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Conan, Pallbearer, Yob: two nights of Sludge & Doom in Toulouse


Event: Yob & Pallbearer: European Tour 2014
Written by: Darkside Momo
Published: 24.10.2014

Galleries:

FRA, Toulouse - Yob & Pallbearer: European Tour 2014 by Darkside Momo (11)
FRA, Toulouse - Conan: European Tour 2014 by Darkside Momo (10)


Thanks to Noiser, a really active association here in Toulouse (they are also responsible for the Cryptopsy and Entombed A.D. (report here) dates in September, and for the awesome Kruger last night, plus the upcoming Year Of No Light and Dying Fetus shows too), we got served some healthy doses of doom and sludge metal.

Both shows took place in the Dynamo, this great little venue in Toulouse's town center (that sadly will be forced to close its doors next year). None of the two dates were full, but they nonetheless attracted more than 100 people each (mostly metalheads but also quite a few rock/alternative people). A good thing, given the very busy metal autumn we have here!



First evening: Conan's European tour, Toulouse, 2 October 2014

1.1 - Black Oak Mountain

The first band playing this evening was a last minute surprise, and quite an oddity. Not really metal nor heavy, Black Oak Mountain played some bluesy, at-times atmospheric, rock that sounded quite Nick Cave -ish.

This wasn't a bad appetizer at all, as most people enjoyed it. I'm personally not a fan of the genre, but it was good and played with conviction. Well, except for the drummer who had no groove at all, so focused he was on playing things right. BUT... he has quite an excuse: he's only 16 and this was his first show ever, so yeah, it was a bit stressful for him indeed!

Curious? Their bandcamp is here!




1.2 - Soyuz Bear

Soyuz Bear are a local, up-and-coming sludge band, who play some heavy stuff in the vein of Eyehategod, Weedeater, Bongripper. Well?. Sludge, you know?

So guess what? It was heavy as fuck, with some long and pounding-you-to-the-ground-style songs. The band's already pretty good - kudos to the rhythm section, as both bassist and drummer were quite excellent - but as a whole they still feel a bit 'green' onstage. Well, given just a bit more experience, I'm sure they'll kick some major ass in a near future.

As a nice funny bonus, they closed their set with a short grind outburst, cleverly called "Anal Qaida"

A facebook link, maybe?




1.3 - Conan

Well, if Soyuz Bear were heavy, Conan were HEAVY. Like, pounding, sending bass vibrations through the floor, and stuff. The sound was really dense and enveloping.
Yeah, we could feel the power in 'power trio' (Conan are only three guys, remember?)! One in front of the other, in sweaters and caps, they churned riff after riff, not communicating at all, just releasing hevy riff after heavy riff. It was intense, for sure. But maybe a bit too samey in the long run, to be honest.




So that was a good evening indeed, but I must say I considered it as an appetizer for the show that was about to come four days later?


Second evening: Yob & Pallbearer on tour, Toulouse, 6 October 2014

2.1 - Pallbearer

Given the hype surrounding them, I was really curious to see what Pallbearer were all about. That was of course DOOM, of the classical, lyrical, slow and sad variety. And I was impressed.

Brett Campbell is quite awe-inspiring, his high-pitched, beautiful crystalline voice is really superb (and quite the contast with his woodcutter's look - instinctively, you were expecting grunts), and conveyed a lot of emotion. Around him, his mates were flawless - special kudos to Mark Lierly the drummer, who managed to play really well during the whole 50 minutes show while he was ill (a nasty stomach flu).

Almost all the set was composed of songs taken off their sophomore effort Foundations Of Burden (a letdown for some), yet they closed with the fantastic "Foreigner". God! Those intertwining guitar leads in the end...

Yep, they were great for sure!




2.2 - Yob

Ahh, finally seeing Yob live!

Well, if Pallbearer were really good, they still lacked just a little bit of experience onstage. Something Yob had in drove. Naturally imposing their presence (, the three guys very naturally blew everything onstage, aided by a supermassive sound - a sound getting only more massive and heavy as the show progressed. And I mean it. At the end of closer "Adrift In The Ocean", my whole body was vibrating, pummelled by these seismic bass waves. Telluric, I tell you! (oh, yeah, I wrote earlier that Conan were heavy. Nothing like this, really)

The setlist? The whole new Clearing The Path To Ascend ("Nothing To Win" definitely is a gem live) plus a bit of old stuff, "Ball Of Molten Lead" as an opener, and the alreday mentioned "Adrift In The Ocean" to finish the set.

What's more to say? Yob is to be experienced live, not merely listened to. And anytime, anywhere they play, be sure to get there and catch them!




Well well well... If you feel the need to check the shows to either see what you've missed or spot the mistakes in my ramblings, the Noiser team had the great idea to film some shows in full and put them on YouTube, so we've got Conan, Pallbearer, and Yob. Enjoy!

Thanks to all the Noiser team for the accreditations! Keep it up!






Written on 24.10.2014 by Once your regular Hellfest reporter, now retired. I (strangely enough) listen to a lot of metal. And enjoy good beers, comics, novels and role-playing games.


