Tempered Elf / Skeletal Embrace
Week 10 - 21th April 2005
By Sharkey

And now for something completely different, a Battle of the Bands review. Yes back again full of caffeine and a near fatal toffee crisp overdose, I bring you this weeks review!

Tempered Elf - Kicking off with a recorded song that sounded strangely oriental, The TA launch into their set. The line-up includes two guitarists, bassist and drummer, all sporting the typical rock clothing; bandana’s, leather slacks and denim galore. Fitted their music brilliantly. The first song they performed to us was one of their originals which to me sounded slightly like “November Rain” but with a few modified chords. Some good stage attitude as he played his bass out in front of the small group of head bangers that had appeared, showing off his wireless bass nicely.

The originals that the band played fitted well together and especially fitted with their movement and general image. Including the well designed banner hanging from at the back of the stage.

Some good “Slash” inspired guitar solo from the lead guitarist, not too flashy and not too rubbish. A perfect solo. The whole band had some good moments of showmanship by lining up together when they were playing the main riffs from their original songs. They did this several times throughout their set. The singer tries to encourage more head bangers and moshers up to the stage by stating “You could use the exercise!”, an insult or a studied fact about our countries obesity problem?

For their third number they played an odd, almost folk inspired, rock song. The strange riff they played in it was fairly bouncy but it soon moved into the standard rock form by the end of the song.

Another of their originals which got my attention was “Still Effect Me”. A stomping hard hitting rock anthem which had everything a metal lover could need. And indeed the few metallica and pantera fans which gathered in front were rocking out at full intensity.

A good local rock band who represent most forms of rock between the late 70’s and early 90’s.

There are pirates aboard! Simon’s rag tag of followers blessed the occasion by dressing up as the scurvy dogs of the sea. Although nobody would admit to being roger the cabin-boy.

Skeletal Embrace - Prepare for a death metal onslaught. This band was amazingly heavy. The very scream orientated death/demon metal band launched into a manic orgy of metal guitars and insane drumming (courtesy of the enormous drum kit).

The singer (who some remarked as looking slightly elvish) did some of the most evil screaming I have ever heard and encouraged the growing crowd of moshers. His style was totally different to what I thought he would be performing. Dark guttural screams echoes out of him to the huge and metal sound coming from the band.

There were some brilliant moments of guitar playing from both guitarists but I feel it was lost somewhat under the heavy and frantic drumming. The style somewhat relative to Dimmu Borgir and Killswitch Engage. Lots of drops and low riffs with insane playing ability and great attention to detail.

The originals were brilliantly constructed providing some great riffs and heaviness to please all black metal fans. They had a good onstage attitude and dark metal attitude, everybody in the band putting all their energy into movement.

Everything was brilliantly played, especially the cover of “Trooper” they did by Iron Maiden, attracting a mass of moshers and manic head bangers. The singer giving lots of attention to the fans that came to them.

This is one band that has to be seen to be believed, not many people are into this style, but those that are, were loving it.

Well I’m off to feed to kettle and boil a cup of cat, see you next week for 30,000 feet and Blag.

Jo writes:

Oh, it was a triumph for the musicians among us tonight. Such melodies, such hooks, such arm-bitingly good drumming. But let us step back, and reflect on the more material things, for now; Tempered Elf, with an abundance of leather and flowing locks, sartorially suit me down to the ground. The prettyful red lighting and ghostly intro built the atmosphere and quite literally set the stage for a kick ass rock band’s performance. Now I have played gigs alongside the Elf before – in their previous line-up, if memory serves – and the thing that struck me is what nice chaps they are. Just the kind of person you’d expect to go to the pub after work, have a laugh, jokingly sign up for the jam and then leave everyone gaping with a 6-minute hyperfast solo. Not that the set was confined to this: at times the choppy punk sound was reminiscent of the Dead Kennedys, and the enthusiastic headbanging of singer and fans echoed this. Experience – as TE have been around for what to me seems ages – certainly pays off on a stage. If I had one moan, it would be that there’s really not enough cutting edge around here: classic rock bands are more than welcome in BOTB and indeed Yarmouth in general, and there’s certainly a market for it. But I’m young! I’m racy! And I like innovation and new sounds! **strums air-harp**… But there can be no denying the sheer musical talent on display here.

They’re quite fit, don’t you think? – Kayleigh sweetheart, they’re twice your age

And on to the sheer majesty of Skeletal Embrace… well, what can I say, except for “finally, a bit of METAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLL!” Actually, my experience of this particular brand of noise is pretty limited, but even I know a corker when I see one. Maybe SE got the address wrong – this is the sort of thing you usually only find in Norway, not Norfolk. The drumkit alone was enough to make me trip over my own jaw: a humunguous double-bass beast that probably needs its own stylist and personal assistant (and that’s not even to mention how awesomely it was played). The riffage was second to none and the li’l goblin frontman was a whole entertainment package in himself, writhing and caterwauling like a cat possessed. Fantastic stuff. My faith in true talent: reaffirmed. Whether the minority genre of thrash metal has any personal sway with the judges: well who knows?

PS. Note to Sharkey: If that bloody woman has given me rabies I’ll sue…

Majere writes:

Having been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of escorting the official BOTB camera to the gig, I lurk furtively whilst simultaneously hoping my underdressed sibling does not succumb to hypothermia. With entry gained without a mugging or thermally-induced illness, it's time to consider the menu for tonight's BOTB, a rich dollop of Skeletal Embrace with a hefty plateful of...

