Terminal Cheesecake- Cheese Brain Fondue: Live From Marseille


a0552541456_10

Formed in 1988, England’s Terminal Cheesecake were a much underrated entity, at least it would seem from their relatively unknown status during their years of inactivity and from the quiet nature of their return in 2013. Their sound was a dissonant combination of psychedelic and almost stoner rock with dub and electronica elements which together are both hypnotic and catchy. Now with a new vocalist in Neil Francis in tow, the first release of the reunited rabble sees the light of day.

Perhaps in a calculated move to showcase both their previous catalogue and their live prowess to a whole new audience, TC Mk II begins with a live album which shows the band in the live arena but with some subtleties. On Cheese Brain Fondue: Live In Marseille (Artificial Head) audience interaction is kept to a minimum, and the crowd themselves are very low in the mix bar the occasional signs of applause. Instead, this feels more like a raw best of, or even a live studio recording, and it does the job with aplomb.

Opening with the gradually building, intro tape like ‘Fake Loop’ with its easing, eerie atmosphere, it builds up anticipation before the more primal live recording of ‘Bladdersac’ explodes. Francis’ vocals shift between spitting venom and a lighter drawl as musically it also veers between the pacier and the drifting. The low, fuzzy tones of the guitars make for a mesmerising haze, as the basslines and drums prove crystal clear and formidable.

For all intents and purposes Terminal Cheesecake were a band that seem to fall under the radar for many, but as evidenced on this live effort were a band that had a dreamlike quality as well as the force and power of a steamroller all in one. In a landscape full of cash grabbing reunions this one may not make headlines, but as evidenced on here, should provide some magic.

 

7.0/10

CHRIS TIPPELL


Roadburn 2015 Announces Wovenhand, Russian Circles, 2nd Enslaved Set


Roadburn full line up Nov 12

Roadburn Festival have announced Wovenhand, Russian Circles, Wardruna and a second Enslaved performance amongst the latest additions to the 2015 edition.

Wovenhand will be headlining the 013 stage, and Russian Circles in the main hall on Thursday, April 9th, 2015. Guitarist Ivar Bjornson of Enslaved and Einar Selvil of Wardruna has been previously announced to curate the event on Friday, April 10th at the 013 venue.

Enslaved will be doing a second show at Roadburn 2015 on Saturday, April 11th. Already announcing the Enslaved/Wardruna collaborative effort Skuggsja, the sound of Norway’s Norse History, Enslaved will also perform a show dubbed House of Northern Gods, consisting of a set list specially put together for Houses of the Holistic, featuring songs from the band’s entire catalogue, accompanying visuals created by Romanian artist Costin Chioreanu.

Wardruna will be doing a special performance dubbed House of the Spinning Seer on Friday, April 10th as part of Houses of the Holistic.

Argus, Bell Witch, Darkher, Eagle Twin, Helms Alee, Sun Worship, Terminal Cheesecake, Tombstones, Brimstone and Uzala have also been confirmed for the 20th edition of Roadburn Festival.

Curated by Ivar Bjørnson (Enslaved) and Wardruna‘s Einar “Kvitrafn” Selvik, Roadburn Festival 2015 (including Fields of the Nephilim, Anathema, Skuggsjá, Enslaved, Wardruna, Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin performing Dawn of The Dead and Susperia in its entirety, Zombi, Sólstafir, White Hills, Bongipper, Floor, Eyehategod and The Heads as Artist In Residence among others) will run from Thursday, April 9 to Sunday, April 12 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

 

Bjornson commented:

“The Friday show during Roadburn 2015 will indeed be a special one. We have named the concert ‘House of Northern Gods’ and it will consist of a walk-through of an imaginary, magical house. It is a mental construction that could represent the mythological Valhalla with its inhabitants – or in Jung’s school of psychology: the archetypical roles of the human psyche. This will be the foundation for the set-list and the framework around the concert; there’s a stem of thematic songs from ‘Allfadr Odinn’ (the Paternal archetype) on ‘Hordanes Land’ in 1993 up to ‘Materal’ (the Maternal archetype) from 2012’s ‘RIITIIR’ where various characters/ roles in the ‘House of Northern Gods’ are represented and materialized into music. These are the songs that will make up the Friday show at Roadburn 2015!

“As if it wasn’t a big enough honour to play one show at Roadburn 2015, we get to play a second show Saturday! We are already hard at work with planning to turn these into the most spectacular two Enslaved shows possible, as we know that this double-Roadburn-whammy is not likely to happen again (we’ve heard of lightening striking twice, but thrice?). This second show will be one of the first European shows where we present our new album, that will be released something like a month prior to Roadburn 2015. We don’t like to brag; but be prepared for something monumental! We will also make use of the fact that Tilburg will be loaded to the brim with friends and colleagues at this point, so don’t be surprised if the show culminates in Enslaved having good friends on stage to make sure we go out with a blast! He who lives will see…

Selvik added:

“We are very excited as well as honored to be back to perform at Roadburn 2015 and so we plan to use this occasion to give the audience a concert out of the ordinary. It will be a Wardruna concert in an all-new form. With almost twice the amount of musicians that we normally have on stage our sonic threads of old and new shall be majestically spun and our soundscape carefully woven on the loom of the spinning seer.

Roadburn Festival on Facebook
Roadburn Festival on Twitter

Enslaved RoadburnWovenhand RoadburnRussian Circles Roadburn