Gama Bomb / Sepultura Live in Sheffield 15/07/2010

The evening opens with promising up and coming local outfit 'Back to the Sea' who kick things off in good style with their atmospheric death metal. This is a band who deserve to go far, and they set the mood for what is to come with an impressive energetic performance.

Gama Bomb don't do subtle, or laid back. Their comic book inspired 80s style straight up thrash metal has won them a substantial following, and it is a while since the Corporation has seen a support act so ecstatically received. The band clearly absolutely loves being up on stage doing what they do best, and in Philly they have an amazing, engaging, frontman.

As the band launch into their 'old school' thrash it is easy to see why they have built up such a dedicated following. As Philly told us before the show, Gama Bomb are "all about gigging", and as they tear through their inspired Sci-Fi thrash it's difficult to argue with that. It's a short set but they still manage to cram in some of their finest works with Slam Anthem, Hammer Slammer, Bullet Belt and a heartfelt We Respect You all included in one of the best support sets you will ever see. Even a man down (Bassist Joe had to return home) the band were amazing.

If you want to check out their last studio album it's available as a (legal) free download from Earache Records.

Sepultura arrive onto the stage through a wall of dry ice to the strains of A-Lex-IV from the new album, before the giant form of frontman Derrick Green looms through the mist. In the small confines of the Corporation he completely dominates the stage as the band proceed to show the doubters exactly what they are all about. The shadow of original frontman Max Cavalera still hangs long over Sepultura, but when, 10 minutes in, they launch into 'his' Arise and immediately follow it with Refuse/Resist and Dead Embryonic Cells is it clear that now THESE songs belong to THIS band, right here.. right now.

The band proceed to take us on a neck-breaking journey through their 20-odd year back catalogue. There is something elemental about Sepultura live. The tribal rhythms, the rapport between the giant frontman and the audience and the ferocity of Guitarist Andreas Kisser's playing all combine to make them an unmissable live experience.

Derrick acknowledges the history of the band, and as he tells the crowd that they play the 'old' songs because they respect them it makes sense. And to be honest, as good as some of the post-Cavalera tracks are, it's the 'classics' that get the biggest reaction from the crowd.