LUDICRA
GIANT SQUID
BLACK ELK
GRAYCEON
The Bottom of the Hill
March 10, 2007

Grayceon only got thirty minutes, which meant they could only play three songs. But the band’s set was still an impressive feat of classical doom metal riffage. They opened with the song that also opens their recent self-titled album, “Sounds Like Thunder.” It was the perfect way to set the mood, with its dark cello and guitar harmonies and thumping drums. The rest of the set was from the album, as well, and further proved that the band’s baroque post metal is a dish best served live. After the elaborate arrangement and complex harmonies of the opener, the relatively short “Song for You” delivered punchier rhythms and shouted vocals, a good contrast to the preceding and succeeding numbers, both of which featured the subdued, hypnotic vocal style that is more common in Grayceon’s music. They closed with the epic “Ride,” a tune that meanders through sonic territory that is at times soothing while full of sinister undertones, and at others times just plain old tough as hell.

The two supporting acts, Portland’s Black Elk and Sacramento’s Giant Squid, also had artier passages balancing the intensity of their hardcore- and metal-inspired rock. Black Elk’s singer reminded me of Henry Rollins while he was in Black Flag or vintage Jello Biafra, and the tunes were what Snapcase would play if Quicksand-era Walter Schreiffels did their songwriting. Giant Squid’s proggy take on stoney doom metal was an interesting accompaniment to the singer’s Serj Tankian-like vocals. Giant Squid also features Grayceon cellist/vocalist Jackie Perez Gratz (the two are “sister bands”), because there’s always room for cello.

Ludicra played last and absolutely destroyed everything. Lead singer Laurie Shanaman is so possessed with the demons of black metal that when she’s onstage she is easily one of the most intense performers in the Bay Area. Guitarist/backup vocalist Christy Cather also does a pretty evil black metal scream. The band transcends any easy metal classification, though: their ominous psychedelic passages are in every way as dark and powerful as the almighty shredding that dominates most of their songs, and everything they play is full of haunting melodies. Even if you don’t like black metal screeching, you have to appreciate Shanaman’s vocals, which approach Mike Patton-esque levels of technical proficiency and experimentation. The band was visibly exhausted at the end of their set, but they still obliged their fans’ calls for one more, driving the last nail in the evening’s metal coffin.

[Mike G.]

[STREAM] Ludicra: "One-Thousand Wolves"

[STREAM] Grayceon: "Song For You"