Red Fang / Torche / God Damn

Beards and riffs. Riffs and Beards. The stoner metal band from Portland have been about for eleven years and visit us here in the UK every so often to sell out crowds. Having many funny videos, reminiscent of how the Foo Fighters used to do (with less decapitations admittedly) it’s almost a shame to lose this in the live setting, but the raw power of the riffs more than makes up for it. Imagine Melvins and Tad in playful mood…

God damn we miss God Damn! Gutted but they are on early, 15 minutes after doors. The duo would have been an awesome sight to hear. We arrive for part of Torche’s set, masters of beautiful low fuzz chug. The sound pulls my ears down from the inside, and my head follows to create a neat head bang. Great stuff.

Red Fang are setting up their own kit. Total adoration from the start for this. I’ll be the first to admit I can’t name all their songs, the riffs just engulf you and that’s it, gone you are. The band are completely driven by their instruments, Aaron Beam chugs on that bass whilst delivering spot on vocals and Bryan Giles’ deep delayed vocals take over the room. David Sullivan’s guitar sounds like sweet velvet fuzz and drummer John Sherman wraps it all up together nicely and has tight cymbal chokes! Gotta love a finely executed set of cymbal chokes.

The band have a new album out;  ‘Only Ghosts’ produced by Ross Robinson (Korn, Glassjaw, Slipknot). We are treated to some newbies from the atmospheric and movie soundtrack worthy record like ‘Cut It Short’, the desperate ‘No Air’ and ‘The Smell Of The Sound’. First track ‘Flies’ is a great tune that mixes the gruff angst of Bryan and Aaron’s vocals over the riffs. It’s a more tormented sounding album that’s for sure. The sea of head bangs are choreographed more than Flatleys leg gang, but it’s a totally natural movement forced by the heavy metal, which happens to also look awesome.