N.E.W Metal Productions’ Merry Christmosh – Mclean’s Pentre – 11/12/21
N.E.W Metal Productions’ Merry Christmosh
Mclean’s, Pentre, 11/12/21
Review by Beth Jones
Photography by Beth Jones
The year is drawing to a close (thank god, let’s be honest, because it’s not been the best) and what better way is there to mark the festive season than with some proper Metal, and good friends! And that’s exactly what I did at Mclean’s, Pentre for N.E.W Metal Productions Merry Christmosh Christmas gig, featuring a host of heavy hitting bands for our listening pleasure. But what sort of a night was it? Well, let’s find out!
We were supposed to start the day with everyone’s favourite busker, Edd Case, but typically the bloody ‘Rona caught up with him the day before the gig, so he couldn’t perform. We missed him lots.
So instead, starting proceedings was one-man Industrial Noise machine, Leatherback. Now last time I saw him I wasn’t keen. But I’ve come to the conclusion that I was clearly having some sort of moment. My age, the fact I’m a woman, or the fact that the strobe lighting made photography hard may have been the reason behind my narkiness. I want it noting for the record that I was wrong. Today’s performance was outstandingly tight, and heavy as fuck!! There’s something very mysterious about Leatherback’s stage show, possibly enhanced by the strobe lighting or the fact he doesn’t talk at all, giving it a hypnotic quality. He also has a very expressive face, which is full of energy and rage. A great performance, and wonderful way to start.
https://www.facebook.com/leatherbackworld
Next up were the Lullaby boys. If you’ve not heard me talk about them before, where have you been?! You know you’re always going to have a great time when Lullaby play, and today was no exception. There was much toilet roll, many party poppers, and even a new song – ‘Pre Cum Face’… This performance was one of the tightest I’ve seen them give, and it’s great when they perform like this – they were relaxed and it showed, the party was in a very messy full swing, and everyone was having a ball… Apart from the poor souls who had to clear up the mess!!
https://www.facebook.com/rockmyunicorn
Following the standard Lullaby big clean up, Scarfoot graced the stage. This is a band that I’ve seen grow and develop over the last few years, and bloody hell have they come a long way. And they meant business here tonight… with guitarist/vocalist Oliver starting the set with no top on!! They have now become one hell of a good stoner band. It’s sludgy, and grimy, and dirty, and it’s got an awesome groove to it. It makes you pull a face like you’ve just smelt something potent and satisfying! Really so chuffed to see how far these guys have progressed, and keep progressing. LOVED IT!
https://www.facebook.com/thescarfootband
Some Modern Thrash/Groove was racked up next for us, in the shape of State Of Deceit! These young South Waleians haven’t been here before, so it was the first time we’d seen them. They’re a lively bunch! Their sound is full of a bit of all sorts – Thrash predominantly, but with modern twist, and some Speed and Groove, and growl vocals just for the sheer fucking hell of it!! They were giving it their all despite a couple of technical hitches early on, and the vocalist even ended up in the crowd at one point. Can’t beat a bit of audience interaction I say! Great set! I was impressed, and took a trip to the merch stand to purchase me a CD – got to love a physical copy!
https://www.facebook.com/StateofDeceit
Terrible Claw sounds like a villain from Scooby Doo. Turns out they are in fact a Death Metal band, and they were next on the bill here! Now I’m not the world’s biggest Death Metal fan, but these guys are groovy with it, and the lead guitarist has some vicious soloing skills! The vocalist also has an impressive growl! They had some technical issues – to be specific, a noise of unknown origin between songs! But I actually think this made them perform with more ferocity, and it was very enjoyable, in a sort of ‘slash you face up with the shreds’ kind of way! Maybe that’s where the name comes from?!… Another really great set.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063478450984
The penultimate band of the night were Merseyside Death Metallers Exhumation. I knew we were in for heavy purely going off the band logo! And I wasn’t wrong. Crunching riffs, heavy as you like bass, guttural roars and growls, and blast beats a plenty. These guys are super technical and extremely good at what they do, although their songs do all seem to have unexpected endings! Again, not my cup of tea, but I appreciate skill, and they certainly have it. I want to also give a special shout out to the drummer, who is insanely good at hitting things quickly!! My middle daughter is learning drums, and she would have been in awe of his skills, which he made look effortless.
https://www.facebook.com/ExhumationBand
Headlining the night were Nottingham based Thrash band, Incinery. I don’t know why but there’s something about Nottingham that just seems to create brilliant metal bands. Maybe something in the water. Who knows. But these guys are certainly no exception to the rule. From the very first chord it was obvious that the bar had been raised and we were in for a show of an extremely high calibre. Thunderous rhythms, crushing riffs, and epic vocals, alongside bass lines that punished every sinew, and made you want to move, which made for a blistering headline set from, in my humble opinion, one of the finest UK Thrash bands. I’m fussy when it comes to Thrash. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don’t. I frikkin loved these guys!!! A brilliant way to end a perfect day.
https://www.facebook.com/incinery
And that was that! Absolutely fabulous gig, with fabulous people, in our very own little secret slice of heaven that is McLean’s Pentre. Massive thank you, as always, to Beany and Fozzy for putting together this show, and making sure that the night was a success. And now I was fully in the Christmas spirit, all that remained for me to do was get tucking into the Christmas spirits! Mine’s a gin! Merry Christmas everyone.
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Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Beth Jones and Ever Metal. All photographic images are the property of Beth Jones. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.