Dawn Of Azazel - A Massive Explosion of Sound
Dawn of Azazel/Megadeth/Slayer 26/01/10
Miserable weather greeted fans as they lined up to enter Auckland's Logan Cambell Centre on Monday 5thOctober 2009. But the rain could not dampen the crowds highly charged enthusiasm for the event. Some of the biggest names in heavy metal were about to perform side by side. Slayer and Megadeth; two of the 1980's "Big Four" American heavy metal bands of all time and legends in their own right. The air was electric.
Despite some vocal and mixing issues New Zealand support act Dawn of Azazel warmed the crowd up effectively with relentless raw black metal. They where, however, no match for the blistering guitar playing of Megadeth front man Dave Mustaine and new guitarist Chris Broderick. Ferocious flying V guitar shredding and duo arpeggio solos left no doubt that Megadeth were back with a vengeance. Mustain, always at his best lyrically when spitting venom towards his bureaucratic enemies, did not disappoint. Fans enthusiastically yelled out their requests between songs and then sang along word for word. Red hair flying, Mustaine strutted around the stage bringing the house down with his perfect execution of songs from their latest album End Game. Megadeth recorded their 12th album at the bands newly constructed studio just outside of San Diego. Their live performance lived up to the recordings and then some. Sticking to what they know best but creatively pushing at the boundaries of heavy metal Megadeth are undoubtedly still a force to be reckoned with. Mustaines incoherent babbling at the end of their set just added to his Rock Star charisma. Arguably Megadeth look set to rival Metallica for the top spot in heavy metal stardom.
The PA amplifiers had barely cooled down when Slayer launched into a barrage of thrash metal that defied the laws of physics. Volume dial set to ten and beyond, Slayer's raw energy and undiluted approach blew everybody's cobwebs away. Auckland heralded the start of a worldwide tour for Slayer's eleventh studio album World Painted Blood. Selling 41,000 copies in the US in its first week the album pulls no punches and is as good as any previous release. Screaming above the thunderous roar of the guitar stacks, front man Tom Araya knows just when to drop out and let the crowd sing the graphically violent lyrics. Barely breaking a sweat this seasoned performer makes bass playing look easy while head banging to songs with apocalyptic titles such as Hate Worldwide, Public Display of Dismemberment and South of Heaven. Guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, wearing Illicit T-shirts, found the sweet spot of the deceptively small looking PA system with their infectious guitar licks, aggressively attacking with precision and dexterity. Dave Lombardo's flawless performance once again ensures him the title of the godfather of double bass drumming. The mosh pit went crazy and the ushers gave up trying to control where people were seated. In general the capacity crowd was well behaved and security kept any stage diving to a minimum.
The massive explosion of sound from these bands reverberated around the parts of my skull wired to heavy metal music. This was a thoroughly enjoyable sensation.
Reviewer - River
About Dawn Of Azazel
"Dawn of Azazel is both busy and belittling, cruel and calculating, raw and refined; One of the most shockingly bold spins in the black/death underground" - Metal Maniacs
Undoubtably the leaders in taking New Zealand Metal to the world, New Zealand's foremost extreme Metal band Dawn of Azazel are set to raise the bar both here and abroad with their brutal, violent and invovative second album 'Sedition'.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Dawn Of Azazel
Releases
Other Reviews By River
Osmium - The Misery Harvest Album Review
29 Jan 2013 // by River
There’s no escaping Osmium’s awesome metal prowess throughout their second full-length album The Misery Harvest. Stylistically similar to Alice and Chains, what sets the Invercargill based three-piece apart is a harder edge of heavy riffs with a bit more grunge for good measure.
Read More...
Rhythm and Vines Review
07 Jan 2013 // by River
There’s something very special about the Rhythm and Vines music festival held during New Year at the lovely Waiohika Estate Vineyard, just out of Gisborne. Rhythm and Vines celebrated their ten-year anniversary with an unprecedented level of professionalism and 31,000 music lovers partied with them on New Years Eve.
Read More...
Villainy - Mode. Set. Clear. Album Review
29 Dec 2012 // by River
The first thing to strike you about Villainy’s debut album Mode Set Clear is the excellent surrealistic graphics designed by legendary designer Storm Thorgerson. Echoing some other great works by the renowned artist such as Muse’s Absolution, Megadeth’s Rude Awakening and Pink Floyd’s A Momentary Lapse Of Reason, the digipac is so good it’s worth framing and mounting to the wall.
Read More...
Rival State - Apollo Me Album Review
29 Oct 2012 // by River
Rival State's album Apollo Me is a solid effort throughout. At times their powerful sound is without compromise.
Read More...
New Way Home - Mirrors Album Review
03 Sep 2012 // by River
From the outset New Way Home's latest release Mirrors is a rip-roaring beast sure to get the mosh pit pumping. Building on some of the best metal sub genres while forging a truly original sound all of their own, the five piece hailing from Auckland have incorporated the perfect blend of delicate harmonics and unrelenting heaviness.
Read More...
Depths - Resurgence EP Review
23 May 2012 // by River
Released on Deadboy Records and best described as a cross between Meshuggah and As I Lay Dying with hints of Machine Head thrown into the bubbling cauldron for good measure, Depths' EP Resurgence is sure to quench your desire for head banging mayhem. The CD starts off with a nice atmospheric and spooky intro that soon gives way to Age Of Compromise.
Read More...
Arc of Ascent - The Higher Key Album Review
02 May 2012 // by River
Arc Of Ascent’s latest release The Higher Key is an excellent follow-up to their debut album Circle of the Sun (Astral Projection) that received favourable reviews. Hailing from Hamilton, the trio punches well above their weight and epitomizes the wall of sound technique with one of the most commanding and transcending metal albums so far this year.
Read More...
The Heavy Metal Ninjas EP Review
04 Mar 2012 // by River
The Heavy Metal Ninjas, who formed in 2010 (the year of the ninja), have certainly transcended the mortal realm with their debut EP of the same name. From devastating riffs, synchronised perfectly with meticulous timing, the five Ninjas including Stu and Fran Kora from multi-platinum selling band Kora, look set to completely annihilate the competition.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Gigs Today
- Boomtown Rats - CANCELLED
VECTOR ARENA - Knights Of The Dub Table
CABANA - Optimus Gryme
DUX LIVE - Tempist Fujit
MANGAWHAI TAVERN - Decortica and New Way Home
THE ROYAL - Battle of the Bands - Semi 1
BREWERS - Beastwars
BARKODE WINE BAR - 1814
SAINTS AND SINNERS - Soul Shack
LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE - ChartFest 2013: The Big Event
THE BEDFORD @ CPSA BUIDLING
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- BLURRED LINES
Robin Thicke feat. TI And Pharrell - GET LUCKY
Daft Punk feat. Pharrell - SKINNY LOVE
Birdy - LET HER GO
Passenger - RADIOACTIVE
Imagine Dragons - ROYALS
Lorde - FEEL THIS MOMENT
Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera - CAN'T HOLD US
Macklemore And Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton - WAITING ALL NIGHT
Rudimental feat. Ella Eyre - POMPEII
Bastille
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
