EdinbURGH – Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh – 30/08/2014

EdinburUGH posterOn the night of the 30th of August at the Banshee Labyrinth in Edinburgh six bands came together to give the mighty Bonesaw a fitting send off after 14 years of playing. Over the years Bonesaw have recorded; two demos, a debut album Sawtopsy, as well as four split EPs with Abscess, Bone Gnawer, Lobotomized and Haemophagus. Their full length album titled The Illicit Revue was released in 2013. Aphelion Productions and At War With False Noise assisted with the releases.

Bonesaw were supported by a brutal UK wide line up in the form of Nolti Nana Gana Nana Nolta (NNGNN), Live Burial, Evil Blood, Tommy Concrete & the Werewolves and Ninkharsag.

 

Nolti Nan Gana Nan Nolta @ Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh
Nolti Nan Gana Nan Nolta @ Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s extreme Black Thrash trio NNGNN kicked off the show with a crushingly tight set playing tracks such as Black Thrash Massacre, Flagellate the Heretic and Victim of Vultures, some of which are included on their recently released EP, Death by the Venomhammer. Bringing the UGH to the stage they brought aggression, speed and groove. NNGNN guitarist Rockwell said “It was an absolute pleasure to open such a beast of a show, every band hit home with authority. What a night.

Live Burial; old school Newcastle Death Metal, got the crowd moving with their tight and energetic performance playing tracks such as Separation Through Evisceration and Live Burial which are included on their recent demo tape titled Live Burial. Always a pleasure to witness they balanced perfectly on the line between chaos and musical genius.

Evil Blood @ Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh
Evil Blood @ Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

Speed Metal legends Evil Blood graced the stage with a crushing set,  playing classics such as Malevolent Warrior, Countess Laura Whore and finishing with Ave Satanas. Evil Blood’s frontman, Bat; “It’s was excellent, all the bands were great in their own way…and most of all the crowd where amazing. It was privilege to play with them (Bonesaw)..one of the best bands for the past 25 years in this country..I hope they change their minds and stay together

Edinburgh based old school extreme metal project Tommy Concrete & the Werewolves further ignited the crowd as only they can with their fast and crazy sound, picking up the pace. They said “EdinburUGH was the best gig we’ve seen and the best crowd we’ve played to for yonks! HEY EdinburUGH! Bonesaw, what the fuck have you quit for? That show took me back to 89!!

Liverpool based Ninkharsag brought us back to the land of Black Metal with a powerfully tight and evil set, weaving ancient lore and raw majesty throughout. They proved yet again to be an extremely evocative live band, especially with the addition of blue lighting and smoke in which the crowd were lost in a field of sound.

Bonesaw @ Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh
Bonesaw @ Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

The crowd at this point were thoroughly intoxicated on excellent music as well as alcoholic beverages and the time had come for Bonesaw‘s last appearance. Straight from the off the crowd flew into a frenzy of circle pits, crowd surfing and headbanging, not to mention a few assaults on the stage equipment. Tracks from throughout their career featured in their set including; Gutless Fuck, Dark Hallucinations, Dirt Blood Junkie, Your Murder and Punk Stain. Their set was lengthened however by several tracks as the crowd refused to accept the end, baying “ten mare tunes” at the end of every song. A crowd of over 80 strong in a small cellar of the Banshee Labyrinth showed their enthusiasm and appreciation one last time for Bonesaw’s contribution to Scottish metal, ending on an undisputed and memorable high note.

Frontline Slaughterhouse promoter Duncan McLaren said “The bands were all great, the crowd was mental, and everything ran according to plan. Nights like that are why we do this.”

 

Photos by Jurga Kalinauskaitė, poster by Powerchord Designs.

About Aisha Al-Sadie

Scottish based interviewer and reviewer for PM. Aisha is a fine artist who has created album artwork for various bands including Meads of Asphodel and Towers of Flesh. She is a heavy supporter of the UK underground scene and while she has a varied music taste, she admits it is mostly all about the thrash, black and death metal.