Kain - 5th February 2010
Reviewed by Steve Norman
Hard rock has become a pretty generic term that's used for pretty much any non-indie guitar band that isn't quite classifiable within a specific sub-genre of heavy metal, and so in itself is not particularly descriptive any more, but I have to say that I'm struggling to think of a more fitting term to describe Kain; they really epitomise hard rock.
Their musical style has clearly evolved into a something almost exclusively of their own, with some obvious influences but little to compare with; kind of a heavy contemporary grunge, with a nod to Soundgarden and also a nod to Metallica, but there's always something else, and I think it's an undercurrent similar to Pantera's Ð not so much in the sound itself, but in capturing an almost sludgy garage-blues mid-West American essence.
And they are tight as hell, which you'd probably expect from four musicians of their collective backgrounds, but given it's still relatively early days in their current incarnation, is definitely impressive.
And when you're this tight, with the added benefit of a few drinks behind you, you get a confidence that just let's you focus on having a good time on stage, and refreshingly this was clearly Kain's objective tonight, and if they could bring the audience with them then all the betterÉ and that they did too.
Singer Ralph is a great front man; part-intimidating but mostly thoroughly likeable, he even carries his well-practised stage moves into his between song-banter, which, as someone once also guilty of doing the same, I thoroughly sanction as the mark of a great front man!
Drummer Alan's smile never left his face throughout the set, and for good reason Ð a clever pedal set up that extended the kits reach, combined with what was effectively a drumming master-class would bring a smile to any drummers' face - good to see a drummer is still that easy to please!
I'm looking forward to a studio release from Kain, because I noticed that whilst spending most of the gig looking like he was up to no good, guitarist Sid had some really interesting riffs up his sleeve that were subtly woven into the body of several songs, that might be easy for many to miss in the live environment. And bassist Julian just looked like there was nowhere he'd rather be, delivering a kind of back-of-the-stage authority that held the whole thing together.
Great band that I challenge anyone not to enjoy when they're in the kind of form they were tonight!