CRADLE OF FILTH, THE 69 EYES, THREE INCHES OF BLOOD, FLYING AT HENDON

It had been some time, since October, that I had been to a Metal show, spending most of my time with the more Gothic/Industrial crowd. Hell, I've gone to more shows with my 14 year old daughter, than my Metalhead son over the last few months. I hadn't even seen my best friend and assistant photographer, Donna, in months. Although, I've planned to spend more time in 2007 with the Gothic NY / NJ Industrial crowds, it was good to get back to The Starland and a sweatin', stompin', surfin' safari, kick ass metal pit. I had met the guitarists for the band FLYING AT HENDON at a Cannibal Corpse show here in Jersey and they hooked me up with their demo and with the breakup of 'Beyond The Flesh', have become my favorite New Jersey band. So, I collected up my best friend and my son for the first time in months and headed to the show early so I wouldn't miss FAH like I did at the GWAR show.

I was surprised at the long line and the wait to get in the place. It was cold as shit. It would be a packed house. F**k yeah. Surfin' Safari!! We got in and pushed our way up front and there was a Death Metal band that wasn't too exciting opening the show and then they made it worse by attempting “Cowboys From Hell” to charge up the crowd. I hate when opening bands do that. Dime was surely turning over in his grave. FLYING AT HENDON came on next and hit the stage flying. They're an aggressive Jersey Death band, but good and thrashy. They kicked butt. Jumpin' and stompin' through an aggressive set and charging up the crowd. I got up front and got some pics and the temp began to rise at The Starland. Good to be back in the house. THREE INCHES OF BLOOD were up next, so a good old school dose of screaming Heavy Metal was hand. They have duel screamers on the mics and they removed the roof!! “Deadly Sinners”, “Wykydtron” and some new stompers got the sweat pouring and the crowd surfing!! They kicked freakin' butt!!! Then, THE 69 EYES took far too long to set up and were far too mellow to follow the madness of Three Inches and aside from some little girls screaming, the crowd wasn't too receptive chanting “You Suck” occasionally and flipping them off throughout the set. Nuff said about that. Time to get Filthy.

Cradle seemed to take far too long to set up also and the Jersey crowd began to get restless. Finally, the lights wentout and the temperature went up. They hit the stage with the intro to the new album, “Under Pregnant Skies She Comes Alive like Miss Leviathan” and the place went crazy. They followed suit with “Dirge Inferno” and “Tonight In Flames.” They went back to “Dusk And Her Embrace” and “Her Ghost In The Fog” and the surfin' safari had officially begun and kids were crashing on my head every second. I was front and center getting my clicks in with my Fuji between elbows to the ribs and boots to the head. Satan, it was good to be back in The Starland pit! They went farther back with “Ebony Dressed For Sunset” and “The Forest Whispers My Name” and of course “Nymphetamine”. They are far less theatrical than the last time I saw them. No acrobats swinging from ropes or gargoyles jumping around. The new album is straight on Black / Thrash and they're show is straight on kick ass. More new ones, “I Am The Thorn”, “Rise Of The Pentagram” and “Temptation” removed the friggin' roof!! “Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids”, F**kYeah. Good classics, “Gilded Cunt”, “Satyriasis”, “Born In A Burial Gown”. They finished with a rousing encore of “From Cradle to Enslaved” and “Under Huntress Moon”. An amazing performance. Less operatic, but the fat lady still sings and Rosie on keys was awesome. They have a new kick ass drummer too.

It was an amazing sweatin', stompin', surfin' good time at The Starland. F**k Yeah!

Make sure to check out the awesome pics of each band from the show in the Metal Centre Gallery.

Cradle Of Filth setlist:

Under pregnant skies….
Dirge Inferno
Tonight In Flames
Dusk and Her Embrace
Her Ghost in the Fog
Nymphetamine
Ebony Dressed For Sunset
The Forest Whispers My Name
I Am The Thorn
Rise of the Pentagram
Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
Satyriasis
Gilded Cunt
Temptation
Born in a Burial Gown
From the Cradle to Enslave
Under Huntress Moon