Witch Tripper, Gévaudan & Six Sins Till Sunday, The Gryphon, Bristol
Such is the work that Mansfield’s Witch Tripper have put into their career, it was no surprise to find that The Gryphon was much busier than the band’s debut show back in early 2019 for their return which was originally planned for August last year. A solid support card helped with partisan fans of Six Sins Till Sunday and Gévaudan swelling the numbers. Apologies to Statue Kings, I just didn’t make it across the bridge in time but a full room slowly emptying as I arrived suggested good things.
Six Sins Till Sunday (6) hail from Plymouth and have been plying their trade with various line-ups for some years, their Facebook biog suggesting as far back as 2012. The five-piece play a sludgy groove-soaked metal which features big riffs, bellowing vocals and enough variation to make each song interesting. Tracks from their 2019 release Masks were impressive, as was the taster from the forthcoming EP Unmasked, the memorable Road To Redemption which was being performed live for the first time. The band fed off the energy of their following in the room, warming up as their slot progressed, vocalist Chris Newman very much the focal point as he prowled the pit, his vocals slightly off key at times but his passion pulling him through. Whilst the limited space in the venue prevented Six Sins Till Sunday from really unleashing the fury physically, their brand of muscular, honest metal was roared on by the audience, and by the time they concluded their set with an obvious crowd favourite Allegory Of The Cave most of the room was converted. Six Sins Till Sunday are touring their EP throughout 2020 and are worth catching.
A total change of pace and style followed as Hertfordshire’s Gévaudan (8) brought their visceral Sabbath infused doom metal to the West Country and totally pulverised the venue. Rarely have I seen a band so intensely heavy or powerful. A 40-minute set delivered four massive pieces, each a behemoth of a track. Vocalist Adam Pirmohamed’s mournful vocals which range from gothic despair to almost roaring death metal mesmerised the crowd, and the segments of subtle yet powerful mellowness contrasted strongly with the brutal, down right spine crushing doom which threatened to buckle to floor of the upper room. Bruce Hamilton’s guitar work echoed the man in black; yes, there was enough flair to emulate an obvious idol in Tony Iommi, down to the style and choice of axe but Hamilton is far from a clone, with his frequent flamboyant shapes (including some neat behind the head riffing) and fabulous gurning not distracting from some intense guitar work. As ever, the key to massive doom is a massive rhythm section and bassist Andy Salt and drummer Dave Himbury delivered huge slabs of devastating power to keep the beast moving. Opening with Dawntreader, we were treated (and that is the correct word) to three other songs from 2019’s Iter; The Great Heathen Army, the shortest track of the set Maelstrom and the stunning 15-minute Duskwalker. By the time the band left the performance area (I think stage is a bit generous) they had rekindled old friendships and warmed those new to the band. It was quite something.
I think I saw Witch Tripper (8) seven times live last year. Each time they were fucking ace. The year in which drummer Gary Eric Evans sat on the drum stool was possibly the most successful for the band, 88 gigs across the country and a massively popular Sophie Lancaster stage performance at Bloodstock 2019 being just one highlight. Finishing the year on a slightly sour note, Evans decided to step down and once more ‘Stoff (Chris Daughton – bass and vocals) and Richie (Barlow – vocals and guitar) were looking for a drummer. Enter Christopher Reed, backpacking around the world a year before but now fully committed to the challenges ahead. And fuck yes, the Tripper machine rolled back into position, engaged warp drive and picked up where they left off before Christmas. Sure, there were slight pauses as the guys worked out the timing, sure, Reed played it a little safer with his rolls and fills; this was his first gig with the band FFS! But with a front two that Witch Tripper possess, you don’t really need to rely on defence. Richie simply oozes everything you want in a frontman, stripped to the waist, his long hair shaking, his tattooed torso wowing both sexes whilst his smoking reverberating guitar work is insane.
Such is the work that Mansfield’s Witch Tripper have put into their career, it was no surprise to find that The Gryphon was much busier than the band’s debut show back in early 2019 for their return which was originally planned for August last year. A solid support card helped with partisan fans of Six Sins Till Sunday and Gévaudan swelling the numbers. Apologies to Statue Kings, I just didn’t make it across the bridge in time but a full room slowly emptying as I arrived suggested good things.
