Hot Snakes @ Bassment
By Michael Lodge
A popular place with the alternative crowd, the Bassment was an impressive half full as That Fucking Tank took the stage at 8 o'clock. The band comprises 50% of Leeds outfit Kill Yourself. A guitarist and drummer. No vocals.
The approach to guitar is aggressive. You hear thumbed bass notes then ballsy open string riffs played with an infectious consistency, discordant bending, anvil muting, harmonics lazily pinging away. There are no flighty runs or scales here just forearm tiring post-rock chaos. There are effects but they are never used to beautify what is an organic raw sound.
Rhythmically there's interest too. They mix it up, alternatively drilling then stabbing at notes only to grind to ugly halt. The pair lock in together in a great 'loose but tight' fashion. They know where they're going but not going to march. With a name like That Fucking Tank they obviously don't expect to top the charts. Nor are they everybody's cup of tequila but if you like your guitar messy and grimacing I urge you to listen to this band.
Another band who won't be bothering the top ten take the stage. The Sex Maniacs take the stage with opener 'True Grit'. It's pure hardcore and (surprise!) it sets the pace for the rest of the set. Hardcore fans know what they want and invariably get it. 'Sabre Tooth' stands out as the band finally break up the thrash and give a riff some space. Titles like 'Gimme Nothing' and the hilarious 'Porno Holocaust' keep heads bobbing to the end.
It's hot down in The Bassment by the time Hot Snakes make an appearance. The varied crowd are packed in tonight. Touring to promote their new album 'Audit in Progress' it's all ears on the band. But like the previous offering this band are determined to play at one pace only tonight. Coupled with a bad sound that drowns out the vocals each song blurs into the next. Someone begged 'On a Rope!'
Strangely, some songs forced thoughts of others. Nods to L7, Machine Head and Motley Crew. They could have been playing covers, I couldn't tell. There's no attempt to engage with the crowd. Nobody wants a pantomime but some dialogue would have been welcome.
The Leeds crew watching seemed like the types to jump around had anyone given them a reason to do so.
