Karn8 + The Carter Affair + Chaser + Stonewall Jackson - Messclean, Portsmouth. 23/09/05

Looks like this is one of the first gigs that Stonewall Jackson have performed and they are another band that have to move out of that big Oasis shadow that so many bands like to sit in. Yeah, it's OK and the singer has plenty of confidence but the music just plods along at foot tapping pace and goes nowhere exciting apart from the odd time when they get a bit heavier but once again an indie band that lacks excitement.

Luckily Chaser are on hand to stir it up with their alt prog noodlings by way of Dinosaur Jnr noise fests and fucked up timings. Just once in a while you see a band and you think yeah, they hit the mark and then you catch them again and they blow you away which is exactly what Chaser do tonight as the jarring guitars create intense grooves that are mown down by earthy beats and walls of noise before hitting that groove again. Chaser are really starting to evolve into something big and powerful, go look at their web page and discover them though really you need to see them in the flesh so they can do the ultimate damage to your ears as they need to be loud, let them make your ears bleed, feel the pleasure as complete noise groove takes over but just watch out for the gardening implements.

The Carter Affair are the perfect follow up to Chaser in that they to delight in guitar noise; slightly less proggy in approach they build the sound in waves with additional keyboard adding some throbbing sonics to the sound. TCA have an underbelly of noise coupled with a surface of melodic beauty and despite some technical hitches the sound is quite impressive. For the final sound they bring on a Poet who talks over increasing waves of feedback and noise as the band freak out which makes for an impressive and memorable finale.

The night then takes a darker turn as Karn8 take to the stage, it's still noise but we are moving in a more electro metal direction for those that like to wear black and damn sexy it is too. Karn8 create a powerful sound, thumping beats not too far from Queen Adreena but with added steel and instead of the mad Katie Jane look we have the ice cool Kirst who gyrates around and would probably be just as happy taking a whip to us all rather than enertain us. With an impressive EP release under their belts it can only be a matter of time before more people take notice of this fine band and on a bigger stage with decent sound they are going to sound mightily big where they are just going to create one big orgy of sweaty blackleather clad sex things. Get on over to that website and pray at the feet of Karn8, I'm sure they would love you to lick their boots.