And….. relax.So, it’s nearly all over, that twelve months that we won’t forget in a hurry: from a Japanese tsunami, through hackgate, dwarfgate, the August riots, the sheer dreariness of the economic situation and the faces of the politicians whose faces you would never tire of punching, it’s been a year that’s had it all. And then some. Thank goodness then for the life enriching, restorative, embracing, loving, dividing and all round power of music. It’s been a hell of a year for that too. Hello’s, goodbyes, welcomes, get-losts, where-have-you-beens, who-the-hell-are-yous: 2011 was a bit of a cracker. In trying to sum up a twelve months, any review is going to be invariably partial, myopic and a bit daft- this will be no different.
For me, it was another year where the power of the internet dominated. I’m grateful to CackBlabbath’s indulgence for letting me join their party- but that social media thingy called Twitter and its generous denizens who “follow” me opened my eyes and ears to bands and scenes as varied and diverse as their advocates. This year, I’ve welcomed in and welcomed back doom, sludge, necro, hardcore, black, ambient, thrash, glam and many, many more. It has been a journey that has been rich, varied but utterly, utterly life affirming and I’m as excited for 2012 as a child on Christmas eve. So, 2011, what were you about?
2011 was not easy to sum up in terms of top 10s and I’m hopeless at lists but my editor insists I let you know what I thought. So, not that you are interested, but- albums wise, these people gave me some very pleasurable company during the year…
Honourable mentions are also due to: Graveyard, Vallenfyre, Red Fang, Black Tusk, Xerath, A Forest of Stars, The Living Fields, Fair to Midland, Anthrax, Megadeth, Black Spiders, Alternative 4: all of whom delivered a level of innovation, creativity, insight and a different world view that was never less than interesting and, generally, just damn brilliant.
The live year was dominated by festivals. Hammerfest was, by a sizeable margin, my most enjoyable festival of the year, largely because of the brilliance of the bands (thank you, Grand Magus, Entombed, Sabaton) but mainly because it was packed full of warm and warm hearted metal fans determined to have nothing, as Poison would have it, but a good time. The Big Four at Sonisphere was pant wettingly exciting but the consensus was that it was really a Big One: Metallica owned the day. Yes they did, stop arguing, the brilliance of Anthrax notwithstanding. The Slipknot set was equal parts thrilling, moving, terrifying and bombastic; it was a masterclass in the power of live music and an appropriate tribute to the late Paul Gray. Elsewhere, the joy of Bat Sabbath, the Sunday lunchtime thrills of Kylesa, the middle aged moshpit friendly Limp Bizkit brought smiles galore but it was Mastodon who turned in a performance that shouted, loudly, that they were the best band on the planet right now. It was hard to argue- so we didn’t.
The headliners at this year’s Download might not have had the banner headliners to match but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t full of its own festival moments. For me it was a combination of the experienced old hands rattling sabres with the new and up and coming. Twisted Sister, Cheap Trick and the ridiculously good Thin Lizzy all brought happiness whilst plenty of promise and live thrills also came courtesy of the exciting hard rocking Trucker Diablo (watched by an approving Dee Snider of Twisted Sister) Sworn Against or (ok, they arent new and upcoming) the brilliant Hell.
High Voltage was a breezy and relaxing affair. I didn’t think Judas Priest were as good as everyone else thinks they were but Thin Lizzy were- even if the sound was too quiet and many of us were tweeting about the demise of Amy Winehouse. I did love Jethro Tull too and the Von Hertzen Brothers blew me away, so much so I went back for more at their packed Borderline show in the Autumn.
Most of the rest of my gig going year was spent holding on to plastic pints of warming overpriced lager whilst trying to gain a better view of the stage of performing musicians. Blurry memories aside, highlights included: the sheer bloody showmanship of Rob Zombie and his astonishing stage show bringing warmth and passion to a bitterly cold Brixton February night; being the second oldest person in the room watching Bring Me The Horizon at the Borderline; seeing the Deftones rule- and I mean properly rule- the Shepherd’s Bush empire, reminding us that the 90s were nowhere near as band for metal as some would have you believe; Black Spiders delivering epic show after epic show, whilst demonstrating that “Fuck You, Black Spiders” could become a terms of enduring endearment; Cathedral departing the live scene in a dignified and enigmatic way; Volbeat introducing me to the concept of the middle aged moshpit, much to my back’s annoyance the following day.
Also, checking back at my ticket stubs, I seem to have spent a lot of money following the redoubtable Furyon around the country- from a solid early evening perfromance at Hammerfest, to a deliriously received homecoming in Brighton and a “they really could be absolutely bloody massive couldn’t they?” gauntlet-throwing-down performance in the bright High Voltage festival sunshine that properly resonated. I really, really wish this band well. Could we have a new record now, please, gentlemen? However, when it comes to a live show par excellence, there really is no match for the unmitigated genius that is Rush. They rule. Still. Like you ever doubted it.
So, that was my 2011- its been,well, as much as I can remember when up against a deadline. I’m sure I’ve forgotten lots of great moments and a few terrible ones as well. I’m sure yours was just as packed, just as exciting and just as exhausting: shall we do it all again next year?
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