Madball - Supported by Sworn Enemy, Since The Flood and Your Mistake
Live View by Buzzin Hornet
Label: Roadrunner Records / Ferret Records
Venue: Dynamo - Eindhoven
Views: 919
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And this time it was some New York Hardcore Metalrage was visiting. Madball was playing in the brand new Dynamo venue in Eindhoven; the old one has been demolished and the new building has been open since three weeks. This was noticeable in the organisation but nevertheless this venue has got a great future ahead with a legendary name, great location and great looking architecture.
 
Four band were playing tonight. Since The Flood, Your Mistake, Sworn Enemy and of course Madball! It was going to be a long evening filled with Hardcore but also a very nice surprise!

Your Mistake
First band of the night was the newly formed Dutch band Your Mistake (ex-No Turning Back, ex-Shattered and ex-Guilty members). These guys are playing their first gig and are opening for Madball, that is a big assignment and this was a clear fact during the set. First thing was the set only lasted for less than 30 minutes and the sound wasn’t that good; also the band  looked pretty nervous with a stiff presentation. Especially the vocalist, who did a lot of shows with Shattered, wasn’t looking comfortable on stage. The music did not attract me in any way, with lack of originality it is just another hardcore band for me.
 

Since The Flood
Second band of the night was Since The Flood from Germany. First thing I noticed at this band was the extremely violent front man. The guy was almost fighting on stage and it was humorous to see this guy jumping and hitting on stage. Once again this was a standard Hardcore band with absolutely no originalities in their music or performance. Lucky enough the rest of the bands that were entering the stage later that evening were a lot better.

Sworn Enemy
Sworn Enemy is clearly changing musically, which is good for Metalrage. On the latest release of this band you can find Hardcore; this album was well received by the hardcore people around the world. On January 21th the band is releasing their new album and during their set they played some of their new material. Let me sketch the situation:
The band is playing their old songs and the crowd is going nuts and crazy. A heavy mosh pit is centred in the venue and the fans are clearly enjoying the show. But then it happens, the band starts to play their new material and they ask the audience to tell them what their opinion is. When the first riff starts the Metalrage crew members standing together instantly start banging their head to the nice music suddenly blasts through the Dynamo club. Pounding Thrash Metal is what the band is producing on their upcoming album. And it sounds marvellous, but then we look back at the fans; every single one of them is standing still, looking at their icons and they all look surprised. Clearly Sworn Enemy had enough of Hardcore and is taking their skills one level up towards heavy riffs and more dynamic music. They sure got my attention and I am looking forward to their release early next year.

Madball
Front man Freddy might be the most enjoyable person in the Hardcore industry. Of course he also is acting tough but when you see him walking around for the interviews or performing on stage. He is definitely enjoying every single moment of his life. And that is rare in the music industry. And when I am walking around arranging interviews I notice the entire band got the same personality aspects and every single one of the members is friendly and are willing to cooperate.


You see these elements in the exhausting set they played on stage tonight, the band played a very long hardcore set and the audience had to be drained at the end. The band played one big huge list of hits and there were pits in every corner of the venue. When Freddy says that is does not matter what your musical background is but who was hardcore on that moment almost 90 percent of the venue responds with a big scream. The live performance of this band is energetic and spontaneous, but it still is hardcore; so what is the secret of this band coming across so good? Is it the different style they use, is it the reaction of the crowd? I don’t think so, because the band enjoys their life and jobs and respect their lucky position they radiate positive energy!

Lets be clear, I still don’t really like hardcore; after two or three songs I have had it but Madball presented a great show which will be remembered by the fans for eternity. The only thing which is stuck in my head after the show is the new Sworn Enemy album. Let’s wait for that one now!


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22-10-2005 16:21 - Spoerie
On Your Mistake:
First: Dude! A set that lasts less than 30 minutes as criticism?
It's their first gig. People don't know them. Starting bands should keep their set between 20 and 30 minutes. 

Second: The vocalist did look relaxed on stage in my opinion. He doesn't have the aura of a freddy Madball, no, but a nervous stiff presentation? :)
Show will improve after time. 

Third: The vocalist is from Shattered.

Fourth: The fact that the music did not appeal to you has nothing to do with the quality of the songs or the music. It's because you don't like hardcore. For some reason I found that it was pretty original and has a lot of potential. Did you hear that solo in their last song? Dude, this band has one of the, if not the best guitar players in the whole dutch hardcore scene.

It was by no means perfect, but relate this to the shows of other bands that played for the first time, damn dude. You are talking about this band like it is Sworn Enemy or Madball. It was their FIRST show!

