Author: Rok Klemše
Location: Slovenska Bistrica / MC Kreš / Slovenia
Concert date: January 27, 2008
Attendance: 160
It’s probably in metal hearts that the memory of fallen legends lives on especially strong and devoted. When we lose a metal brother or sister, as Manowar would put it, the metal community tends to keep their memory alive as vividly as it can. Just think of the late Chuck Schuldiner or Dimebag Darrell, who are still very much alive in our hearts through their music. Here at home, we remember Roman Mikša – Miki, who died in a car crash two years ago, just as vividly, and his memory was already honored by the first Tribute to Miki in March 2006. Sadly, I never knew Miki personally, but I think I’d have counted it an honor, and I believe most of the good 150 people at the second Tribute 2 Miki show, held once again at MC Kreš in Slovenska Bistrica, feel the same.
This time Tribute 2 Miki turned into a proper mini thrash fest, with the cream of Slovenian thrash metal taking the stage (well, minus Negligence and a few other exceptions). The hall at MC Kreš filled up nicely a little after seven, since the young Slovenian thrash heroes Thraw from Koroška had already taken the stage. These thrash youngsters are without a doubt one of the most promising new bands around, and they prove it with every new show, this one in Slovenska Bistrica included. From the very first moments the guys conjured up the kind of atmosphere that belongs at a gig like this with good old-school thrash metal, teleporting us straight into some dive bar in San Francisco in the golden eighties of thrash, when the biggest names of the genre were being forged. The guitar duo did a superb job with great solos, crazy riffs and typical but very well-placed thrash breakdowns. The drummer sounds insane live, and vocalist Aleksander fits in just like Baloff fits Exodus. Technically hopeless, but thrash-wise more than excellent vocals, complete with the obligatory “spitting,” and the guy quickly won everyone over with his funny banter between songs. Thraw whipped up a real mosh massacre with their own tunes like Condemnation and the anthem Thraw, and hit boiling point with well-chosen covers. Thank God they steered well clear of the overchewed Metallica covers that every garage band plays, and surprised us with a Slayer medley of Raining Blood/Angel of Death and the Testament classic Over the Wall. The crowd added to the proper thrash vibe too, climbing onto the stage, where some 15 people then banged their heads off. Thrash ’till Thrash!
Thanks to the excellent organization under the baton of Brane from Gonoba, the schedule ran like clockwork, and right on time the Velenje death/thrash metal masters Inmate took the stage. They tore it up, presenting a fiery version of their own mix of thrash and death metal, which comes mostly from the vocal cords of new vocalist Matjaž, whose brutal growl and good clean vocals make the music even more dynamic and varied. Inmate look fresh and powerful on stage, and the original material is very promising, so now we’re waiting for recordings! I saw Inmate for the first time, but judging by what they showed, definitely not the last!
Third up, I finally got to see one of the best bands we have again, the heavy/thrash champions Dawn Patrol. This is definitely a band that breathes as one, they’re excellent instrumentally, and on top of that they have one of the best… no, THE best vocalist/frontman we’ve got fronting them right now. Dawn Patrol couldn’t wish for anyone better than Aleš: not only is his vocal flawless, precise, punchy and killer, almost a Slovenian Bruce Dickinson you could say, Aleš is one with the stage. Charisma just oozes out of him, he has real stage presence, and he especially shines with his banter between songs, which makes you laugh with ease. The interaction with the crowd was more than top-notch, and it’s strange that a few more people only gathered in front of the stage toward the end of a far too short 40 minutes with Dawn Patrol. The guitar duo of Jan and Černe is tight, precise and full of good ideas, Jan cracks the funniest jokes, and Ana and Wuko hold down the rhythm section well. This time Dawn Patrol played only their own material, which, to put it mildly, rips your pants off, and for me personally especially the adrenaline-fueled Fortress. In the end, only one question fits: “When’s the record coming?!?!”
