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First up we have the very aptly named Visceral Attack. Their thrash metal stylings hark back to 80s Metallica and Slayer with the raw and frantic drums, shredding guitar and tinnitus inducing crash cymbals. Their guitarist can obviously "play a guitar like a ringing a bell" and that bell is made from nothing but METAL, but unless you are a die-hard thrash fan or an easily impressed teenage axe slinger then it is hard to enthuse over this band. Their music drifts from clumsy political messages - Enjoy Your Stay At Guantanamo Bay - to the bleary eyed bar room romp that is Eye Of The Beerholder, which puzzlingly is just a grunt of the word "beer" for the chorus. The dynamic is relentless and punishing at times but I am sure that camp Visceral Attack wouldn't have it any other way, the clue is in the name you see.

Unfortunately, second on the bill Pocket Billiards had to withdraw their services at the eleventh hour which left the alt country vibes of Robyn G Shiels to take the spotlight straight after our skull shattering amigos Visceral Attack. It's hard not to think had Pocket Billiards have played this gig that the line-up dynamic may have made a little more sense than it did.

Robyn took to the stage with full band, cleansing the audience with his southern tinged, heart on sleeve alt country. He is backed by a drummer who is clearly affected by the music he is playing, two stunning backing singers as well as the well revered Ben McCauley. Together they make an emotional racket.

The floor is filled but motionless as the crowd seems transfixed on every word that emanates from front man Robyn's mouth. Tracks such as Tender Is The Night and Love It Starts Leaving are set highlights as usual but new track Guilty As Sin immediately works its way into ATL's heart and sounds like a future classic to these ears. We are also treated tonight to a sneak peek of some tracks from the upcoming Great Depresssion EP. From the efforts on offer it's going to be one of the must have records of the summer.

Axis Of are very much one of the Belfast hype bands at the moment, along with other young 听guns such as More Than Conquerors and Key Of Atlas they represent the new brood of thirsty active young bands hell bent on making a mark on the Northern Irish scene. Axis Of are ambitious and DIY and can do no wrong at the moment. This is all extremely evident tonight.

The lights dim and a strange dub-step light track pulses from the speakers as the north coast noise mongers take to the stage. They fiddle with their instruments, bizarrely watched on by a huge manikin dummy dressed in winter regalia from the stage- then the beast is unleashed. The beast in this case is a hardcore punk monstrosity with more riffs than a guitar show down at a Led Zeppelin convention. Port Na Spaniagh kicks things off and already the dance floor resembles a stag mating ritual with people butting heads and flailing wildly into one another, so much so that ATL gets soaked by a lukewarm glass of beer.

Swine Flu vs Bird Flu turns the brimming mosh pit into a typhoon of bro-mance and elbows as previous single Brobdignaguian has the crowd grunting along in support. The high octane gig finishes with an evidently weary Niall Lawler (guitarist) throwing himself from the stage into the audience much to everyone's delight. Make no mistake if you are going to attend an Axis Of gig you may need to renew your life insurance. Simply put, Axis Of are vital to local music.

Philip Taggart
Pics: Chris Flack -

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