Things got a little louder than usual not to mention darker at the Slice, May 13, with three dark, dirty, detuned bands performing to surprisingly a good sized Wednesday night audience.
South
ern Ontario sludge rock band Biipiigwan opened the set with a brutally heavy, abrasive, detuned heavily Black Sabbath set of what sounded like a mix of post grunge and death metal music.
The two guitarists took turn howling and screaming vocals as the stage shook with the sounds of sludgy, deathly bass and thunderous drums.
They were loud and considering how loud the Slice usually is, that’s saying something. I could see some pretty cook guitar riffs happening, but couldn't really hear any of them due to layers of distortion.
I couldn’t understand any of the lyrics at all.
I didn’t think it was possible but the volume increased with Winnipeg alternative rock trio Dead Ranch, who had a huge alternative ’90s sound along the lines of the Jesus Lizard, the Melvins and Godflesh.
They also had a massively punishing guitar and bass sound, atonal riffs and lots of distortion.
They ended their set with something that sounded like “ Bow Before Your Master.”
The Supervoid aka guitarist/ vocalist Jon Vornbrock, big, tall bassist Little John and drummer Dean Wilson finished the night by playing what sounded like a lot of new music.
They still have a strong ’90s sound and a lot of Smashing Pumpkins influence but have branched out a little adding a touch of Tool. They definitely were the more mainstream rock sound than the other two bands.
I left after a highlight with a really catchy bass hook on a song I think was called “Right Now.”
