Untitled Document

Evil is rife and it has taken form as a Macrocosmican beast here in the Barfly tonight. It's out to stroke your soul dangerously with its pounding metal-esque riffs, and then knock you down with its supporting roles from Moniack and Laeto.

First up, Moniack are ready and they launch into a barrage of heavy riffs, not too far from the likes of Iron Maiden actually. Plentiful with harmonized guitars and keyboards, this band are certainly interesting to listen to, although the singer’s “Showaddywaddy”-type haircut is slightly off-putting at the best of times. However, with the majority of Moniack’s songs of an instrumental nature, the lack of vocals did make you feel a tad disinterested eventually, but they do give the impression that if they take the right roads along the way, they could become a great live band.

Laeto from Dundee have been around the scene for many years already, but this is the first time I have seen them and they did not disappoint. A blending of post-hardcore with simple rock, and then light hints of every other similar genre, Laeto perform vigorously to this heavy rock expectant crowd. Their efforts are recognised too, and they go down a treat, certainly remaining a highlight of the night for many and leaving fans drooling for their new album due to be released soon by Too Many Fireworks. Then Macrocosmica arrive. Featuring ex-members of Teenage Fanclub, Telstar Ponies, Mogwai and Bangtwister, and tinged with heavy metal expanses and a dark, bleak spirit,

Macrocosmica enforce themselves with such precision, and grapple you physically by your ears, you just have to stand there and submit. With a host of new material on display tonight they seem to be showing even more definitive anger than usual, and the wild torrents of guitars certainly exhume much appreciative head-nodding from the audience.

Ian Robinson