evile live

Having shared stages and bills with these lads on numerous occasions in the last few years, I've found that they have always shown themselves to be amiable, pleasant fellas who have a penchant for playing good ol' fashioned FRASH, akin to the classic stuff that old farts my age had kittens over back in the day (and admittedly still do!) ... and it is admirable that their overall demeanour hasn't changed, despite the extreme ups and downs this quartet have endured in the last eighteen months or so.

However, thanks to relentless touring across Europe and the States last year with the likes of metal titans Overkill and Kreator, they have re-emerged for this small UK tour a well oiled machine, and the enthusiastic reaction that awaited them in Nottingham this evening certainly reflects their growing stature.

As they launch headlong into stage favourites First Blood and Enter the Grave, I felt that they were delivered with just that bit extra confidence that comes from endless touring... and this momentum was kept admirably throughout. Plague to End All Plagues, Metamorphosis and modern speed metal anthem Thrasher were every bit as fearsome as their titles suggest, and were delivered with a resilience that did supreme justice to their (and indeed OUR) fallen comrade, Mike Alexander.

Vocalist Matt Drake implied from the stage that he felt that a chapter was closing, and I think it's clear what he means. Evile are respectfully moving onward and upward. We were treated to a snippet of brand new material, which hinted at a step in an even more extreme direction, which to my mind bode well for the next release, despite a lack of finished lyrics and a tentative title of Bitch! which made my beer go down the wrong way. Perfect timing Matt - thanks!

We Who Are About to Die turns Rock City's basement into a whirling frenzy once again, and it is clear to see how much this song and the following number Infected Nations benefit from a live setting; this really is potent stuff!

Namechecking briefly the sorely missed Mike Alexander once again, they close the set with Killer From the Deep - originally from the All Hallows Eve demo, and effectively where it all started for this band.

I know somewhere out there, Mike would be smiling. And he'd be damn proud.

by Rod Boston