Walking into The Underworld with the DJ playing New Model Army and The Mission it was kind of like stepping back in time. Fashion was wholly from yesteryear as well with a high percentage of people going for a Victoriana image and many of the ladies looking like they were attending a burlesque show. After the frenzy of last nights GWAR gig it all made me feel kind of decadent. I hoped I had managed to wash all the blood away from behind my ears as I heard a rumour there may well be some vampires in the building.
First up were Faces Of Sarah who jangled on stage with some nice shimmering guitar grooves and a raunchy kind of rocked out instrumental approach. It was quickly evident that their vocalist Nick Schultz had one hell of a powerful range as they took us into the gloomy realms of Misery Turns. The group had obviously been through the 80s Goth movement (read, they were no spring chickens) and they had plenty of gusto in their approach. They had a few people bopping about at the front and I think it’s fair to say that the rest of us were at least tapping feat in appreciation. Its All Yours was another strong track with a somewhat commercial edge in its tune and hooky chorus. I guess if this countries tastes weren’t so bland it would probably have had chart potential. A good start to the evening but it did leave me wondering just who the hell was Sarah?
Tonight was actually the second launch party for a new label Six Six Six records, put together by ex Cradle Of Filth man Dave Pybus www.sixsixsixrecords.com
Bloody Mary are one of the labels first signings and I had caught these Italians before at the Electowerkz. Luckily they had much better sound tonight and a much longer set. I said it before and having watched Tim Burton’s masterpiece again recently, there is no denying the fact that lead singer Aldebran not only has a name like a breakfast cereal but also models himself on Edward Scissorhands. The guys in the group may look incredibly androgynous but I can tell you I have not witnessed such a sexually charged performance in a long time. Although I can assure you, they did nothing for me, they attracted a bevy of beautiful ladies to the front of the stage and they all writhed around and gyrated in one hell of a sexual fashion. Tracks like Its Too Late were footstompers, which had more than just the dry ice machine pumping things out. Aldebran knew exactly how to work the cameras and posed for all he was worth. The PVC clad lass next to me was certainly enjoying the show and as she turned and stuck her tongue down her female friends mouth I was enjoying it a lot too. Rousing anthemic choruses and maudlin guitar passages certainly won me over and songs such as Judas Spite had hit written all over them. It was certainly a hot and bothered show and with the singer getting down and dry humping his guitarist I decided the bar was the safest place to be and wandered off wondering just who the bloody hell is Mary?
There had been some feudal wars in Vampire World, which resulted in Lord Alexander, Theatres Des Vampires male lead being cast out into the plague pit and leaving the band in a void. Well that was what we first expected but TDV were quick to announce that Scarlet would be taking over all vocal duties in the band and tonight all eyes were on her (well they generally are anyway as far as I’m concerned). Whipping off her cape she leered at us in fishnets and PVC and the word Hell carved bloodily on her stomach. Others in the group wore android masks and as Necros fired up the hurdy-gurdy keyboard action I hoped the sound was going to improve, as the vocals were lost in the mix. Luckily improve things did and Scarlet beseeched us to suck her which given the opportunity I would have been all too happy to oblige. It was rather strange, as The Lord of The Dance seemed to have never existed. Scarlet had a strong enough voice and personality to completely eradicate him from the performance and songs such as Lucifera worked perfectly even without the baritone accompaniment. Scarlet got a photo of the Pope (that dead one) and looked very happy about his demise as they launched into La Danse Macabre Du Vampire. Fast and furious the song caught us all in its bloodlust and we drank deep from the cup (it was snakebite and black so at least I could pretend). The misery drenched Lady In Black roused us with the austere choral tones leaping from the speakers. The Orchestral grand guignol of the albums always seems to be replicated perfectly when TDV play live. Undertones of Jerry Goldsmith’s Omen soundtrack sit alongside the vampiric mass allowing the bands performance to really hit the imagination. As I was on the way back from the bar I couldn’t be a 100% sure as to whether what happened next was part of the show or done for real but it looked like Scarlet slashed her arm with a razorblade and offered the bloody gash to the all too eager vampyros lesbos at the front. It seemed like the show was over really quickly and it was still early as we left the venue in search of prey but for the doubters amongst us TDV proved they were not ready to lay down and die just yet.