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A Silver Mt. Zion - Bristol, Bierkellar - 30.05.06
A Silver Mt. Zion are unprofessional. They stand in the audience during their support act, Horn and Hoof, and smoke spliffs. They carry their leads around in Tesco bags. They have no techs. They have no lighting. They are, by the way, absolutely brilliant. Launching their set with 'God Bless our Dead Marines', the first track from 2005's 'Horses in the Sky', they immediately capture the audience's attention (even the drunkard in the front row), and the venue's crowd are left silent.

The resonating string section delicately pounds pizzicato constantly while lead singer Efrim wails about dogs and the awful state of the world. A voice that may be considered unpleasant in a different context fits perfect here to contrast with the sweetly melodic and melancholy violin parts, which themselves clash satisfyingly with the pronounced thrashing of electric guitar. While Efrim cracks a joke about the World Cup and an adoring crowd savour the words of their preacher, new song 'Blind Blind Blind' commences. A cross between the band's EP 'Pretty Little Lightning Paw' and 'Horses in the Sky', this new material, along with other new song 'Millions Died to make This Sound', showcases dissonant guitar and aggressive drums with beautiful string interjections, weaving in and out of the harsh voice added and seemingly random times.

The highlight of the set is the band's encore 'Take these Hands and throw them in the River' from 2001's album 'Born into Trouble as the Sparks fly upwards'. The track lasts for almost twenty minutes and brings together the technique and styles heard in the previous songs.

The are A Capella canons involving all seven members of the band, and these act as a comforter to relax the crowd by dropping in just when Efrim's voice is sounding painfully strained and the strings are bowing frantically, and the guitar plucks so hard that indeed one of the strings breaks, which guitarist Ian swiftly changes, proving that A Silver Mt Zion don't need dozens of back-up instruments. They don't need technicians. They don't need lighting. The spliff probably helped, though.


Words: Cecilia White
Photos: Alex Woodward