M2TM returns to bring us Heat 2 of this years’ competition. The loyal hardcore are still present despite it being Valentines Day and the venue continues to fill as the night progresses. Nothing says romance like an evening of metal after all.
Kicking us off whilst shrouded in darkness, The Sorrow of Being Immaculate emerges; a one-man enigma who comes accompanied not by instruments; but a laptop, projector and an array of pedals and gadgets. We proceed rapidly into one of the most unusual sets M2TM has ever seen. The artist has requested no lights – aside from his projector screen in the background, which is cycling through atmospheric black-metalesque forestscapes. There are no instruments, no vocals, his hood is up and he is hunched over his laptop almost as though he doesn’t want the audience to see him at all.
The opening sounds are more reminiscent of feedback than music and no one in the crowd seems to be very sure of what is happening, until the set begins in earnest and we are submerged into a maelstrom of violently colliding frequencies. The sound is repetitive, hypnotic, and dissonant, and has a punishing, penetrating reverb that hits directly into the chest. The crowd lurches alternately between wondering what on earth they are watching/listening to, to getting sucked into the hypnotic vortex of sound. It is chaotic and harrowing, with an impending sense of doom and echoing despair pervading throughout. This was definitely a “Marmite” set, but no one can deny it was something unique, different and memorable that certainly got people talking.
Up next are Cheltenham-based prog metal duo More Human Than Human. They raise the energy and lift the atmosphere with massive drums, lots of groovy bass and some beautiful synth loaded harmonies. The vocals are clean and powerful and there is a great synergy between the two or them; you can see that they are having fun and that shines through in the rich, full-bodied sound that even without guitars was in no way lacking.
The songs are ambient, catchy and have a nice array of tempo changes that keeps it from feeling too repetitive. The drumming is innovative, technical, and skilful and the songs are so well structured that the two instruments combine with and complement each other extremely effectively to create a deep, opulent and satisfying sound. The crowd are into it too and everyone has a foot tapping at the very least. All in all, an engaging and enjoyable performance. This duo are tight, clearly very experienced musicians and for a two-piece band their sound is absolutely huge.
Our final entrants for the evening are Caravan of Whores; a stoner doom trio hailing from Banbury. This is definitely the most energetic performance of the evening and they give us raspy, powerful vocals, huge bass and psychedelic guitar solos. There is a groovy undercurrent that forms the basis for the set, and repetitive, mesmerising guitar riffs throughout that draw the audience in.
Stoner doom is repetitive by nature but this band have an assemblage of inventive licks at their disposal and the groove lead drumming is compelling and absorbing. This is another band that masters the art of the tempo change very well, and switches things up at all the right moments to keep the performance varied and the crowd engaged. The sound is raw: faster and not as heavy as more conventional stoner doom and has an unmistakable nod to the Sabbath sound of the early 70s that is well received by the audience.
Tonight has been quite an unusual heat and it’s interesting as an observer to see which way it will go. Two of the bands have quite a similar sound in terms of their genres and then we have the juxtaposition of a very left-field, radical offering. After some deliberation time, More Human Than Human get the crowd pick by just one vote and Caravan of Whores go through on the judges vote.
Join us in two weeks time for Heat 3!
Words & images: Kate Elfström
