Converge, Coalesce, Gaza, Touche Amore (replacing Lewd Acts) and Black Breath: an unstoppable bill, right? Wrong. El Rey Theatre, which looks like this, is no place for this bill. It has chandeliers, a shitload of security, a stage barrier, and other deterrents to a good time. Life makes me miss Black Breath and Touche Amore. Gaza leave me colder than when I entered. They don’t know what to do with a stage so big, it’s practically its own venue. Coalesce do better, but even up close, they’re far away. Hardly anyone is moving. This place is beat. My colleague J. sends me a text message. Black Math Horseman go on in 20 minutes. It’s a few miles away. I am so there.
I get to Spaceland as Black Math Horseman start up. They’re headlining, so their fog machine is hard at work. So are their reverb units. The guitars are reverbed, the vocals are reverbed, and I can hardly see anything. The room is practically an ’80s 4AD record. Singer/bassist Sera Beth Timms is a she-wolf in a fancy dress. Boots, black bangs, the works: she’s spooky. Her ghost of a voice has some PJ Harvey in it. If David Lynch were directing, I would pick up some disaffected-looking chick – or she would pick me up – and we would go to her mansion on Mulholland Drive. I would wake up the next day in my own bed wondering why my hands were bloody. Thankfully, David Lynch is not directing. I remain single and not a murderer.
Black Breath have also fled El Rey. They’ve popped over to Spaceland to play a surprise set after Black Math. About 50 people are left when they go on – and they’re happy. The singer says something about chandeliers, a shitload of security, a stage barrier, and other deterrents to a good time. “Fuck!” He spits angrily. He is relieved to be here. The band rears up, then strikes. Holy shit. This shit is heavy. It is profanity. It is fucking and goddamning and all that is great about heavy music. Entombed have come back to life – there’s a band out there masquerading as them, never mind them – as some hardcore band ripping people to pieces. Girls pound beers and headbang. I try to wrench my torso from my waist. The singer grabs my head and shakes it. I grab his hair and shake it. Sweat coats my hands. It’s a reflex. Open hand, close fist, clench, release. Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop. The singer looks apologetic. “I’m sorry, we can’t play 10,000 more”.
Black Breath – “I Am Beyond”
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Black Math Horseman
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Black Breath
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black breath is a good time.
I saw Black Breath at MDF and they were amazing. Their CD will probably be on my top 10 list.
All this enthusiasm about Black Breath makes me want to give them a chance. I assumed it was just some Southern Lord re-tread antics but hey, that doesn’t mean it’s not good.
Sorry to hear about Gaza. They were incredible when I saw them a few years ago. But yeah, a fancy theatre may not be their environ.
I like Black Breath but there is no need to rip on Entombed. I saw them two weeks ago and they are as furious as ever.
Black Breath got my head nodding, but thats about as far as it went. They played their hearts out, I’ll give them that.
Black Breath were a pleasant surprise when I saw them open for Trap Them, Victims, and Weekend Nachos at the Beat Kitchen the week after Maryland Death Fest last year. They really brought the heavy and I thought right there on that this band’s got something special in them.
Saw Black Breath with about 15 other people who stuck around to catch them after like four shitty metalcore bands played here in Providence. I was the only one who knew any words and the lead singer Neil was very grateful. Good guy, I got to talking with him for a little bit after the set. They played for only a short time but I enjoyed every minute. Totally good live band, would love to see them again with a bigger crowd who actually gives a shit.
I just can’t get behind Black Breath. A lot of it has to do with them being a bunch of posers.
I feel you on the poser thing. There was a lot of that during their set at MDF but there is something about the band where you don’t take them too seriously. I talked to the singer briefly after their set and he was really chill and seemed like a decent dude. I was re-listening to the album at work today and I just find it enjoyable. I kinda imagine playing it at a party to get everybody moving, but if you are looking for deep, introspective thoughts and feelings, you are not going to find it. It’s a fist-thumping, but excellently executed album. Simply fun.
Well, damn. Here I was really liking Black Breath’s EP and starting to get into their LP, but if they’re posers, well, I wouldn’t want to get kicked out of the Trüe Metal Clüb.
@Cliff marry me
Lots of black.
I can kinda understand the poser thing too. I mean they sound just like Entombed and their stage act seems to make almost a mockery of metal. It’s weird. But the music is so damn good that I can almost look past it. I think for Black Breath to escape the poser tag, they need to find a way to refine their sound a little. As it stands, being a carbon copy of another band, especially an idiosyncratic one, will get heads scratching.
These guys totally ripped off them Wizards of War!
One of their guitarists was selling homemade Death shirts when I saw them with Converge…posers? Really?
the drummer for Black Breath leaves eggs shells on the stove when he cooks eggs,that why theyre a bunch of nancy boy posers
“One of their guitarists was selling homemade Death shirts when I saw them with Converge…posers? Really?”
What the fuck are they doing selling Death shirts???
@WZAd he is making money off of a legendary musician’s legacy, kind of like their music
All i know is the band finished their set at one (lame) venue, and then booked it across town for another show that they had no obligation to play whatsoever- and play they did for the sparse, yet highly appreciative crowd that stuck around to see them. I had a beer in my hand and a smile on my face for their entire set and that’s all that mattered to me that night. And regarding them making Death shirts, so what? It’s OK for Relapse to print some up and make $ off them but not anybody else? I don’t think that Chuck is going to care….
When I used to work at Kinko’s, I’ve encountered so many people doing their own silk screened bootleg shirts, patches, etc., so the Black Breath dude selling bootleg Death shirts doesn’t really surprise me.
LOVE this band. I can’t imagine what they must be like live.