of Cannibal Corpse.
However, Severe Torture lean more towards a technical style which is always more
pleasing to my ears. A cover of Cannibal Corpse's "Hammer Smashed
Face" fit very well into the band's style. Overall, Severe Torture was well
received by those in attendance despite their relatively unknown status on these
shores.
Baltimore's own death metal stalwarts Pessimist are riding huge waves of
positive press and acclaim. Fans and critics alike are abuzz about
Pessimist's recent performances at Metal Meltdown (NJ) and the Hardcore and
Metal Fest (MA) in early April. The song "Summoned To Suffer"
will appear on the compilation CD for the #17 issue of SOD magazine. If
all that weren't enough, Pessimist also have "Summoned To Suffer" on mp3.com
and it quickly went Top Ten on the death metal charts. Spearheading these
events are Kell McLauchlin and his new band mates - this is a lineup that is
sure to command attention during the course of 2001 and beyond.
Pessimist ripped through mostly new material that is likely to be on their next
full-length CD "Slaughtering The Faithful" on Lost Disciple Records
due during Fall 2001. Minor technical difficulties during the first two
songs aside, it was obvious nothing can hold Pessimist back from claiming their
rightful spot amongst the death metal elite. Pessimist plowed sacred ground
until they were forced to stop their set; it seemed apparent that Pessimist were
prepared to play all night if they had to.
Pessimist's newest guitarist Bill Hayden continues to impress with his multifaceted and aggressive soloing style. Hayden and McLauchlin form an impressive duo and will do wonders for the band's continued success. The rhythm section of Ralph Runyan (bass and lead vocals) and John Grden (drums) were solid throughout.
Overall, Pessimist seemed to be in a
lock-step groove all during their performance. Pessimist's highly tight
performances only lend more credence to their growing legacy. Pessimist's
use of minor and diminished sounds only gives the music an even darker and
mysterious tone. Thanks to Pessimist, the East Coast death metal style is
in good hands.
Hail to Hal Daddy's for showcasing metal!!
Back to roughedge.com Home Page
Copyright © 2000 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 06 Oct 2019 11:48:57 -0400.
