Author: Primož Novak
Video: Primož Novak
Location: Orto bar / Ljubljana / Slovenia
Concert date: 16.04.2015
Ticket price: €4
The legendary Slovenian heavy metal outfit Lene kosti is clearly back in action. Ever since vocalist Jan Tehovnik joined the band, they’ve returned to the stage and started working on new material. After a long break, the band was announced at Orto Bar, with the young hopefuls of Slovenian heavy metal, Underground, opening the night.
Underground may still be a young band, still racking up the miles, but their original songs prove they take this seriously. It’s hard to be innovative in heavy metal, but the guys found an interesting approach by adding some power and thrash metal touches to their sound, which makes the songs less predictable and more energetic. And you never get the feeling that a single riff is being chewed over for an entire song. Even though the crowd was pretty small, Underground delivered a convincing set. The guys also showed, of course, which bands influenced them, paying tribute with covers of King Diamond and Iron Maiden. But there’s a hint of modernity in their songs too. The drummer contributed to that with his more aggressive playing, where his fast pedal work really stood out. Underground show promise with their original material. The riffs, the rhythm section and the vocals are all polished. The singer, among other things, doesn’t overdo the high-pitched “squealing” through an entire song, which is mostly a plus. Next time, here’s hoping the band skips the overchewed covers like Run to the Hills and has more original songs to show off.
Lene kosti showed right from the start of their set that the fresh momentum since Jan Tehovnik joined is still going strong. The band took the audience through their hits, while also throwing in a new tune or two, proving that despite the years they’re hard at work on a new full-length album. The new songs don’t exactly mark a big step forward for the band; they’re more about authenticity, betting on the classic heavy metal and hard rock formula. There’s no overcomplicating things here: the rhythm section is simple and the guitar riffs are infectious. It might all sound a bit familiar, but considering when the band started out, you have to admit it’s sometimes refreshing to hear something born in the eighties. Either way, you can feel a freshness and looseness in the band that came with the new vocalist, whose skills could rival plenty of singers in internationally acclaimed bands. Lene kosti played their long setlist more than solidly, with a few small slip-ups. The crowd was visibly having a great time, and the band deserves credit for not going through the motions but taking their time with the set.
As part of this year’s Orto Fest, Orto Bar hosted a gig with Lene kosti and Underground that was pure music to the ears of heavy metal fans. Lene kosti brought the old days roaring back, while Underground showed that the long tradition lives on among younger musicians too.
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