REVIEW: ORIGIN + PSYCHOTROPIC AT THE CROFT, BRISTOL (21/02/12)
Whilst Austrailian tech metallers Psycroptic are no strangers to opening a gig in support of the death metal omicron that is Origin, tonight it appears that they still have something to prove. Hot on the heels of their fifth studio release, Psycroptic thrash their way through neat and tidy riffs with a sound that’s too crisp to deliver them much impact. The characterless, monotone barks which sit atop their thrash attack pump just enough energy into their performance to maintain a standard of mere adequacy. But it’s their meat and potatoes approach to song writing that leaves so little to be remembered from their underwhelming set; concluding Psycroptic to be in no danger whatsoever of eclipsing the headlining act on this tour.
The sense of excitement within The Croft creeps up a notch when Origin take to the stage; and their brutal delivery of super-human speed death metal ensures both the crowd and band are drenched in sweat after one song. The technical ability that Origin display tonight is nothing short of astounding. Blink and you’ll miss the guitarists effortless sweep picking, or an eye watering blast beat from their powerhouse drummer – whose wrist control would put most 15 year old boys to shame! Passionate and unrelenting, the Kansas death metal stalwarts deliver an hour long lesson in obscure time signatures; occasionally tossing the crowd a groovy bone to ensure that every head in the room remains banging in wonderment.
Words and photo: Serena Cherry
