Combine the unmissable industrial metal band Health with one of France's most interesting bands of the genre, Horskh, and you've got an evening not to be missed. L'Autre Canal in Nancy had the bright idea of bringing the two projects together, much to our delight. The former is defending his latest album Rat Wars (review), released at the end of last year. As for Horskh, they were on hand this evening to present their third studio album, BODY (review), released in January.
HORSKH
Having opened for a number of big bands, the Besançon-based industrial metal outfit are back in a more intimate setting. But whatever the size of the venue, Horskh still have the same energy to deliver a show of incredible violence and power, helped tonight by a very clean sound that lets you appreciate the full breadth of the tracks on the most electro parts. The bass tones grab you by the guts, and you can feel all the aggression on the drums, while Bastien's furious vocals keep you at his mercy throughout the set, which goes by at breakneck speed. A special mention must go to the part where the three musicians start banging together on their percussion; it was just too classy.
With a revamped setlist featuring the most recent tracks while incorporating the classics - it's a bit sad to no longer have Strayed Away after all - the trio deliver a show whose energy rises to a crescendo, gradually unleashing the energy of a crowd who were initially a bit shy but who soon went on to do a whole series of pogos and even joined in a wall of death at the end of the concert! We came out exhausted, drenched in sweat and probably with a few bruises, but it was so good!
"I didn't know them before, but if they come back, I'll definitely go and see them again" is what we hear during the interval; Horskh continues to attract new fans, and it's well deserved.
Setlist :
Turbine ON
Tension
Do It
Cut the Knot
Victim
Damaged Ropes
Mud in My Wheels
Body Building
Engaged and Confused
Interface
Trying More
XLUNGX
HEALTH
It's impossible to miss the Health phenomenon, so omnipresent is the Californian band in our playlists, with one collaboration after another and even making their way into the soundtracks of our video games. Kicking off their set with the theme from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, the trio titillate the geeky side of a much more compact audience that reacts instantly. Much more static on stage than their compatriots Horskh, the musicians create a heavy, cold atmosphere that contrasts with the ferocity of the songs they deliver.
Contrast has long been the hallmark of Health, whose singer Jake Duzsik's apparent nonchalance contrasts with the madness of bassist John Famiglietti, who takes to the stage tonight wearing cat ears. The band play one track after another, drawing on their entire repertoire to deliver a generous show that alternates between moments of relative contemplation and outbursts of fury under strobe lighting. In the pit, it's a brawl and the crowd take advantage of the few lulls between songs to express their love: "we love you", "omelette du fromage" or "Elden Riiiing" can be heard here and there; words to which the singer simply replies "I don't fucking know what it means"! Nonchalance, we tell you!
Setlist :
IDENTITY
GOD BOTHERER
CRACK METAL
MEN TODAY
HATEFUL
ZOOTHORNS
PSYCHONAUT
STONEFIST
NEW COKE
FUTURE OF HELL
DEMIGODS
MAJOR CRIMES
BODY / PRISON
THE MESSAGE
BE QUIET AND DRIVE
ASHAMED
WE ARE WATER
FEEL NOTHING
DSM‐V
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank Marie D'emm for taking the photos for this report, which wasn't originally planned. If you like her work, take a look at the new media website https://www.myrockrevolution.com where you'll find lots of photos, interviews and live reports..