On Since the Flood:
Dude, humorous to see this guy jumping and hitting the stage? We call this a good performance. This is how a hardcore show should be. Freddy Madball has his things, like swinging the mic, and this guy has his. 
I beg to differ once again on originality. They had some great E-town concrete guitar sounds in there. I thought it would have appealed to you. 

On Sworn Enemy:
They fucked up when they constructed this set. You don't put 2 new songs that people don't know in the middle of the set behind eachother. They started out great, playing songs people know, breaking stuff up middle-set with 2 new songs killed it. It was esspecially a mistake because both the songs were very alike. And the songs were indeed too metal for a hardcore crowd. 

On Madball:
It's not just Madball who are able to put down a performance like this. I should take you to a few more shows. Clear your head next time and go to a hardcore show open-minded. 

22-10-2005 16:59 - Lex
here's an interesting question: why didn't Spoerie write this review then?:)
22-10-2005 16:59 - Carn
 ah well, I was there for the new Sworn Enemy stuff..and for the beer. Hardcore will always be a kind of low-grade metal, somehow the songs will never hook on to me because most of the time they are just to basic for my taste. But different strokes for different people :)



22-10-2005 17:02 - Buzzin Hornet

That is just an opinion dude... I don't like hardcore but I can give a objective opinion and there was nothing refreshing about those two performances; Sworn Enemy and Madball were refreshing and proffesional. And sure, it is their first gig and they will improve.. good for them but I am looking at the moment and that was not good!

Besides, this was my third Madball show... and I am not saying that they are the only band. I said this is one of the bands who can give the audience a great show.

And Since The Flood != etown... not even close!

And the same thing mickel is saying: Every person got their own taste...


22-10-2005 17:05 - Spoerie
I don't know why I didn't. Why didn't I?


Hardcore doesn't have to be your thing. Most metal isn't mine. But you saying a band sucks because you don't like hardcore is definately not done.
22-10-2005 17:08 - Buzzin Hornet
I don't say the band sucks dude :) I say it is just another hardcore band, you interpreter it in the wrong way!

22-10-2005 17:10 - Spoerie
In that case: you are wrong  (And sucks, or didnt appeal to me, same thing, nicer words)

Both bands are neither 'just another hardcore band'. And what if they are? Not every band has to invent a new wheel. 

And no it's not E-town, but it certainly had things in it that could have been taken from E-town.
22-10-2005 17:14 - Buzzin Hornet
that is your opinion...
22-10-2005 17:16 - Spoerie
Indeed it is my opinion

I don't think a lot of bands play tighter first shows than Your Mistake.

The thing is: My reaction only wanted to tell you guys this:

I don't want this to be some pulling-hardcore-through-the-dirt sceme. It should be about the bands, not about their genre or their obscure taste in music. Anything goes.
22-10-2005 17:22 - Buzzin Hornet
That is why I am saying that I am attracted to a band like Madball or Hatebreed or Sick Of It All and even those dutch guys from backfire. But this just did not sounded refreshing to me. And I do got quite some hardcore on my pc...
And now I am going to cook my dinner
22-10-2005 18:08 - Lex
I find this indoor-metalrage-editor flaming much more interesting than the review:D

FLAME ON!
22-10-2005 18:17 - Buzzin Hornet
I also like the discussion but don't get me wrong, I don't dislike hardcore! But some bands need a boost of originality...
22-10-2005 21:11 - Carn
and bands that played together just for a few months shouldnt get on the stage, altough I beleive its "normal" in the hardcore scene to write a few basic; cliche songs and go out and play.



23-10-2005 03:06 - FuhgAwz
 madball was ok, sworn enemy's new stuff is great but they should play it to a metal crowd that would assess quality when they hear it!
the first two bands weren't really interesting

23-10-2005 18:40 - DemonDust
 hahaha, funny...

31-10-2005 01:05 - Mat-Core
I remember hearing one track from Sworn Enemy, that I really liked back in those days... The song was on a collection called Hardcore 2000 or something like that. Still like the moshing hardcore though, I sometimes even use the same kinds of riffs in our own band...

I like the discussion though, I won't mend in it, because I totally do not care about hardcore anymore
02-11-2005 22:57 - Spoerie
"and bands that played together just for a few months shouldnt get on the stage, altough I beleive its 'normal' in the hardcore scene to write a few basic; cliche songs and go out and play."

On this: 
Young bands too early on stage: Happens a lot more in punk and metal than in hardcore. 
So it is normal in all scenes. But that is not the case here. 
This is a band with good musicians, not some random neighborhoodkiddie band. All them ugly dressed metalgeeks aged 16 starting a band and trying something: Yes, take it down a notch and wait a year or two before even thinking about your first show. Better yet, get some descent equipment. (Sick of seeing 15watt marshall amps used on stage)
Same goes for hardcore or any other genre, or usually: the genre they are trying to empersonate. 

