Mindbleed - Norwich, The Marquee - 29.05.04

In a nutshell, this gig was and all day launch party gig for new Norwich metal supporting, street teaming, exposing group “3rd Eye Music” or “3rdi-music” as they are also known. This gig therefore featured an all day fest of the best of bands Norwich has to offer all in the small room attached to The Marquee pub. Before Mindbleed though, were new-comers to the scene, ‘Forever Falling’, who gave a mediocre performance of hardcore/Emo and offered very little new to the quite bored reception of fans while they were on. After their set however were also reasonably new band ‘And Then Everybody died’ who, despite having a rather unfortunate moniker, offered an unsurpassed progressive and atmospheric blend of metal. Merging sounds proverbial for Will Haven to have been acquainted with and a Soulfly styled sound with their guitar work. Despite the poor P.A system, their vocalist/guitarist made wonderful use of strong vocals and lyrics and a drummer who really was quite exceptional. This band is definitely worth looking out for in the not too distant future. Soon however, a muddy wall or noise rang out the whole toilet venue. Mindbleed stepped up to start playing a tension rising intro, while new vocalist Jamie introduced the band to the crowd and urged them to join him in the pit. The band blasted into ‘Force Fed from Birth’ causing an immediate action of head-banging amongst the audience. And, too right as Mindbleed’s ever present kinetic flowing energy to their live music took over the whole venue, the band themselves sounded tighter and looked far more comfortable, so much so that bassist Dean wondered off playing something else entirely and still, somehow pulled it off. A broken drum stick and a couple of tracks later, the venue erupted with the unmistakeable ‘Bring You Down’ causing a very violent reaction of moshing. And a replaced broken guitar string and fantastically covered Hatebreed track later, vocalist Jamie was even joining the moshing to ‘Down Inside’ as, instrumentally during this song, the band were just detached from the whole venue and yet were working together like clockwork. Not one missed pulsing beat, not one blast of adrenaline spared, not one bum not fluffed, nothing were going to get these four guys off this ecstasy. Expect possibly, the comedown track, ‘Choke’. Possibly the best performed track as a group for being such a heavy finale track, doing the drum, stop start solo over the guitar harmonic breakdown three times, taking it several beats slower every time. A wonderful ending to a wonderful set, everyone agreed. Before this gig, Mindbleed obtained the information that Roadrunner UK had added them into their top six bands who they are going to serious consider for signing. This, their possibly best gig to date, was exactly why Roadrunner are so interested. Adam Turner-Heffer