Comments

Comments: 12   Visited by: 40 users
24.10.2014 - 16:25
Ilham
Giant robot
I had the same conclusion when comparing Yob's and Pallbearer's performances. If the latter doesn't do too badly on CD, their lack of experience shows right away live. When Yob took the stage, something changed in the venue.
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24.10.2014 - 17:20
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by Ilham on 24.10.2014 at 16:25

I had the same conclusion when comparing Yob's and Pallbearer's performances. If the latter doesn't do too badly on CD, their lack of experience shows right away live. When Yob took the stage, something changed in the venue.

Yeah, they're still beginners and have to get more experience - but as the singer somehow managed to pass more emotions than on CD (that's the way I felt it anyway), I'm fine with their performance.
And well, Yob
Did you see them in Montpellier?
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24.10.2014 - 17:51
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Somophore?
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24.10.2014 - 19:12
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 24.10.2014 at 17:51

Somophore?

er... ooops? corrected!
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"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

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24.10.2014 - 19:34
Ilham
Giant robot
Written by Darkside Momo on 24.10.2014 at 17:20

Yeah, they're still beginners and have to get more experience - but as the singer somehow managed to pass more emotions than on CD (that's the way I felt it anyway), I'm fine with their performance.
And well, Yob
Did you see them in Montpellier?

Yeah, Yob was just... Yeah . I finally settled for the Montpellier date indeed, over the Paris date because it was 7 euros cheaper, five minutes away on foot from where I was staying, and because a pint doesn't cost 8 euros at the venue. I was expecting sound problems, but it they made changes at the venue, and I just had a great time.
No local band played in Toulouse before Pallbearer? We had Verdun (nice hardcore/doom/sludge combo), but I missed Regarde Les Hommes Tomber in Paris, which I feel a little bad for.
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24.10.2014 - 19:46
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by Ilham on 24.10.2014 at 19:34

Yeah, Yob was just... Yeah . I finally settled for the Montpellier date indeed, over the Paris date because it was 7 euros cheaper, five minutes away on foot from where I was staying, and because a pint doesn't cost 8 euros at the venue. I was expecting sound problems, but it they made changes at the venue, and I just had a great time.
No local band played in Toulouse before Pallbearer? We had Verdun (nice hardcore/doom/sludge combo), but I missed Regarde Les Hommes Tomber in Paris, which I feel a little bad for.

Nope, no local openers this time. Never heard about Verdun (but I guess the name fits both the genres and the 100th aniversary of WWI )
As for Paris, it seems Yob's time onstage was shorter (no "Adrift..." on the setlist I've seen) so I guess you made the right choice
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"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

"I've lost too many years now
I'm stealing back my soul
I am awake"
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24.10.2014 - 22:13
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Soyuz Bear guy looks like BA baracus LOL and guitar chick is nice ... but I was surprised you wrote about such event usually you don't do it and don't attent, its more Marcel, Rod, Che thing
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24.10.2014 - 23:00
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by Bad English on 24.10.2014 at 22:13

Soyuz Bear guy looks like BA baracus LOL and guitar chick is nice ... but I was surprised you wrote about such event usually you don't do it and don't attent, its more Marcel, Rod, Che thing

Well at first I wasn't planning to attend Conan's show... But I don't regret coming On the other hand, I certainly did want to see Yob!
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My Author's Blog (in French)


"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

"I've lost too many years now
I'm stealing back my soul
I am awake"
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24.10.2014 - 23:19
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Darkside Momo on 24.10.2014 at 23:00

Written by Bad English on 24.10.2014 at 22:13

Soyuz Bear guy looks like BA baracus LOL and guitar chick is nice ... but I was surprised you wrote about such event usually you don't do it and don't attent, its more Marcel, Rod, Che thing

Well at first I wasn't planning to attend Conan's show... But I don't regret coming On the other hand, I certainly did want to see Yob!


well I think I watch Conan on TV that ''real'' one
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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25.10.2014 - 00:13
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by Bad English on 24.10.2014 at 23:19

Written by Darkside Momo on 24.10.2014 at 23:00

Written by Bad English on 24.10.2014 at 22:13

Soyuz Bear guy looks like BA baracus LOL and guitar chick is nice ... but I was surprised you wrote about such event usually you don't do it and don't attent, its more Marcel, Rod, Che thing

Well at first I wasn't planning to attend Conan's show... But I don't regret coming On the other hand, I certainly did want to see Yob!


well I think I watch Conan on TV that ''real'' one

Well sure they hadn't any sword or fur loincloth
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My Author's Blog (in French)


"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

"I've lost too many years now
I'm stealing back my soul
I am awake"
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03.11.2014 - 02:39
BitterCOld
The Ancient One
Would have loved a gig like that.

And I should charge you royalties for usage of the word "droves." that one is mine 'round these parts. Should I ever wind up in your area of France, first round is on you, mon amis.
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03.11.2014 - 04:12
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by BitterCOld on 03.11.2014 at 02:39

Would have loved a gig like that.

And I should charge you royalties for usage of the word "droves." that one is mine 'round these parts. Should I ever wind up in your area of France, first round is on you, mon amis.

I didn't notice that "droves" was yours particularly but no problem, if you come near home, first round's on me!
(btw, I can imagine you enjoying both shows, especially the Pallbearer + Yob one, yes )
----
My Author's Blog (in French)


"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

"I've lost too many years now
I'm stealing back my soul
I am awake"
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