Nile + Kreator + Vader + Amon Amarth + Goatwhore

Due to the not-so-regrettable shuttering of the WWE theme restaurant (and its attendant concert venue) in nearby Times Square earlier this year, the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on New York’s 42nd Street has, of late, become the site of an inordinately large number of heavy metal concerts. You heard right, and whilst the concept of adrenalized metal-heads moshing out of control within the swanky, underground environs of a trendy blues club might elicit shudders among prospective patrons, let us be the first to assure you that we didn’t break anything. Not this time out anyway, but we’ll be back! Just kidding folks, and without further ado, let me tell you about the New York City stop of the “Art of Noise II” tour, featuring American death metal titans Nile and German thrash kings Kreator supported by Vader, Amon Amarth and Goatwhore. The only problem with a self-respectable venue like B.B. King’s is that Southern black metal purists Goatwhore hit the stage much too punctually (ok, some problem), so I missed their entire, sub-half-an-hour set. Oh well, maybe next time guys, and no time to fret anyway, as the five Vikings that constitute Sweden’s Amon Amarth were even then invading the stage. Once you figure out what their name actually means (Elven-speak for mount doom in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings), there are really no better words to describe the band’s fantasy-fueled death metal. As was to be expected, axes were wielded and drums were pounded to marshal the troops, as frontman Johan Hegg led his legions onto the battle plain, his beard and blonde locks flowing in his wake. Oh yeah, pure sonic mayhem also ensued, with the quintet’s now trademark ultra-fast picking of single string melody-riffs against matching power chords culminating in the monstrous highlight “Masters of War”. Four albums into their career, it’s safe to say that Amon Amarth have never quite excelled at any particular style, but have instead combined key attributes of death, black and power metal more seamlessly than most. Now, if only their album covers weren’t so hard to tell apart. Next up were Poland’s legendary Vader, one of the first heavy metal bands to emerge from behind the iron curtain, having gotten their start as far back as 1986. With that in mind, one can better understand the band’s somewhat retro-feel, not to mention forgive the slow start to their performance tonight. But the quartet fronted by easygoing vocalist/guitarist Peter (who made it a point to speak a little Polish to any countrymen who might be present) eventually shrugged off any lingering rust in order to power through a short, but ultimately strong set that achieved a two-pronged climax with first album crowd pleaser “Vicious Circle” and the awe-inspiring dynamic swings of “Carnal”. One thing Vader have never tried to dismiss is their large debt to Slayer, and this show was no exception, coming packed with speedy riffs, shrill lead runs, and a fittingly note-perfect, show-ending rendition of “Reign in Blood”. Following yet another outrageously quick equipment turnaround on stage, the smokers were sprinting back into the club for the start of Kreator’s highly anticipated set. Though officially touring in support of their first ever DVD release, the kings of Teutonic thrash really have their most recent album, 2001’s career-revitalizing Violent Revolution, to thank for such an enthusiastic response tonight — especially considering they’d performed at Brooklyn’s L’Amour only last year. Emphatically shutting the door on a decade’s worth of unfocused experiments in the alt-metal wilderness (though maybe just as well, considering the state of metal in the ’90s), said LP was heavily represented tonight, with both its title track and maniacal thrasher “Reconquering the Throne” clearing the way for a slew of ancient classics. “Extreme Aggression”, “Pleasure to Kill”, “Terrible Certainty”, and even first album standby “Flag of Hate” were all dusted off for a truly old-school, ’80s-styled thrash metal show, complete with bountiful dry ice, raging moshpits, frenetic double-kick-drums and harmonious twin guitar leads. Needless to say, Kreator have been around long enough to influence everyone else on this bill, and it was ultimately band co-founders, drumming colossus Ventor and vocalist/guitarist Mille Petrozza (occasionally shrieking a tad much like Accept’s Udo Dirkschneider, it must be said), who left the faithful spontaneously chanting “KRE-A-TOR!” And so, with bombastic, symphonic fanfares ringing in our ears, an appropriately grandiose tone was set for the evening’s headliners, Nile, to stake their claim at last. Ain’t it funny that, even in this virtual European Union of bands, the America delegation would still have the final word? For those of you still unfamiliar with the Nile phenomenon: since getting their start in the late ’90s, these South Carolina natives have gradually shouldered the mantle of America’s preeminent death metal act. With their four volumes of virulent death metal mayhem also doubling as dauntingly complex studies in Egyptology (best exemplified by their most recent In their Darkened Shrines), many observers agree that Nile poses the greatest challenge to European supremacy in the extreme metal arena. But despite their improving fortunes, the members of Nile still conducted their own soundcheck before launching into a dependably proficient performance — one whose unbridled ferocity quickly dashed any misguided accusations that they’ve built an entire career upon milking Iron Maiden’s Powerslave (as well as the odd Candlemass riff). Fighting their way through both frequent technical difficulties and a tired, worn out crowd, Nile roared undeterred through forceful numbers like “Kheftiu Asar Butchiu”, “The Blessed Dead” and a positively massive “Unas Slayer of the Gods”. Surrender is clearly not an option for these road warriors, who, with their vocalist-by-commission, triple-threat valiantly attempted to rouse the faithful from their stupor. As the crushing weight of “Black Seeds of Vengeance” finally punctuated the evening, it was clear that Nile had notched a hard-fought win over adversity — a fitting conclusion to a multi-cultural heavy metal event.