Windhand
Support: Satan’s Satyrs, Pale Mare, White Swan
Date: Friday May 19th, 2017
Venue: the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, Ontario
T-shirt Worn: the Body “Peak of Emptiness”
We got to the venue just as White Swan was starting up their last song. What little I heard wasn’t entirely bad. The bass was REALLY high in the mix but it was a different change that was nice and different to hear.
The next band Pale Mare was basically High on Fire, right down to the guitarist not wearing a shirt. They weren’t bad either. Very aggressive, high-octane, riff-orientated metal. The only complaint I have is their guitar needed a more beefy tone. I think their drummer might have been from one of my favourite local bands “Klarg”.
Watching Satan’s Satyrs set up I thought I was going to hate them. I thought the occult, 1970’s throwback rock sound died in 2014. But while these guys looked the part they actually weren’t terrible at all. I’ll even go as far to say that I enjoyed them. Their singer was quite the good-looking man and a great frontman.
Windhand were one of the best bands I saw live in 2015 so I didn’t have to think twice about seeing them live again. Sadly their bass player either couldn’t make it over the boarder or isn’t doing this tour with them. So their one guitarist was playing bass and their sound did suffer a little. It wasn’t quite as crushing as a couple of years ago. And there wasn’t as much chaotic feedback. I did make mention the first time I saw them live that I could barely make out the vocals or the guitar solos and the lack of one guitar meant that I was able to make out both a lot better tonight. But I wanted that thick, punishing sound more. So that was a disappointment. The bass had some nice distortion on it and the guitar tone was still so awesome thought that when they locked into a riff it was still fantastic. The opening of Orchard and Woodbine was especially awesome. They’re a great live band and if you’re into doom/stoner metal I strongly encourage you go see them.
Windhand
1. Orchard
2. Woodbine
3. Forest Clouds
4. Amaranth
5. Kingfisher
6. Cassock
7. Winter Sun
Windhand
Satan's Satyrs
Pale Mare
Do you like old people porn? Because I just put enough to fill an old folks home in the wrestling section!