The Underworld,
Camden, London
02/09/08
These days there are very few bands I get genuinely excited about seeing. Brutal Truth are one of those bands. Sure, I like loads of bands out there but very few have always stuck to their guns. They are a band that is genuine. They are a band that only Mike Williams of Eyehategod could coax out of retirement.
Tonight the godfathers of New York Grindcore scene take over the Underworld to grind your fucking face off!
Amidst feedback and a haunting monotone drone, the band take to the stage and proclaim “We are Brutal Truth and this is GRINDCORE!” before launching straight into the rabid ‘Dementia’. A barrage of bodies start to fly as the violence of the small yet fierce pit gets even worse (or better depending on where you are). When the band drop into the classic ‘Extreme conditions…‘ intro only to slam into the weighty ‘The Birth Of Ignorance’ it’s easy to see why this band, comprised of middle aged, metal and grind enthusiasts, are still relevant.
These men are oddities. It wouldn’t have that genuine Grindcore feel if they were wearing girl’s jeans and got their roots done at Toni and Guy. This is a band that is totally committed to music ahead of image. Nothing screams this more than guitarist ‘Gurn‘ sporting a pair of those fucking croc things that fat birds in salons wear and Dan Lilker’s almost orthopaedic footwear and haggard appearance which seem to fit with the muddled, chaotic nature of their music.
Rich Hoak is always a pleasure to see play live. Not only because of his “I’ve just done 400 pills at all once!” face when he drums but the sheer speed he drives the band with. Blistering through fan favourites ‘Choice Of A New Generation‘, ‘Dead Smart‘ and ‘K.A.P‘ alongside Gurn who’s shredding and complex doodles are insane to watch.
As some of you may know, Dan Lilker (bass) has an astonishing metal pedigree. Having played with Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, S.O.D and Venomous Concept to name a few, he has proven his range on both bass and guitar is amazing. But you can tell this band is his one true love. He appears to be in his element on stage and really comes into his own on tracks like ‘Pork Farm‘ and ‘Godplayer‘. He dishes out deep, distorted, pounding basslines like that Jesus freak at Oxford Circus tube dishes out flyers.
Kevin Sharp is also on great form tonight. His cocky mannerisms on stage coupled with grey beard and incredibly bloodshot eyes make for an extremely entertaining front man. He is a man whose vocal talents are off the scale. Bellowing out grunts and screams that would make Brian Blessed plead for mercy. Wrapping his gob round new tunes ‘Turmoil‘ and ‘Forever In A Daze‘ is truly awesome to see live. If anything he has got better with age. Beer gut ‘n’ all.
Tonight, songs are shred through with such pace and velocity that Brutal Truth finish their set early. This is by no means a problem for the band. They simply crack open some ice cold beers down them and take requests from fans. This post set request session continues for another fifteen minutes finally finishing with an amazing rendition of the delightfully titled ‘Fisting‘. The Truth stick around to slap hands and chat with fans and the weird topless dudes with the shitty Slayer tats. A band that truly appreciates their fan base wherever they go.
Ears ringing? Check. Neck ache from excessive head banging? Check. A little too drunk and baked by the end of the night? Check. Brutal Truth totally grinding my fucking face off? A definite Check.
Tom Lindsey