GOREROTTED Vs KNUCKLEDUST + CENTURIONS GHOST, LIGATURE & TAKE THE PAIN
LONDON UNDERWORLD 05/01/08
‘LIGATURE’ kick things off with the furious barrage that is ‘Click Click’ from their self released album ‘Attack of the Megaleanasaurus’. Singer Nick has his usual presence in the front row of the crowd walking round with a menacing determination encouraging people to get involved. Since these guys last played at this venue supporting Evile, there seems to be even more energy on show tonight. This can be seen by the increase in crowd numbers by the end of their set. A personal favourite ‘What’s In The Basket’ is up next. Their Death/Thrash/Grindcore approach is most refreshing. Not many bands can pull off a mixture of music styles and these guys do so with professional ease. ‘One Man War’, ‘32 Stabs’ and ‘M.D.K’ follow on with relentless disregard for the eardrums, perfect! We wait with baited breath for their next live outing and more record label interest. (PM)
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the second band to take to the stage is Ligature, the pace taken by this band is a little different in comparison to the last act. Obviously the first being Death and the next now being hardcore. Ligature are like a whirlwind as they spin the crowd into a frenzy, and they manage to do it well. With the sound now allot clearer the bands are no longer fighting to be heard, but with this band consisting of four vocalists who also manage to do the other duties just as well. Although a short set from these guy's, you can't help but feel they have that element of Hatebreed about them although not the early stuff. With the vibe of Hatebreed running through them, they manage to stir things up with the crowd, and end up provoking a pit in the venue with high kicks, and a bit of body slamming the crowd lap it up as did we.
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SUSPERIA, EVILE, DEMAGOGUE AND LIGATURE
LONDON UNDERWORLD 07/05/07
a name from the past Ligature who have just got back in action with a new singer Nick and were angrier than ever. The vocalist refused top be trapped on the stage and prowled the dance-floor giving a hardcore intensity to both the music and presence of the band. Although Ligature retain their old thrash sensibilities there is now an essence of death, grind and at times even hints of punk and doom about them. I was a bit reminded of the likes of Stampin' Ground in a brawl with Napalm Death on numbers like ‘What’s In The Basket?’(actually I dread to think). Others like ‘One Man War’ almost stomped the heads and cracked the ribs of those unsuspecting souls filtering into the venue. As for closer of this short sharp shocking set MDK the letters stand for Murder Death Kill in case you were in any doubt
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Album Review
One could be forgiven that this North London crew had disappeared in a puff of bong smoke. Having got a good reputation with some early demos and shared stages with the likes of Exodus, Gorerotted, Akercocke &, Eyehategod this debut album should have been out years ago and perhaps the band could have been getting the sort of well deserved attention that bruvers in blud ‘Ted Maul’ are garnering at the moment. Despite all the problems with line-up changes and having to pretty much start any attempts for world domination from scratch again, this album stomps like the amusing bastardized Toho monster adorning the cover. I like the ‘welcome to bat country’ billboard on this striking cartoon artwork as well, let’s hit the ether and enter this dangerous domain shall we?
As ‘What’s In The Basket’ gallops in with gang shouts and a pace akin to Ministry from the instrumentation it is evident that this is not going to be slow in the slightest. Newest singer Nick has stamped the band with a good aggressive style bordering on death, hardcore and grind sensibilities the likes of which the music comfortably straddles alongside. This opener was one I thought had missed the opportunity of some perfect samples from ‘Basket Case’ but looking at the lyrics it appears to be about heads rolling off the guillotine into wicker containment.
I guess that an easy thing to do would be to compare this lot to Napalm Death which is no bad thing. This is emphasised by the high squawking backing vocals of drummer Steve Temple littering numbers such as ‘Duck And Cover.’ Also there is a fair bit of Slayer worship going on the riff intro of ‘Mad Box’ a song destined to get thrashing and stage-diving action in the pit. Well for those not mashed by its druggy message.
In fact there seems to be an awful lot of fighting and drug taking going on in the lyrics and this is an album that thematically strikes as one that has perhaps gone postal. M.D.K. that’s Murder Death Kill for example solidly puts the boot in and romps away like the bastard old bill are hot on its heels. Playing tribute to another no doubt long forgotten North London band Hatred there is a cover of ‘Lair’ wrapping this up complete with original singer big bad Dom on vocals. In a word safe! Hope this album gets more attention than a tourettes sufferer in a church service, it deserves it.
Ligature is a metal band from London with a mix of Death, Thrash and Hardcore. The band was originally formed by Mark Blennerhassett, vocals, in 1996. Martin Machin, guitars, got in touch with Mark the same year and Steve Temple, drums, followed along with his brother Alan Temple, guitars, in mid 1997. Laurent Lecoq, bass, completed the line up in late 1997.
In April 2002, Martin decided to call it a day and parted with Ligature to create his solo project Moratorium and has now formed a new outfit, Nyx. He was then replaced by Andy Galloway. Andy left the band at the end of 2003 to join Reign of Erebus. But Ligature didn't have to wait long to get a new axeman... In came Dan Beaufort (Mortal Torment, Kachana, ex 7th Child), long time friend of the band.
In summer 05, as the band's recording of their debut album started to take shape, Mark was forced to take a break from the band for personal reasons. Although this was a major blow for Ligature, luck was still on their side. A few minutes into his audition, Nicholas Hidayat's vocal ability and creativity made him the logical choice - but it was the immediate bond with the band that confirmed he was the one to become Ligature's new front man. Nick was previously in fellow London based band Locus.
So after many months (or should we say years!!) of absence, Ligature have finally completed their debut album due out mid 2007. Dave Chang (Gorerotted, Test Switch Isolator, Isor, Area54 and Earthtone9) has been called back at the helm and the results has brought a silly grin on the faces of everyone who's heard the final outcome. 10 years for a debut album mebbe a long time but wait till you hear it, you'll be singing along quicktime
Sweet tunes lads - very impressed! Be great to have you up here to play and if you wanna submit a track for THRASHTOWN volume2 that would be awesome as well!