Six Sins Till Sunday (6) hail from Plymouth and have been plying their trade with various line-ups for some years, their Facebook biog suggesting as far back as 2012. The five-piece play a sludgy groove-soaked metal which features big riffs, bellowing vocals and enough variation to make each song interesting. Tracks from their 2019 release Masks were impressive, as was the taster from the forthcoming EP Unmasked, the memorable Road To Redemption which was being performed live for the first time. The band fed off the energy of their following in the room, warming up as their slot progressed, vocalist Chris Newman very much the focal point as he prowled the pit, his vocals slightly off key at times but his passion pulling him through. Whilst the limited space in the venue prevented Six Sins Till Sunday from really unleashing the fury physically, their brand of muscular, honest metal was roared on by the audience, and by the time they concluded their set with an obvious crowd favourite Allegory Of The Cave most of the room was converted. Six Sins Till Sunday are touring their EP throughout 2020 and are worth catching.
A total change of pace and style followed as Hertfordshire’s Gévaudan (8) brought their visceral Sabbath infused doom metal to the West Country and totally pulverised the venue. Rarely have I seen a band so intensely heavy or powerful. A 40-minute set delivered four massive pieces, each a behemoth of a track. Vocalist Adam Pirmohamed’s mournful vocals which range from gothic despair to almost roaring death metal mesmerised the crowd, and the segments of subtle yet powerful mellowness contrasted strongly with the brutal, down right spine crushing doom which threatened to buckle to floor of the upper room. Bruce Hamilton’s guitar work echoed the man in black; yes, there was enough flair to emulate an obvious idol in Tony Iommi, down to the style and choice of axe but Hamilton is far from a clone, with his frequent flamboyant shapes (including some neat behind the head riffing) and fabulous gurning not distracting from some intense guitar work. As ever, the key to massive doom is a massive rhythm section and bassist Andy Salt and drummer Dave Himbury delivered huge slabs of devastating power to keep the beast moving. Opening with Dawntreader, we were treated (and that is the correct word) to three other songs from 2019’s Iter; The Great Heathen Army, the shortest track of the set Maelstrom and the stunning 15-minute Duskwalker. By the time the band left the performance area (I think stage is a bit generous) they had rekindled old friendships and warmed those new to the band. It was quite something.
I think I saw Witch Tripper (8) seven times live last year. Each time they were fucking ace. The year in which drummer Gary Eric Evans sat on the drum stool was possibly the most successful for the band, 88 gigs across the country and a massively popular Sophie Lancaster stage performance at Bloodstock 2019 being just one highlight. Finishing the year on a slightly sour note, Evans decided to step down and once more ‘Stoff (Chris Daughton – bass and vocals) and Richie (Barlow – vocals and guitar) were looking for a drummer. Enter Christopher Reed, backpacking around the world a year before but now fully committed to the challenges ahead. And fuck yes, the Tripper machine rolled back into position, engaged warp drive and picked up where they left off before Christmas. Sure, there were slight pauses as the guys worked out the timing, sure, Reed played it a little safer with his rolls and fills; this was his first gig with the band FFS! But with a front two that Witch Tripper possess, you don’t really need to rely on defence. Richie simply oozes everything you want in a frontman, stripped to the waist, his long hair shaking, his tattooed torso wowing both sexes whilst his smoking reverberating guitar work is insane.
Alongside him, the ever reliable Stoff, whose rampaging bass lines shake the very foundations. Shaking off any rust spots, the band roared through an hour long set stuffed full of those songs we are now so familiar with, but which still get the heart pumping, the pulse racing and the head banging. White Lines, Shout, Attitude Adjustment, You Get What You Pay For and Roll The Dice … you know the score by now. Witch Tripper are up and running in 2020, and with the promise of a new album at some point, it might even top 2019. I’m in it for the long haul. Miss them at your peril. They truly are Fucking Ace!
NB: You can catch them in Cardiff on 12th February supporting Evil Scarecrow at The Globe. They will blow the crab lovers off the stage.
NB: You can catch them in Cardiff on 12th February supporting Evil Scarecrow at The Globe. They will blow the crab lovers off the stage.