Sonic Brew-Fall of One-The Love Vandals

Overload @ The Windsor Club, Neath

Saturday November 26 th 2005.

 

Well I am back! Never thought I Would be back at Neath so soon. At least this time I know my way, and do not get any problems from the locals.

It has been the worst weather South Wales has seen for a long time, so I was surprised that the show was actually on.

The first thing I noticed upon turning up at 8.00 was the lack of people, I thought I had turned up during the sound check but the promoter advised me to get in before the rush, maybe he knew something that the rest of us didn’t.

The first act “The love vandals” took to the stage in total confusion and played on the venue floor as the stage was stacked like Wembley arena with Sonic Brews set up.

The Love Vandals rocked out their 80’s influenced glam mish mash with the confidence of a man on death row. I am not sure what was the point of this act playing tonight as these youngsters are not ready to play air guitar.

I would give them a year or two in their bedrooms before they are even ready to take to a stage. It reminded me of school kids playing at dress up with their mum’s clothes. 2/10.

So things cannot get worse, I was so wrong! ”fall of one” claim to be hardcore metal (NOT). These kids look like something from “Pap Idol” and sound like they look, p##s poor.

Not even the dodgy compulsory cover of The Beetles “Help” made a difference, I am sorry lads back to the drawing board and while you are there burn it, and get back to McDonalds. 1/10

At this point, I was almost suicidal, how can last months Overload be so good and this months so, so, bad?

Then it all changed, like a runaway train “Sonic Brew” took to the stage. I have been to hundreds of club gigs but by Christ this was the loudest by far.

Sonic Brew are the only BLS tribute based in the UK. I you have never seen BLS, Sonic Brew are by far the next best thing. Unfortunately as previously mentioned the place was a little light on punters, but this did not seem to bother Sonic Brew playing with full gusto as if they had 10,000 people in front of them.

They thundered through such classics as Stronger than Death, Bleed for me, Suicide Messiah and the classic Zakk covers of No more tears and War Pigs.

Sonic Brew are Dingle, lead guitar and vocals, Animal on drums, Monkey on bass and Evil Pete (yet again!) on rhythm.

This band work so well together with Dingle playing a note for note perfect Zakk solo, which blew me away.

The set also included a young lad called “shredder” who is a 10-year-old genius playing lead on a few songs. This kid is something special, check him out before he get’s too big.

Sonic Brew are the real thing, that is if a tribute band could be the real thing?

They play with passion and they obviously enjoy what they are doing, and by Christ, they do it well. 9/10

I have seen so many clubs come and go, and I Hope this does not happen to the Overload as you can tell that a lot of time, money and love for the music has gone into the night.Quality bands are hard to find, Sonic Brew are quality and deserve a better response.

So come on people of Neath, as the sticker used to say, “Keep music live”.

Harry Mcorthi

Metal Vision UK