FEMME METAL FESTIVAL 2011

DATE:

VENUE:

Sunday 29th May - Monday 30th May 2011

The Asylum in Birmingham, UK

SUNDAY

MONDAY

REVAMP; WHYZDOM; APPARITION; SOLSIKK; FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH; WINTER IN EDEN; SCARLET'S WAKE

THEATRES DES VAMPIRES; SARAH JEZEBEL DEVA; DIE SO FLUID; REGARDLESS OF ME; THE MARIANA HOLLOW; DYONISIS; WINTER STORM

The Mariana Hollow in The Asylum, Birmingham, 29th May 2011

Photograph copyright © 2011 Mark Holmes - www.metal-discovery.com

Reviews by Mark Holmes & Hannah Sylvester; Photography by Mark Holmes

WINTER STORM

Opening the first day of 2011's Femme Metal Fest in Birmingham's Asylum are Winter Storm from the West Midlands so this a local gig of sorts for the band and, with a sparsely populated venue at the early time of 2:30pm, they appear to subdued applause. Fronted by Hannah Fieldhouse, their self-labelled style of dark melodic metal offers a menacingly heavy start to the day's proceedings. Guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards combine to create some neatly layered, atmospheric sonics over which Fieldhouse vocalises lyrics in a fairly pedestrian way, although her laid-back style of singing kind of fits each song's dynamic. Also playing guitar, she's largely restricted in her movement behind a mic stand, but the band's other members compensate for their static frontwoman by headbanging through most passages of music. While Winter Storm's music is not immediately gripping in any way, it has a more slow-burning effect where they take their time to build up some dark atmospheres. However, ultimately, there is little memorable about their compositions so I'm guessing they'd benefit from repeated listens on CD rather than discovering them afresh for the duration of a short festival set. I also have to comment that, while Winter Storm are generally visually cohesive in their appearance, keyboardist Jason Oakley looks strikingly misplaced wearing a Mexican Luchador wrestling mask. The guy is actually a professional wrestler which perhaps explains his choice of facial attire but why integrate outside interests into the band? You'll see Chris Jericho engage in no such nonsense at a Fozzy show. Sure, it's an original manner to present yourself onstage but has a comedic twang that detracts from the overall aesthetic of the band. Just take a glance at any promo shot of Winter Storm and Oakley's mask is present in each one which just looks a tad ridiculous. Lose the mask! (MH)

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SUNDAY 29th MAY - PART 1

DYONISIS

Bringing a more ethereal and unique element to the festival are Sheffield quintet Dyonisis, whose dreamy mix of trip-hop (or dare I say “trip-goth”) and gothic rock caught the crowd completely under their spell and gained a well-deserved positive response from those who’d turned out to the festival early. The captivating stage presence of lead singer Nel, (in a rather unusual floaty dress with blue and white LED’s underneath), confidently flitting between delicate whispers, rock vocals and operatics, matches perfectly with the haunting backing operatic vocals of the more visually-static Lou and male vocals from bassist Marcus, making for a refreshing change for a female-fronted band where, sadly too often, bands rely on backing tracks. The guitar tone and style is also particularly pleasing and well-mixed, lying somewhere between The Gathering’s René Rutten and early ‘90s shoegaze. Passionately, yet subtlely, delivered and airing tracks from across their releases, including several from current album ‘Intoxicated’, Dyonisis deserved to have been much higher up the billing and were easily up there with the best that the festival had to offer. Beautiful, well-structured and well-composed music to get lost in. Perfect. (HS)

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THE MARIANA HOLLOW

London-based The Mariana Hollow are up next with their repertoire of alt-rock/metal tunes which are infectiously engaging from the off, and throughout the thirty five minute slot they've been given. Melodically alluring clean guitar parts are interposed with metalled-up passages to paint a contrasting musical canvas over which frontwoman Rebecca Spinks sings. And she has one hell of a versatile voice - wide-ranging in both tone and style, and adapting her delivery to suit the changing moods of the music. Rebecca has an ability to beef it up over the rock/metal parts but also demonstrates deliciously graceful tones over songs' lighter moments. And watching her facial expressions, it's clear to see that she feels the inherent emotions of every word she sings; a rather mesmerising lady to watch. Bassist Scott Chesworth is a little subdued in his performance stage left but rhythm guitarist Richie Walden is energetic in his movements throughout, as is fellow axe wielder Danny Russell with his concomitant skilled fretboard work as he alternates between lead and rhythms parts with great ease. The majority of the audience look surprisingly passive during The Mariana Hollow's entire set which is rather inexplicable considering the flawless and exceptional performance they deliver. Perhaps it's because it's still too early in the day and the beer has yet to start flowing through The Asylum's crowd but the band remain undeterred and give it their all anyway. Currently unsigned, it's surely only a matter of time before a label snaps up this most promising of acts. Based on today's performance in The Asylum, they are indubitably worthy of great success. (MH)

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REGARDLESS OF ME

One aspect you have to love festivals for is the band discovery aspect, and this is a perfect case in point. Adding a welcome heavier and extremely progressive element to the festival, Italy’s Regardless of Me describe themselves as “melodic progressive trip-hop death metal” which, as much as I hate over-categorisation of bands, is pretty bang on really, aside from the fact that the “trip-hop” element gets a little lost in the mix here, and takes some ear-craning to pick out but, to be honest, I doubt anyone minds a bit. Pamela Manzo, who on first glance I could have sworn was cult Italian actress Asia Argento, oozes massively powerful vocals throughout, accompanied by the band’s songwriter, lyricist, ‘growler’ and guitarist (and apparent unsung guitar god) Emiliano Sicilia playing possibly the maddest guitar I’ve ever seen – a 10-stringed-monster-necked (custom-built, ultra-bass as I’ve since found out) Manne guitar which, full credit to the guy, he plays with effortless ease and immense technicality. This, along with bassist Enrico Cassano, playing some amazing bass licks, drummer Fulvio Torresani keeping the rhythm section seriously tight, and a surprise re-working and metalled-up cover of Madonna’s ‘Frozen’ makes for one utterly awesome performance, mirrored by a great crowd reaction from those that hadn’t disappeared in search of food. Miss these guys live at your peril! (HS)

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Reviews by Mark Holmes & Hannah Sylvester; Photography by Mark Holmes