On the second day of Obscene Extreme Festival (OEF) it actually did start at 10am and I managed to assemble the troops with motivations of “Come on guys, this is what “Partners in Grind” is all about, grinding from 10am to 3am!” and we made our way into the festival area, not at our full compliment because of various beers being consumed the night before.
"Partners in Grind"
So after making our way to the stage we got some good seats and were in for a treat as I read through the OEF schedule and double check I had the right day. It read “Short, fast and loud!!! The Czech answer to Insect Warfare” so that was enough to tickle my fancy. Controlled Existence made their way onto the stage and the sound check started and purely from the guitar tone I knew we were about to be obliterated. The female fronted grind outfit were on the dime speed wise and it was just disgusting noise, blast beat to blast beat! For a band playing that early, the crowd was surprising large all be it a bit drunk still. They were amazing live and the noise was surely impressive, might have a point about Controlled Existence being Czech Republics answer to Insect Warfare, non-stop ear splitting grindcore.
Berns with Controlled Existence
On -probably- a day with the most unforgiving line-up I have ever come across it was time to check out some bands I have never heard of before as the killer line-up continued with: Six-socre, Cave Had Rod (chines cartoon girnd? Well nothing more than a shenanz band, but so much fun), Ratbomb and finally it was time for the 4 –piece noise brigade from London. Oblivionized came on and tore me a new fuck-hole where my head used to be. Still reeling from the Confine release I reviewed (see here) before going to OEF, I was annihilated by the perpetual barrage of noise produced by Oblivionized. If I had to describe the sound “A wall of noise collapsing on a child” would be a pretty spot-on description.
Oblivionized
The food/merch stands were calling so I managed to take a break before catching Coldwar, the Irish band that dished up what can be described as death metal played in a hardcore style? Yeah, I know. They’re pretty versatile when it comes to infusing the best of various extreme music sub-genres. The front man in his own right is quite the character. He would later be the drunkest guy at the festival, not before delivering a pulverizing performance from the Irish heavy weights. They were spectacular to watch, very tight with groovy sections and some more death metal/hardcore slam downs, which had everyone’s attention firmly focused.
Finally something with some proper speed! Strong Intention got my backing to deliver some real speed to proceedings and they didn’t disappoint. They took the stage and obliterated, as the razorblade express took no prisoners. Fast, noisy riffs with crashing symbols and a snare drum that took a beating for about 25 minutes of endlessly mind fucking our senses. Up to that point they were probably the fastest band yet!
Strong Intention
It was time for a much-needed break and I hung out with some cool guys from Christchurch, New Zealand. Story telling and some mocking behind us, I managed to make my way back to the stage with the Christchurch crust brigade, as it was time for the much-anticipated Captain Cleanoff. I think they took everyone by surprise, it was fast, it was gritty, it was dirty and well, they took my fucking head cleanoff! Amazing riffs, with some groove to it that really got the crowd going. Remembering that Captain Cleanoff are very much a touring band as all the members stay in different parts of Australia. They were so tight and absolutely out of this world. At first the crowd were a bit subdued, not sure they really knew what to make of an Aussie grindcore band. The shell-shocked crowd didn’t know if they were coming or going, but after the first three tracks, they really got into it. This might be a bold statement, but I reckon they were definitely on par with the best bands if not the best band at the festival. The most fun I have had to a grindcore band ever.
Captain Cleanoff
This was only the start of what would be the heaviest few hours of noise ever. Just to give you an idea, Captain Cleanoff were followed by Hour of Penance, Gadget, Coldworker, Birdflesh, Napalm Death, Grave and Anaal Nathrakh. Well, fuck!
