Author: Urban Bolta
Photos: Aleš Podbrežnik
Location: Kamnik / MC Kotlovnica / Slovenia
Concert date: February 14, 2014
Attendance: 80
Ticket price: €3.00
Kamnik’s Kotlovnica remains the only true bulwark of alternative and metal music in the Domžale-Kamnik area, even though a quarter of a year has passed since the last metal gig there. But as long as Kotlovnica roars to life at least once in a while, the saying »a sparrow in the hand beats a pigeon on the roof« hits the spot. And as long as that’s the case, we’ll happily keep hitting the road to the shadow of the Kamnik Alps, to one of the most picturesque towns in Slovenia.
Last Friday, two thrash metal acts from two completely different generations were calling people to Kamnik: the old-timers and veterans of the Slovenian scene Sarcasm, and the young, wet-behind-the-ears Moshead. We Rockline folks already ran into the latter last December, when they played in Kranj before Noctiferia, but sadly Aleš and I were late again for the same reason as back then: regular work obligations until late in the evening, and on top of that, Aleš got held up at a routine roadside check by the boys in blue.
Arriving at the scene of the crime, the well-known gig veteran Andrej Banko hurried to explain that Moshead had already kicked off their set, but Robi had managed to demolish part of the drum kit, so a longer break followed. The youngsters ended up splitting their set in two by accident, and they never quite managed to catch up on the thrash minutes we missed. The absence of one guitar showed, since Matevž is away because of his studies. That was too big a bite for the trio on stage, led by frontman Gregor, to get the sleepy crowd moving their neck vertebrae after the technical trouble. But let’s not split hairs! Moshead are still maturing and collecting valuable stage experience, and the Kotlovnica gig was made to order for that! The guys from Škofja Loka gave it everything they had and, with covers of Metallica, Sepultura and Slayer classics, took us back to the days when thrash metal was still carving out its place under the sun. The standout of Moshead is definitely the drum-bashing of the fresh-faced Robi, while the other guys still look a little intimidated up there. »Don’t smile, look cool«, the immortal Lemmy once said. Moshead’s aggressive style would also benefit from a meaner stage attitude from these young metalheads. There’s still plenty of room to grow, so we’ll be watching with interest to see how Moshead develop.
After the break the stage was set for Sarcasm, seasoned veterans who’ve lately returned to gigging more actively. There are two reasons for that: the release of their new album »Thrash«, which premiered two months ago in Škofja Loka (report here), and the 25th anniversary of their cult debut »Crematory«. They’re one of very few bands in Slovenia that still breathe metal with full lungs even in their third decade. What’s normal in the developed West is a marvel for our society at large, so a deep bow to Sarcasm for their attitude and as a role model for all the younger metal bands around here.
Under the mentoring baton of guitarist Aleš Blaznik and with Muci’s stage presence, Sarcasm opened their hour and a half together right out of the gate with the aggressive crushers Thrash and Something to Believe In, and reaped the first Valentine’s-flavored dance moves below the stage. As is usual in Kotlovnica, the pillar in the middle of the podium cut guitarist Klemen Renko, standing stage right, off from the action, so even more of the burden of being the link to the crowd fell on Muci’s shoulders, and the charismatic cyclops handled it with ease! Although there were noticeably fewer people than in December at Ostriga, Sarcasm didn’t think for a second about shifting into reverse! The middle of the show was painted in the colors of the Slovenian tricolor, as Sarcasm played a bouquet of songs with native-language lyrics, with the biggest surprise being Slovenski genocid (from the album »Igra narave«, 2001). Through their songs with patriotic themes, the band stirs the souls of the patriotically minded part of the crowd, in a healthy dose of course, as proven by the regular inclusion of the metal version of Prešeren’s Zdravljica in the finale. Newly joined bassist Vito, with his polished look, fits nicely into the band’s picture and, together with drummer Aleš Korošec, forms a reliable rhythmic backbone that lets Sarcasm look to the future with optimism. The tried-and-true classics Crematory and Road Warrior closed out the night in their trademark, honestly filthy style, proving that Sarcasm have no intention of letting go of the torches of their sinfully good concert machine anytime soon! ‘Cause you just can’t stop thrash!
Setlist
SARCASM:
1. Thrash Tonight
2. Divja kri
3. Thrash
4. Something To Believe In
5. Z mano je slabo
6. Pričakovanje
7. Krüger Story
8. Slovenski genocid
9. Mutant Hamsters
10. Litr na mizo
11. Vitez teme
12. Terrorist
13. Sarcasmatron
14. Sarcasm
15. Crematory
16. Road Warrior
17. Zdravljica
Photo gallery
