Release The Bats

Release The Bats

05 November, 2008
by: Domzig

It's not really a case of 'Release The Bats' at the Forum this Halloween eve, more 'Let's do the Time Warp again'. What with the likes of Shellac dating from waaay back in 1992 and Om being of a similar age when you consider that they were both in Sleep, it's a line-up that is unashamedly raiding your older brother's record collection. But, hey, with the proliferation of checked shirts and ripped jeans at an all time high, it's obviously what the kids want.

First up are Lightning Bolt, a band that is closer to being attacked by a crazed lunatic holding a belt sander than a party. Tonight they're in a typically destructive mood, setting up on the floor of the Forum and subjecting the assembled kids to half an hour of teeth grinding noise rock.

Pissed Jeans are next in line, plumping for the more traditional arena of the stage to serve up their ball-busting sludge rock. These guys can be a hard band to like sometimes, and their music has a slightly bludgeoning quality that seems to relentlessly pummel you into quiet submission rather than hand you a beer and invite you party. Basically they come across as a throw back to Flipper or 'Family Man' era Black Flag, but both of those bands ruled, so it's not a bad thing.

Wooden Shijps manage to ramp up the scare factor to bowl theatening levels thanks to a set that throbs along relentlessly interrupted only by oh-my-god-I'm trapped-in-the-woods-and-surrounded-by-little-munchkins moments. 

This far in and it's starting to feel like one of those relentlessly horrific Russian movies, where you're subjected to the sight of endless lines of dead bodies being thrown on to a heap whilst a man laughs. At least Les Savy Fav seem to be in a party mood – the set is kinda familiar, but still dead fun with the band dressed like a cross between Skeletor and street thugs and Tim Harrington in typical 'excited kid after too much cheeryade and blue Smarties' mode.

Shellac win the prize for being the most in keeping with the Halloween spirit. Dressed as a mummy, a vampire and a Frankenstein's monster they keep so in character that Todd Trainer (drums) periodically disappears behind his cloak and Bob Weston provides his entire vocals as 'urrrrrrrrrrrrrh'. As well as adding to the general good vibes of the night, the onstage theatrics lift what could have been another hour and a half of dirge into what is easily the most captivating performance of the night.

Last up come Om, who are basically Wooden Shijps times a million. Playing sparse, brutal and yet incredibly intricate songs, their music fits the horror movie vibe completely, sounding somewhere between Black Sabbath the Omen soundtrack.

I really like Om, but there's always a chance that when you have a massive line up with many similar sounding bands, the band you wanted to see kind of becomes a bit of stretch to make it through. I may have a short attention span, but I'm pretty thankful that Les Savy Fav and Shellac are sandwiched between Wooden Shijps and Om as it means that I'm not completely overloaded on doom and can enjoy it.

Basically Release the Bats is typical ATP – it's slightly nerdy, more than a bit beardy but fun enough to know not to take itself too seriously – all the elements of a good Halloween party really.

You can check out more ATP shows by looking at the website, they are currently doing a series of 'Don't Look Back' shows at The Forum, The Scala and The Koko. Spoonfed is an events listing website that covers everything in London. Click here to see all punk events in the coming weeks.

Domzig