If
you are looking for a literal personification of all these attributes
you would like to connect with the Heavy Metal/Hard Rock scene,
then you will best served with Zakk Wylde! Zakk Wylde is…
erm… was Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde is for sure BLACK
LABEL SOCIETY, and… to be honest, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
are the better Osbournes ;) However, last summer BLACK LABEL
SOCIETY have released their eighth album Order Of The
Black they now finally support live in Europe. For three
weeks they hunt across Europe and play mostly sold out shows.
I took the chance to catch up with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
on their very last show at Cologne’s Live
Music Hall. A sold out show and pleasure I was sharing
with 1500 fans ;)
::
pics ::
Rules ain’t
that strictly tonight so I can start into this evening the easy
way. But I’m much curious. Both bands I did not see live
before. About :: GODSIZED
:: there is not that much to learn. Founded back in
2006 British groove metalists have released two EPs and shop now
for a label to get finally off the grid properly. GODSIZED
played all songs from these EPs plus another one, which I guess
was a new one. Guitarist Neil Fish, truck-cap and Western boots
= rocker, has much interesting playing techniques, while my threads
regarding bass player Gavin Kerrigan don’t have anything
to do with the show here ;) Both meanwhile act much lively, pose
and communicate with the audience, while singer and guitarist
Glen Korner is the introvert one. At least he introduces his band
members and speaks to us. GODSIZED lives up to its look
and spread a southern flair: strong, fully bearded, long-haired
men, playing Southern Hard Rock with punch, power and tons of
groove. Amazing! Opening track Walking Away is already a dusty
and doomy, whiskey-soaked groove monster and kicks me higher.
Pure pleasure, goes down well, I want more! As a little last-show-joke
band and crew members disassemble the drum kit while skinman Effon
still has to play his parts ;) Great show! Loved them! ;)
Setlist: Walking Away, The Phoney Tough & The Crazy
Brave, Fight & Survive, No Repreve, Brothers In Arms, The
Last Goodbye, Bleed On The Inside, Head-Heavy
Change-over,
a huge black curtain makes the break mysterious. There is much
movement in the front rows, everybody wants the best place to
see the show. And I get aware that most people are older than
me or at least have the same age, makes me feeling young again
*laughs* Kidding… Oh and I can spot quite a few Hell’s
Angels followers. Shadows, screams, the curtain falls… time
has come for :: BLACK
LABEL SOCIETY :: and they kick off classical with
The Beginning… At Last from the 99 debut record Sonic
Brew. The crowd freaks out and worships Zakk Wylde. He
feels well and demands not any bit less. After Overlord
the master plays a piano solo followed by In This River
dedicated to Dimebag Darrel. Yes, that’s a gooseflesh-causing
atmosphere. At this time I already stay with my spine on the back
wall and see… nothing. Ok, some lights. I share this with
many people; likewise many leave the show coz of that much disappointed.
When Zakk Wylde jumps on his pedestal I catch a glimpse, otherwise
I just see Type O Negative drummer Johnny Kelly every now and
then.
Generally speaking I’d say, yes, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
is an awesome band, but the performance was just too staged, uninspired,
partly stereotype and Zakk-babe a bit too narcissistic. Everybody
knows that he is an awesome guitar player, but his endless guitar
solos went on nerves, especially the one 10 minutes running. Party
mood was killed anyways. Nope, I left the field unsatisfied. Not
disappointed, but unsatisfied. Maybe next time, when I can see
more of the band than just 3 tracks…
Setlist: The Beginning… At Last, Crazy Horse,
What’s In You, The Rose Petalled Garden, Funeral Bell, Overlord,
(Pianosolo), In This River, Fire It Up, (Guitar Solo), Godspeed
Hellbound, The Blessed Hellride, Suicide Messiah, Concrete Jungle,
Stillborn