Gigs

Gig Review: Soulfly + General Lee + Federal Black 40

[Venue: The Junction, Cambridge]
[Date: 19 August 2008]

With a band of Soulfly’s calibre on the bill and a capacity of a 1,000+ the recently-revived local metal scene is about to be tested. By the time local rockers, Federal Black 40, step forth the place is approaching half-capacity and things are looking good. The boys on stage have all retuned, dropping a key, in an effort to beef up there sound to appeal to the tattooed onlookers. They needn’t have worried really, their melodic rock was always going to be get a luke-warm response. Despite their material only being enhanced by the hefty venue soundsystem, the one track that really seems to hit home with the onlookers is ‘See You Around’ with it’s scorched guitar slides and pistoning groove. Yes, the band’s usual bevvy of teenage 10-second pitters were present but, no, they didn’t inspire those around them to join in.

General Lee have become a trio since we last checked on them, with a bassist/backing vocalist added, and, my Lord, has it changed their sound. Suddenly they are no longer the novelty act, now they are a force to be reckoned with. I’m struggling to decide whether this is a good thing or not. The guitar and bass appear to be treading all over the drums in the mix. With the reverb out front forcing the three-way vocals to melt into a big, gloopy string of noise they seem to now be lacking that bite of clarity which was achieved when they were a duo. Still, ‘Death Proof’, their new single (which was generously distributed amongst the crowd after their set) proved the clear winning track despite the requests for audience participation garnering a desultory response.

The long wait for Soulfly is instantly forgotten as their album opener’s epic intro starts up and Max Cavalera appears through the gloom to a phalanx of awestruck worshippers. They are quickly ready for all-out battle though and ‘Blood Fire War Hate’ is the crowd’s new favourite. To the frontman’s roar of “Blood, Fire” we see fists hit the air and the words “War, Hate” are launched back at him by the suddenly baying masses. It gets everybody up and moving and the change in atmosphere is stunning.

By ‘Prophecy’ attention has switched from Max to Marc Rizzo’s fingers, which are a blur, eating up the fretboard in a display of utter mastery of his instrument; such technical ability leaves many with jaws around knee-level. Max is in full flow by now and has to strip his coat from his back under the intense glow of the lightshow. He goes on to change t-shirts twice so things are obviously hotter than Hell up there.

Suddenly the crazy guitar on ‘Unleash’ lashes at our ears whilst Joe Nunez sets about pounding his kit, dropping everything into one solid hammered groove to which the strings attach themselves. Max’s lump of dreaded hair suddenly splits into individual locks as he shakes his head to the riff. The beatdown comes and the crowd sway to Bobby Burns’ bass whilst awaiting the kickdrum and battlecry which takes them clawing their way back into the pit.

The bizarre latin guitar of ‘Porrada’ takes us to Nunez’s moment in the spotlight where he produces a manic drum solo before dividing the crowd up, in typical stadium rock fashion, to illicit a bigger response. It’s tacky as fuck but the crowd are all way too engaged to care by now and respond with vigour. When the band return with ‘Warmageddon’ it’s business as usual with the moshpits a hive of activity.

The band somehow(!) find time to cover Napalm Death’s ‘You Suffer‘ - the shortest recorded song in history. So short in fact that when Max introduces it and times the crowd in to sing along they still miss the beat. The appearance of Max’s son, Richie, is greeted with enthusiasm and the two Cavalera’s take turns to belt out chorus and verse - jeez, this lad can wail!

The insane amounts of reverb are steadily wound up (particularly on Max’s vocal) and eventually the echo becomes ridiculously over the top confusing the faster thrash tracks into one quavering drilling sound. ‘Mars’ and Sepultura cover, ‘Beneath The Remains’, almost get completely washed out but ‘Paranoia’ comes back glowering, a jagged anthem played to a feast of devil-horns.

Eventually, the Junction falls silent once again and it is immediately apparent from the sweat-drenched backs all around that Soulfly have slayed here tonight and it appears the metal scene is alive and well in Cambridge again - at least for the established bands. The test will be when a promising touring metal talent chooses to pick this city to play off the back of the response from this gig.

More photos here

For Fans Of: Cavalera Conspiracy, Sepultura, DevilDriver

Band Links:
Soulfly

General Lee

Federal Black 40

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