God Forbid
W/ Mnemic, Goatwhore
Jan 9, 2007
Opera House

Arsis and Human Abstract didn’t make the border. Local replacements Always Die Fighting finished as we got there around 7:40. On top of that, no one seemed to know what the hell was going on.

That pretty much sums up the atmosphere in the opera house Tuesday night.

Around 45 mins later, Mnemic took to the stage. Surging ahead with their particular blend of post-industrial metal, Mnemic got a considerable reaction from the crowd. This band clearly has fans in this town. Hailing from Sweden, this band if nothing else, are super tight. Clearly put off by the lackluster crowd, the band plodded thru their ever so short 30 minute set without missing a note. The entire band played flawlessly together which actually worked, for and against them. All the synchronized repetition made some songs heavier and meaner, while making others sound similar to the song before it. Even the addition of new singer Guillaume’s unique vocals didn’t help to add that missing something.

Now Goatwhore truly are an enigma. A band from the bayou, that play black metal. It sounds even stranger to write it down. Take a cup of black metal, add some thrash/death and just a spoonful of stoner/doom, and you’d have Goatwhore. For a band light on stage presence, they sure are heavy on passion. I don’t think these guys stopped to blink once during their set. It was almost like a shark that’ll die if it stops moving.

But now, onto the main event.

Taking the stage to the tune of Hulk Hogan’s “Real American,” God Forbid were clearly on a mission. Sure, the venue is more than half empty, but they didn’t seem to notice. Opening with the track “The End Of The World” GF put it into fifth gear right away and didn’t let up the rest of the night.

With musicianship far superior to most bands these days, guitar players Doc and Dallas solo like madmen at every turn, vocalist Byron bellows like a demon sent from hell and the rhythm section of bassist John and drummer Corey create a low end to die for.

Not just content to spotlight newer material, GF dipped into their back catalogue quite gingerly too. All in all a well rounded, well played set from a band that clearly has learned a thing or two in their 8+ year existence.

They’ve learned to have their cake, and eat it too.

- Spencer Lavigne 

For more pics of the night, click here...

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