 |
| Mallika, vocals, Abnormality |
I'm starting off my reviews of Wednesday's concert at the
Boardwalk, Orangevale, with
Abnormality.
Part of me doesn't want to write this review--I just want you to go and experience the show yourself, totally-unprepared, without reading any of this, or checking out the band beforehand. If you're prepared to do that, log off right now, and track them down as they continue to support Soulfly around the country.
Hurry up--this tour is almost over!.
But in case you missed it... the venue, slowly filling: it's still early in the evening, middle-of-the-week; the crowd is mostly 30- and 40-something men, with lots of band patches on black denim, long hair, dreads, some ink. About 96% male audience for an extreme metal evening, but yes there were some women in the crowd, and a few kids too. But for the most part; guys who grew up with Sepultura, Pantera, Cannibal Corpse.
 |
| Abnormality, on tour with Soulfly, at the Boardwalk, Orangevale |
Extreme and death metal; you expect big men on stage, loads of hair and beards, headbanging, deep, growling and angry vocals that you likely can't often understand on hearing, but when you read the lyrics, they are provocative, controversial, doom-filled, full of four-or-more syllable words, and yes, angry.
What you don't expect is a petite, beautiful, and feminine vocalist. Who produces full death-metal growls as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
 |
| Mallika, vocals, Abnormality |
In the moment between
Mallika Sundaramurthy walking on stage with a mic in hand, and opening her mouth to let the vocals pour out, you wonder; is this the female-fronted-hard-rock act as a gentle rest between the extremes of Lody Kong, Battlecross, Suffocation and headliners, Soulfly. That thought flitted through my brain for about a millisecond... because as soon as Mallika produced the huge, deep, death-metal growl, that flowed like a natural river Styx from her lips, the thought of Abnormality being anything other than extreme vanished. Her vocals are surprising; so natural-sounding, and so different to anything other female metal artists are doing.
 |
| Abnormality |
Excellent guitar work, crushing rhythms, and Lody Kong's expressive bassist Noah Shephard filling in for unwell Josh Staples on bass;
Abnormality are far from the 'norm'. Yes, the lyrics are angry and doom-filled; check out Swarm from their latest album,
Mechanisms of Omniscience. It's about germ warfare. Or
Vigilant Ignorance... school slaughter and mass media.
Take a listen on YouTube too.
If extreme and/or death metal is your kind of music, check out Abnormality. They had a whole new set of fans by the end of their set at the
Boardwalk; everyone pressed close to the stage, wanting more.
 |
| Sam Kirsch, Abnormality |
Check out
Abnormality's Facebook for more info and links to music. And for more
photos from the
show at the Boardwalk, click here!
No comments:
Post a Comment