Heretic Fest 2022 - Day 3

Corporation Sheffield

Live review by; DeeDee

Into the final day and with more last minute changes to the bill, a couple more local bands are roped in to start Sunday off. As we queue to go into the Corporation, the ‘Campbell’ tour bus is parked outside and members of ‘The Dark’ pile out of a taxi. When the doors finally open, we shuffle into the darkened room and grab drinks, before settling to watch the first act.

A local Sheffield bunch, LOYDS TRIP are one of the last minute additions and it’s just gone midday. Some may say it’s a bit early to indulge in this heavy type of cosmic blues, but for me it’s like waking up and smelling the coffee. The cover of ‘Boss Hoss’ is a hazy drive back to 1960’s Tacoma, as this ‘Sonics’ number is given an airing. It’s an absolute gem of a song, full of slapping guitar and simple drums, with a frontman that is already out of his tree. I’ve downloaded the self titled EP, as they stumble into the first off it ‘Decaf Blues’. A trip indeed, as the ‘Hendrix’ vibe is hanging all around, even the album cover resembles ‘Electric Ladyland’. After more antics with ‘Child Of The Night’ there’s another cover, this time a more recent song ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’ by the ‘13th Floor Elevators’. The Loyds Trip take on this, is a lot heavier and distortion rules. After ‘Heavy Inducer’ and ‘Lady’ they crash out on ‘Bridges’ another retro journey, that reminds me of those long lost days in the 70s. The band were at the bar for the rest of the day and ended up partying on the dance floor to Phil’s ‘Motörhead’ set, got to love these dudes.

Having to follow them is Chesterfields YESTERDAYS GONE who describe themselves as Southern Fried Blues Rock. The ‘Set In Stone’ EP is the subject matter for the first three songs, ‘(This Is) Rock N Roll’ is a crawler that sees Rob Walker utter some biting vocals. As the song goes out with more fervent chords, the second on the set ‘Break Me’ continues the dense Blues rock, with more attractive lyrics from the frontman. Again the room is sparsely populated and the festival is nowhere near sold out, but the few that are on the barrier are rocking to these, as ‘End Up Like Me’ swaggers into verse.

‘Greed’ is a little more pressing and can be found on the ‘Metamorphosis’ EP. Rugged guitar from Danny Vernon, is an attractive force and I do like Rob’s stage presence. ‘False Smiles’ again from ‘Set In Stone’ and the melody is increased during their final tune. Another band I haven’t seen before and like Loyds Trip, I was impressed with the quality.

A band I have seen before THE DARK , are completely opposite of anything else on today's roster. Macabre, colourful, shocking and compelling, are just a few words to describe Mr Brandon Ashley and his cohorts. The theme is ‘Marilyn Manson’ cavorting with ‘The Dammed’ to a horror movie and the show is captivating to say the least. Everyone on stage is an expert on holding your gaze and you are drawn in immediately with the introduction of ‘Detox’, a new song off the latest ‘Diabolication’ EP.

Brandon steps up to the front and as ‘Where’s Your God’ a song from the masterpiece of an album ‘Hostile Gospel’ is let loose, I can see delight on the faces of the as yet uninitiated. More new tracks, the solemn ‘Mr Macabre’, ‘Strip Me Kill Me’ and the soul destroyer ’Static Panic 2.0’, before they reach ‘Hollywood Grindhouse’ which simply slithers in ‘Manson’ fashion. ‘The Dark’ emit so much tease and lurid attraction, they have to be one of the highlights of the festival.

One of my favourite bands LIBERTY LIES have made it up from the Black Country and deliver a short but exhilarating show. They fire up with ‘Undivided’ and we are soon nodding our heads in unison with the band. A mix from ‘It’s The Hope That Kills You’ as vocalist supremo Shaun Richards launches into ‘Mouth Breathers’ and ‘A Thousand People’. A newer single ‘Find Me’ is like a rolling stone, gathering speed as it travels, something to savour and I adore the silent breaks that cut the air. Three more from the album to see them through, the lush ’Coming Home’, ‘United Nothing’ and that questionable track ‘Are You Listening?’ always, is my reply. Great to catch up with them in the courtyard afterwards for a friendly chat as well.

The trio that are the DUKES OF BORDELLO belt out their songs with such ease and grandeur. They remind me and I dare say a few others, of ‘The Stray Cats’ but this is no ‘Rumble In Brighton’ this is alternative, punk rockabilly in the city of Sheffield, by some of her sons.

Frontman is Mr Andy Barrott, his dreads are legendary, his voice adorably scratchy and his guitar playing wondrous, but then it is ‘All in The Name Of Rock N Roll’. Coming off the opener, the drum beating for ‘Hellvis’ is perfectly aligned with the double bass of Chip Waite and away we go. You can’t prevent your feet tapping and you want to dive down the front and bop along. When ‘Alternative Jesus’ pops up (I think it’s the Psycho Mix!) it all gets into full swing and this band have the Corporation in their grip. ’Strychnine’ is slightly more down to earth, there’s a gorgeous slice of guitar and it leads well into the lowly yet slinky ‘She’s My Witch’. It all boils down to the rapid pace of ’Scream If You Want To go Faster’ to finally see us floored.

