Despite hating the whole layout of the Koko (being high rather than long I normally have trouble seeing anything despite being 6 foot 3) it does always seem to continually bring in such a diverse range of music, last time I was here it was to see the Nme showcase which was housing some of 2010's top breadwinners such as the delightfully unoriginal and fairly bland 'Marina and the Diamonds.' Notably the venue was full of 'trendy' fresh faced teens all hell bent on finding the next synth pop extraordinaire before the masses cotton on.
Tonight was, of course a total contrast in sound and certainly the clientèle, tonight is a proper metal gig, to the point where you get off the tube at Mornington Crescent and you can tell exactly who is going to the gig and who isn't, you get to the venue and even the ticket touts seem flustered (quote of the day "it looks like they're all dressed for a fucking funeral'") and you walk inside and that familiar smell of stale beer and body odour hits you smack between the eyes. Only at a metal gig can it smell this bad before the music has even started.
I had really high hopes for Om, apart from the fact that their recent album 'God is Good' was absolutely fantastic they played Brighton the night before and anyone I knew who saw the show had come out saying it was one of the highlights of the year. They certainly did not disappoint tonight with those heavy basslines pummelling away to the point where you could literally feel every note that was strummed, played with such an eerie intensity that it really created an atmosphere I've not witnessed at a gig before. After working with maestro Steve Albini on their last album you really get the feeling that his inclusion has worked wonders for their sound, playing a surprisingly long set for a support act the ploughed through material from the new album put ending with the heavy as hell 'At Giza.'
Om really set the bar and could easily be one of the best support acts I have seen for a long time so a tough act to follow for headliners Sunn o))) who I only knew by reputation before tonight. When they finally came out all sporting big robes with possibly the most dry ice I have ever seen at a show and basslines that were the sludgiest of the sludgy I was pretty intrigued but after 45 mins of unfathomable noise seemingly building up to something that wasn't going to ever finish I was getting a little weary (to the point where my mate went out for a fag and never came back).
Sunn o))) have a huge cult following and you could tell that people were really getting into it but I just felt like I was watching some kind of shit Iron Maiden video, you know the ones from the 80's where they all wore tights and robes and god knows what. Fair credit to them, they're doing something really different and I'm never one to deny that but after such an awesome show from Om it was always going to be a hard one to beat.
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