Right, so before we could catch our breath, Hour of Penance were on the stage doing the thing they do best… crush you to bits with heavy riffs and technicality second to none. Not that I am a fan of technical death metal, but these guys definitely do it right. The crowd responded in kind by losing their shit. The brutality was second to none and it was encapsulated with excellent execution, skill and precision. If you weren’t a fan before, after that performance I was already making plans to get more of their material on vinyl/CD. Brutal death metal done well is closest you would come perfect. This kind of display would totally get one in the same conversation as say Bolt Thrower live or Autopsy.
A quick break and Gadget took the stage to grind us up into tiny little meat cubes for some kind of stew later on. It was fast, it was noisy and they are probably the best grindcore band from Sweden atm, doing it as fast, but also incorporating groovy bits that was reminiscent of the legendary Nasum. Some awesome tracks off both the Funeral March and Remote records. I basically lost my voice, or most of it yelling lyrics as loud as I could. They pretty much only played the fast tracks, ‘Feed on Lies’ was probably my favourite as it was a bit slower than the rest, especially throughout the chorus. They crushed all my expectations and were just amazing.
Gadget
Coldworker were next, as the death-grind hybrid took the stage. Formed in 2006 by Nasum drummer Anders Jakobson. They have been bulldozing their way through the grind and death metal scene for a few years now. Just taking over where Gadget left off, as the second Swedish band got the crowd into a grind frenzy with ridiculous blast beats and riffs. The culmination of death and grind producing an end product that had the crowd reeling and begging for more. They did drop some bad news and announced that this was their last show ever and that after OEF Coldworker would be no more.
On that bombshell, Swedish shenanz grinders Birdflesh took the stage, not really allowing the crowd to dwell on the end of Coldworker. It was costumes as usual, accompanied by masks and of course hilarious stage presence, as they didn’t mess about when it came to the grindcore. It was absolutely ferocious, from start to finish. The vocals were shared but majority of the blabbing angry commentary over what sounded like instruments being thrown down a well along with Timmy and Lassie. Along with stage diving, beach balls and ridiculous costumes up on stage from the crowd, it was basically fun grindcore and it was in good spirit. Seeing Birdflesh is definitely a must see for all grindcore fans who don’t take it too serious. Make no mistake, they’re a gifted bunch!
Birdflesh
At this point in time I didn’t even know what time it was all I knew was that the next wave of noise would be the mighty NAPALM DEATH as the masses started gathering. The well-seasoned grindcore veterans have probably played more shows than the most avid of fans could attend in a lifetime throughout their illustrious existence thus far. Let me tell you this much, they don’t seem to be showing any signs of slowing down. The atmosphere was intense as they took the spotlight and blew us away track by track from they’re large discography. It was faster, harder, dirtier and more intense than anything. Precision and speed was the name of the game as Barney did the famous drunken-grind waltz as he lost his shit all over the stage amongst various stage invaders. It was Napalm Death, there isn’t anything else to say but a quality performance! They ended off the set with a cover of 'Nazi Punks Fuck Off' by the Dead Kennedys, faster than you could ever imagine! Phenomenal stuff.
Finally the perpetual barrage of grindcore came to an abrupt end as it started to wind down. After such a high energy bursts of noisy fun, it was finally time for Grave, who are by no means slouches mind you. The grind powers that be saw it fit that we had a break and we were treated some classic death metal by the Swedes. Treated to a variety of old and new tracks, we were spoiled. I did feel a bit sorry for Grave as the crowd was quite depleted after Napalm Death. They got on with it however and it was a phenomenal life performance by all accounts.
One last act I wanted to catch despite my aching everything at that point. Anaal Nathrakh took the stage and treated us to their fusion of black metal, death metal and grindcore with various punk elements in the mix. It’s quite the acquired taste but it was absolutely amazing especially with the varieties in tempo within the various tracks. They got the stranglers going as the crowed started to liven up a bit more after having a wee rest. It was the perfect end to a marathon of wall-to-wall perpetual fucking noise.
Read Berns' review of the last day of OEF tomorrow, including Warfuck, Sete Star Sept, Cock and Ball Torture, Exhumed and many more!