Tempered Elf have been doing this for a while, and make it pretty clear by emerging from behind the BOTB curtain with their set all ready to fly. First impressions are that here is a band who are doing it old-school, complete with various forms of bandana and a bespectacled giant of a bassist who dominates center stage. Although later, in close-up he will prove to be just a pretty big bloke, right now it seems that if his first name is Ben, his second is Nevis- indeed the gradually-growing lineup of moshers would be in deep trouble if he should lose his balance! A slight side-effect of both this impressive individual and the statuesque drumkit is that the drummer himself remains largely invisible for most of the set, but he makes his presence more than felt with a solid barrage of beats, which coupled with the meaty bass provides a firm foundation for Tempered Elf to build their set on.

And build it they do, as right from set opener "Real Things" the set clicks beautifully, with strong vocals, air-guitar moments galore and Maiden-esque "3 Musketeers" guitarist posing. This is not a performance that can be faulted technically- if Tempered Elf are not the most skilled band so far in the BOTB, they're close to it. Likewise, the band's professionalism is in no doubt- the merchandising operation is in full swing, the sound well balanced and the set tighter than a Land Rover in a disabled parking space. Indeed, if there is any fault to find, it perhaps lies in just how well practised the whole thing feels. There's no chance, even for a second, that someone is going to fall over, knock a mic-stand flying or demolish a drumkit.

When each riff starts, you know it's going to be played just so, and that it'll be played just so the next time too, and it's possibly this very slight feel of 'another day in the office' that contributes to a crowd that is more modest than a band of Tempered Elf's calibre might expect to attract. But that is not to say that this is a performance that lacks energy or enthusiasm- the band stalk the stage with confidence and interact well, even gleefully, with the crowd, and when they ask everyone to clap along the response comes from throughout the hall, not just the front row. If the set has lacked a single defining killer moment, it finds it in spades with closer "Reaper's Tale", which is marked by ear-catching riffs and a classic piece of guitar-chasing which both band and audience seem to like so much that for a moment it seems it may never end. But end it does, and Tempered Elf leave the stage to warm applause.

Whilst this may not have been the very most original or dynamic performance so far, in terms of sheer quality it is a triumph.

Majere thinks Tempered Elf should cover: "Revelations" (Iron Maiden)

In a continuation of a previous saga, once again it's 'hunt the hat' time. Fortunately the hat-thief discovers that the wearing of two stolen hats at the same time is the proverbial bridge too far, and retrieval is effected. The owner of the other hat is not so lucky, and will be seen later still in hot pursuit of the filcher of cranial furniture. Nonetheless, it's time for the second act of the evening, Skeletal Embrace, and things are about to get nasty...

SKELETAL EMBRACE - Taking to the stage amidst windmilling hair, a bombastic drum bombardment and the sound of a man being slowly grilled in the fires of purgation, Skeletal Embrace are another outfit who have clearly not come to the BOTB simply because there was nothing good on the telly. Opener "Talons In Deism" is delivered with enough venom to kill both a passing bull elephant and anything that touches it for a week, and soon the front row is flailing about in response as the frontman moves up and down the line. Indeed, the whole band will spend much of the set goading, cajoling and gesticulating to the crowd, creating a small but intense front row which soon seems to start operating a rota system, such is the intensity.

The next track, "Within its Hooks and Scales", rattles past with barely a pause for breath before the avalance intro of "Oracles.." brings out the first hint of melody in the death-rattle vocals, which begin to take on aspects of Skyclad's Martin Walkier in that band's early thrash days. Often death and thrash metal in smaller venues have a tendancy to turn into a bit of a sludge, but Skeletal Embrace see that particular pitfall and swing nimbly over it with riffs that emerge from the chaos like some melodious butterfly, though some are similarly short-lived. By now it is clear that the vocalist is a master of expressing himself by means of his free hand- if there is International Sign Language for "I am going to disembowel you and feed you to your dog", then this man knows it, and has probably used it.

As the mid-point of the set arrives, a critical moment is reached as the band announce their intention to cover "The Trooper". Will they muff it up? Will angry Maiden fans storm the stage to carry off the heretics and boil them in Newcastle Brown? I should cocoa, sir! Skeletal Embrace don't so much cover the track as bury it, replacing the Dickinson air-raid siren with their own malignant scream, yet playing the track itself straight down the line and practically riff-perfect. In an interesting twist, the vocalist deals with the "ooaaooaaooaaooaaooh" at the end of each verse by just letting the audience have a go, leaving the intriguing question of how he would have tackled it for another time..

With this triumphant moment over, the rest of the set continues to impress, batter and bludgeon the crowd. "The Silhouette of Her Wings" sees an audience member briefly gain the stage only to plummet off in an untidy yet happy and unharmed heap, and set-closer "Crown of Pallid Shadows" is marked by truly titanic riffage that brings many of the lurkers to the fore and rounds things off in fine style. Towards the end of the set, the band also find time to thank departing bassist Gav. His replacement, Nat, will have a hard act to follow.

Majere thinks Skeletal Embrace should cover: "We will Rise" (Arch Enemy)

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