Live Review: Redeemon w/Hell Death Fury, Contraptions, Ill Gotten Gains and Collapser at The Butler in Reading!

Saturday night’s alright for fighting? Every night is alright for fighting! We’re at The Butler in the heart of Reading for a Shadow Promotions show which brings Bloodstock and Rabidfest survivors Redeemon to town. It’s grey and drizzling outside but the beers cold and the Christmas lights are on in the venue so when it Rome… Tonight isn’t just a special night because five bands are going to take the the stage, The Blade Itself having dropped out at the last minute but because it’s the birthday of the flame haired frontman Pook of headliners Redeemon who have at a phenomenal year!

Metal Ska Punks Hell Death Fury [8/10] get the party started by sounding like the bastard child of Scissor Fight and NoFx. Three of the four piece contribute vocals to songs like “Shit Show” and “Papa John’s Camero” as they play through a collection of songs like a well oiled machine. Funky Ska orientated bass lines, neat tempo and style shifts, clean, spoken and screamed vocals, they have it all and do it well. They’re good fun too.

Continuing the Skacore theme Contraptions [9/10] have a tee at their merch stand which says “Eat Ass Play Brass” on the back and the six piece who barely have room to move on the stage invite the two steppers to the pit. Their saxophone player does the between song talking while the others tune up or towel down, their torn lab coat uniforms giving them a sense of togetherness despite the bedlam. “Insurrection” and “Until Death” are absolute barnstormers, the saxophone taking the place of the lead guitar which gives the bands sound a fun element that separates them from the wolf pack.

Self describing as middle-rage Ska-core from Sunny Basingstoke Ill Gotten Gains [8/10] make us chuckle with a song about their home town in a set of material that mixes humour with a dose of political charged and socially aware banter. Leaning towards Ska Punk the band play with that good time energy with cuts like “Eat Or Heat” blending Hardcore screams and barbed riffs during the verse with a Madness like chorus just for shits and giggles. Why? Why not! It’s a warts and all performance that is one hundred percent live and there are a couple of moments where their timing is just slightly out but that’s exactly what live music should be about, thrills and spills!

Rolling out those big doomy riffs your mother won’t like Collapser [10/10] make their presence felt in thunderous fashion with tracks like “Earthmover” and a blistering rendition of “Bulls On Parade” by Rage Against The Machine. Having just unleashed album “The Mountain Before Us” the quartet are on the crest of a wave, giving us an ocean of groove around the concept of a doomed expedition into the Arctic. It is of course mosh pit riot incitement but the band don’t need to call for it, instead letting their music do the talking with the crowd responding organically. Sparks fly as the rumbling low end is powerful enough to threaten to put a crack in the concrete, the huge cymbal crashes and towering vocals not so much a threat but a warning that the four piece aren’t going anywhere without having a serious crack. They command the attention so don’t look away now.

Dusting off a couple of new songs which haven’t been played live in a while due to shorter set times Redeemon [10/10] feed off the energy in the room while fueling it themselves as they bring their trademark Brass and Groove Metal sound to the stage in fine fashion. Pook is the life and soul of the party, running around the stage like his pants are on fire as he mixes playing the trombone with vocals and giant energetic leaps while the band play on, all smiles at the flame haired force of nature. It’s his birthday and he’s had a few drinks but that doesn’t sabotage the performance with Pook taking the time to thank Greg and the Rabidfest team for introducing him to Collapser with whom they have now shared the stage on several occasions. It’s a love in you simply couldn’t make up as they start a breakdown with a Saxophone to keep things fresh. “Anaphylactic” sounds as fresh as a daisy and while they’re half past due a new record, they clearly have the material stockpiled on tonight’s evidence so hopefully they won’t keep us waiting too much longer! Who said people don’t pit to the sound of brass?! Redeemon have all the energy of a neutron bomb and need to be seen to be believed!