Dustynation
Universe 217, Agnes Vein
Eightball Club, Thessaloniki, Greece
12/12/2009.
It was a good day to do something different. It was time to go and see three bands of the local scene of Thessaloniki performing and sharing their vision with about 100 fans that joined 8Ball that Saturday. Three totally unique bands, with multiple influences individually and as units that made these approximately three hours worth spending.
Agnes Vein set the stage of what was to follow. At half past nine they started the show and for the next 45 minutes we listened seven songs of pure heaviness. Sludgy parts combined with some black metal outbreaks and growls by the singer, which in his Ulver t-shirt and with the microphone put above his head, he managed to create a swampy atmosphere of vast riffing, followed by a tight rhythm section that helped him a lot. The sound was tolerable and they played really well. Their music is really difficult to listen to, I must admit that if it lasted a little more it would have tired me. Unfortunately, some people got really tired. But here I must state something to some people who think they own everything.
When you people have decided to go and do something, in this case joining a live concert, you must know that respect to the bands is above all. If you don’t like what you see or listen, then you can get out and not nod your heads begging to end, or say unclean words about the whole organization or the bands themselves. We really have got tired of you all, decide what you want from your lives and if you are not satisfied with yourselves first, then do us the favor and disappear in front of our faces. We don’t need you, people like you have made our scene hitting bottom all these years. Unless you want to support the whole phase, get the fuck out.
Next was Universe 217. Despite their strange name, here we have to deal with feeling dudes. Fucking emotional music with lots of directions. They speak straight through your heart, they play powerfully and they give us only five compositions, lasting 35 minutes. We really wanted more but it’s the band’s decision and we have to respect it. I could sound typical or even cliche but I MUST refer to Tanya, the female vocalist of the group, one of the best and theatrical presences ever on stage. She feels what she sings to the core, she becomes one with the songs and she is the battering ram of a well built force. Nominable is also the fact that they distributed their second cd for free for all the fans to get. Well done, we wait more from you, don’t let us down.
Dustynation were the last band of the night. They have come through some difficulties with their upcoming release ”Echoing Lullabies” and it will be finally released in the beginning of 2010. This of course doesn’t seem to distract them at all, they presented us four new compositions, nonetheless ambitious and really challenging to play. Thet also presented us their new bass player who seems to fit perfectly, it’s not easy to play in such a talented and technical band.
The ones who have already seen them live know that they have a tendency in covers. This time we enjoyed ”Morbid” from Psychotic Waltz (yearly addiction, never heals, never will) and last but not least, this time it was ”Master’s Apprentices” from their beloved Opeth to close the set. The Morbid Angel-like riffs were sounding twice great, as Dustynation had enormous sound. In the end of the song they did a break with the ending of ”Deliverance” and the night closed perfectly.
In conclusion, it was a great night, the bands did their best and all people left satisfied. I wish all the bands to achieve their goals, release material as soon as possible and gain good response. It is about time to start encouraging our local mates and we might one day create something special. Until next time… Stay crossed!
Aggelos “Redneck” Katsouras.