No secret that the album ‘Homecoming’ was my favourite for 2020, I tell everyone I see in an ASHEN REACHT-shirt. A set of just six songs was way too short tonight, but I make the most of it and plant my feet firmly down the front. The precise notes of ‘Fighting For My Life’ hammer out with Kyle Stanley taking the mic. That voice of his, well it’s unique and how he reaches so many levels is amazing.

The second on their list ‘Epiphany’ thunders upon us with fierce ferocity, brutal and demanding. All the numbers are off the album and ‘Heir To The Throne’ twitches into the most excellent of riffs. Bass lines mingle with the roar of the chorus and as it lowers again and again, it tightens its hold on you. ‘Hole in The Sky’ hears more transparent notes and a more enticing introduction, before the onslaught begins. Kyle’s vocals are softened and fade, then crash into more dynamic tones. The amount of work gone into writing these tracks must be unmeasurable and the outcome is simply superb. They finish on ‘Homecoming’ which leaves us wanting more. If you haven’t seen or heard Ashen Reach yet, you are missing something glorious, so go to the website HERE to usher in the experience.

What better way to follow the mighty Ashen Reach, than with another band on the up SOUTH OF SALEMthe five men from Bournemouth. A set consisting of tracks from the hit album ’The Sinner Takes It All’ I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve been lucky enough to see them. However, there are a few in the audience who have yet to sample Joey Draper and company and they are in for a real treat. ‘Let Us Prey’, ‘Hate In Me’ and ‘Another Nail In My Coffin’ are dealt with the usual decisive blows and it’s one more awesome show under the belt. ‘Made To Be Mine’ and ‘No Plague Like Home’ are dark but extremely melodic and you find yourself singing along, knowing the words after only one chorus. As with the album’s title, the play on words is subtle like ‘Demons Are Forever’ and the theme of the lovable but ghoulish persona is so original, it’s not seen in any other bands. A ‘Cold Day In Hell’ brings proceedings to an end with rapturous and euphoric applause.

KING CREATURE

are probably the heaviest band on today. The harsh riffs, combine with the soaring voice of Dave Kellaway to produce a sound, blistered with seeping metal. ‘The Riddle’ is a defining introduction and sets the benchmark for the following number ‘Desolation’ which is a reverberating growl, full of speed fret punching. Despite ‘Wrath’ bearing less construction, it still has moments of guitar that’s intricately balanced throughout. It’s quite melodic midway and then pumps back into action, with another lashing of furious shredding. ‘Beautiful Fatality’ and ‘Lowlife’ resort to brilliant tormenting, while ‘Power’ has a mind blowing effect on the barrier punters, to draw the show to a conclusion. Heavy, angry and persistent in metal manners, they are growing on me.

THE BLACK SPIDERS

on the other hand, have been favourites for a while. When they spilt up it was an event similar to a species becoming extinct, for me. Now back with Planet Rock’s Wyatt Wendels on sticks and a self titled album in 2021 that rocked the foundations, it’s only fitting that this Sheffield band have the penultimate slot. The eerie ‘Sabbath’ like introduction of ’Death Comes Creepin’ hails the band to the stage and the new tracks interweave with older ones. ’Stick It To The Man’, ‘Fly In The Soup’ and then ’Stay Down’ reminds me of how rough and ready they were about ten years ago.

’Stabbed In The Back’ is riotous enough and the room is enjoying the pulsating rhythm emitting from them, then they play the ‘Easybeats’ cover ‘Good Times’ what a joyous few moments that is. The thunderous chords of ‘Teenage Knife Gang’ and sumptuous ‘Just Like A Woman’ are met with whoops of delight and ‘F.U.B.S’ chants all around the place. As they leave with ‘KISS Tried To Kill Me’ I’m reminded how good the album ‘Sons Of The North’ was. I still love them, a little too polished tonight, but I’ll always adore their unabashed and audacious style of rock and roll.

PHIL CAMPBELL & THE BASTARD SONS

are giving us a full Motörhead set for their headline show. Those of us old enough to have had our ears lacerated by Lemmy Kilmister, may not be as impressed as the younger generation and any rendition of these classic’s should be applauded. Actually once underway, I’m singing along with the rest of them for,’ Iron Fist’, ‘Orgasmatron’ and ‘Born To Raise Hell’.

My eyes close briefly and see the leather clad hero on the Reading Festival stage back in 1979, we had no words to describe what we had witnessed that day. From the eponymous album, ‘Ace Of Spades’ is thrown out by vocalist Joel Peters and ‘(We Are) The Road Crew’ comes next. ‘Bomber’, gosh I remember how loud they were and peoples ears bleeding who had stood down the front. That was when I saw Motörhead at Malvern Winter Gardens. ‘Silver Machine’ and ‘Overkill’ are the encores and I’m a left a bit emotional. But what a brilliant end to the day.

End of the festival and the room soon empties onto the street. Not a sell-out and barely two hundred folk in there today, a shame really.

I walk back with aching feet to the hotel, clutching my new Ashen Reach T-shirt and fall asleep almost immediately.

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