It is an entirely different thing when all members have played the style, can actually play and have experience on stage. 

Back to Buzzin:
I would have accepted you saying:
I would have expected more from these guys. The expectations were high and it didn't really reach the bar. 

Or something like that. Now what you said was based on what argument? They are unoriginal? Why? What band are they copying? Because: When you are into the genre, 2 hardcore bands that sound the same to some metalhead, sound totally different to someone who listens to the genre. 

What if, for instance, you have heard 5 hardcore bands lately who are within the same new york style, would it be your fault for not listening enough diverse hardcore or is it because the band is unoriginal? Or could it be because you are not into it enough and are missing something?



02-11-2005 23:49 - Carn
The only guy that night who deserves the moniker of "good musician" was the lead guitarist for Sworn Enemy m/

03-11-2005 00:08 - Spoerie
You don't really like music do you?


Seriously: If that was a serious comment, you are not allowed to have ears, cause that would be the worst one-sided comment I have heard in years and if I would have heard it five years ago, I would have said that that really confirms my thoughts about metalheads. I have come across a lot of exceptions, so I no longer believe the majority of the metalheads is made up of a bunch of idiots. 

Back to the subject:

1st: Being a good musician is only partly determined by skill. You should know that.

2nd: Another one of those empty statements. You do not give, if there are any, good arguments as to why ALL the other performers are 'no good' musicians.
03-11-2005 00:24 - Carn
bite bite bite :)

He was clearly the best guitarist of everyone who played on that stage that night. Thats reason enough for me to compare him to the "talent" in the other bands, and in my view he was clearly the best musician.

It also strikes me that most hardcore guys with the loudest opinion are oftenly ones who do not play an instrument (or atleast not at a level which says "wow, that dude knows his stuff).

I just HATE music that sounds like cliche after cliche and that song after song. (And yes, there are enough sucky metal bands out there who fit to that description).

- I'm tired of hearing the same kind of lyrics
- I'm tired of hearing the same standard drumbeats
- I'm tired of hearing the same standard 3-chord progressions
- I'm tired of the typical breakdown shit

(ofcourse, exceptions justify the rules)

I`m not saying that every hardcore band sucks, but it takes a load more skill to be a good metalband than a hardcore band.

08-11-2005 00:43 - Spoerie
Ok, in my opinion he was not 'by far' the best guitarist on the stage and I don't think he was the best musician either. He'd have to compete with some others. Let's say he was the best musician, then it wasn't that 'clear'. Maybe for metal standards, but I'm not talking about metal here. In my opinion, I clearly state: In my opinion: Metal does not even half express as much emotions as most hardcore bands do. Take for instance 'Modern Life is War', you can feel the agony in the down to earth lyrics these guys are displaying. Something I miss in a lot of metalbands. 

By the way, how does hardcore give us "always the same lyrics"? Metal doesn't? Lyricwise, hardcore is more intelligent a lot of the times, and just as diverse. Yes, metal does have more intelligent riffs, or better said: More technical riffs. Exactly the thing that doesn't give me a lot of satisfaction. Being the fastest to run the fretboard doesn't give the guarantee of making the best riffs. hardcore grooves. Hardcore reaches out. Hardcore feels. hardcore is in your heart. it's not about being tough or showing off with your baggy jeans or a hardcore shirt. It's a way of life. 

Things that sound typical for you metalheads when listening to hardcore are the same as those things that sound typical for every metal song to me. 

It takes different skill to play in a hardcore band than to play in a metal band. In both styles different things are important. 

And just for the record, no I am not a great guitarist. I do play in a band. I have been for 6 years now and going strong. I am not here to shout the hardest, I am trying to teach you something, to make your minds broader. A lot of hardcore bands can learn from good metal bands and the other way around. Just as they all can learn from a lot of jazz musicians and even country legends like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash.
08-11-2005 13:30 - Carn
 Well personally I do have to say that I do not care about lyrics at all in music; If I want to hear aboiut someone's opinion or feeling I prefer an essay or poetry. My main pet peeve with "hardcore" is that 80% of the bands that I've heard sound alike. Maybe you have to sound identical to an other band to be considered hardcore, I dont know.

And I hate "wankermetal" just as much as the next guy unless the wanking is actually adding to the quality of a song instead of just a showcase....but give me Testament or Pantera any day. Two bands that groove more and harder than any HC band ;)



08-11-2005 19:07 -
<quote> Hardcore reaches out. Hardcore feels. hardcore is in your heart. it's not about being tough or showing off with your baggy jeans or a hardcore shirt. It's a way of life. </quote> 

Yeah sure 
My opinion HC isn't a way of life anymore, five to ten years ago it was, today it's just seen and being seen in the hardcore "seen".