Dawn Patrol said their goodbyes and left the stage to a band of Bedouins with camels.. um… I mean Gonoba. The guys get better from show to show and even more convincing, and this time was no different. The instrumental intro alone got our neck muscles working, and then Human: Error opened up a proper hell. Guitar riffs and solos flew everywhere, eardrums burst one after another, and watching Brane, one of the best bass machines we have, you wonder whether such bass lines are even within human capability. The overall impression was spoiled more or less by the tipsy Hopsi, who several times in a row announced as the next song the one they’d just played, and he’s still clumsy with announcements, since he never gets further than “The next song is…” The songs flowing from Gonoba’s fingers and hands are becoming real live classics, which the crowd proved too, as a nice number gathered in front of the stage and showed with moshing and headbanging that Gonoba really are the real deal. Just like camels… The guys surprised us with a new cover, this time the cult German trio Sodom and their classic Bombenhagel, which replaced the Death classic Misanthrope. Even though it was always nice to hear the latter, and it was always played at a high level, it’s always good to hear something new.
I’d been looking forward immensely to the thrashers Eruption ever since their crazy gig at Channel Zero in Ljubljana and was expecting another excellent show… but this time I came away disappointed. Alcohol claimed its victim, and the guys didn’t even make it to the end of their 40 minutes. A real shame, because Eruption have already proven they can do much, much more, and way better than just excellent. After wrecking it with Democracy, Monumental Mind and Prayers Betrayers, this time a bitter aftertaste was left, and unfortunately the eternal thrash classic Bonded By Blood by Bay Area legends Exodus was cut short too. Buco’s screams sound much better when he’s sober, and the same goes for his otherwise slurred banter. Eruption unfortunately earn a “thumbs down” this time, and next time they’ll have to try hard to make up for a worse show in Slovenska Bistrica.
The evening was closed by the technical thrashers Crossbreed, whom I’d been waiting for most eagerly. What else can you do but bang your head to metal this good! The guys from Crossbreed are damn persistent, since they’ve had trouble with a vocalist ever since they formed, which still surprises me. How is it possible that such a good band can’t get a vocalist!?! Well, the good news is they’ve reportedly finally found one. The main driving force of Crossbreed is definitely guitarist Grega, whose fingers pump out riffs and solos so incredible they kick your ass, and any guitarist can only slink shamefully into a corner (listening to Crossbreed right now, I have something like that in mind myself… ). It’s downright rude of him to play such lines with feather-light ease and a totally ordinary expression on his face, heh heh. Bassist Simon doesn’t lag far behind the guitar duo either, at times playing downright breathtaking lines. The peak of the night came when Aleš from Dawn Patrol joined Crossbreed on stage and sang the Annihilator classic Alison Hell with them, showing off his more aggressive vocal side. Painkiller with Buco on vocals turned out nicely too, though he then got a bit annoying and wouldn’t leave the stage, which slightly spoiled an otherwise brilliant Crossbreed show. Toward the end Simon sang the Destruction cover Curse the Gods very well, and the evening slowly came to a close.
What to say in conclusion? First, big props to Brane for organizing this evening and to Grega (Crossbreed), who took care of the excellent sound for all the bands. Most of the bands did great, but the crowd deserves a scolding for turning the evening into a plain village booze-up. Of course metal and alcohol go hand in hand, but in a case like this, a bit of restraint wouldn’t have hurt. It shouldn’t be that by eight in the evening a few people were already passed out, the urinal was clogged with puked-up spaghetti, and by the end of the night probably not a single bottle was left intact. Still, hats off to the organizers, to the bands for their support, since they gave up their fees, and finally to everyone who came, since around 160 tickets were sold, which means Miki’s family received €800. And I hope to see you at Tribute to Miki 3 next year.
text: Rok Klemše
photos: Barbara Milharčič
Setlist
CROSSBREED ERUPTION GONOBA DAWN PATROL INMATE THRAW
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