It’s a fact that the British Metal scene is not as strong- let alone doesn’t lead the evolutions- as used to be. However the few good remaining bands (Napalm Death, Anathema, and now My Dying Bride) visit Greece lately to show that even with problems the British Metal sparkle still burns.

To be honest I didn’t like very much the latest M.D.B releases, but with the recent “The Dreadful Hours” the kings of Atmospheric Death Metal returned to their throne. Rodon club was satisfactory full yet not sold out. The concert begun at 8:40 under the loud cheers of the hungry audience. Aaron appeared dressed in a sci-fi motorcycle costume (or something like that) ! After a while came Symphonaire Infernus where the crowd paralysed.

The band was playing vividly and tight despite the recent member changes. Andrew (how can he preserve his hair?) seemed to enjoy it, casting lethal solos assisted by Hamish Glencross and Ade Jackson, who were the cornerstones of the M.D.B sonic attack. I was bit afraid of the drummer Shaun Steels who replaced the impressive Rick Miah, but he played pretty well. A small surprise was the young lady on keyboards who kept on taking pictures. Aaron was the perfect showman performing like an actor his songs. He apologized for not having visited Greece before.

The band played both the coarse death metal tracks (rising audience enthusiasm at high levels expressed frequently by moshing and crowd surfing) and the slower more melodic and depressing ones. Thus Aaron’s voice fluctuated from the absolute vomit to the slow melodic pathways, satisfying so both the sheer deathsters and the more moderate fans. Somewhere in the middle of the show Aaron took off his costume because the heat was intolerable and returned playing the Crown Of Sympathy (may be the best performed track of the night). While the concert was at about to finish the former guitarist Calvin Robertshaw appeared taking shots of the audience.

Generally speaking M.D.B offered us a marvelous night. The only stain was that they played for only 90 min (and luckily only one song from 37.788%) !!! Personally I expected to listen a “Sear Me”, a “Cry For You”, a “Thrash of Naked Limbs” or “Your River” but even so I was satisfied.

Approximate playlist (without order):

• Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium
• My Hope, the Destroyer
• The Dreadful Hours
• She Is The Dark
• The Fever Sea
• Turn Loose The Swans
• The Crown Of Sympathy
• The Cry Of Mankind
• The Raven And The Rose
• The Return To The Beautiful
• Under Your Wings And Into Your Arms