Skinny Puppy - Explosive stuff from the Canadian Industrial legends

*****

Well worth the wait!!! Skinny Puppy finally come back to the UK

Skinny Puppy ***** last played the London, Forum a massive eight years ago, which actually was their last UK show. And I have to say I am one of the people that have been waiting a long time to finally see the band, because I was on tour when they last toured over here.

Since then the singer OhGr has had a couple of outstanding solo releases, and the band really triumphed with their album 'Weapons' which had a slightly cleaner sound in places. Even though the record was hard hitting as ever, with songs like the single 'Illisit' which had a totally stunning video to accompany it... and tracks like 'Wornin' and 'Paragun'.

Seeing the band have been away from the UK for so long it is a travesty that the tickets for tonight's show didn't sell as fast as one would have expected. Also I was not sure what the audience made of opening act Ventenner with most people turning up after they had played.

Ventennr are what they called an acquired taste, and I think a lot of the audience have already heard them... and because they are so different from Skinny Puppy. Decided not to turn up for their set, I think they would have been better suited on another bill.  

Saying all this the venue is really packed as the Canadian Industrial legends take to the stage, on the London date of the 'Down the SocioPath' European tour. Singer Kevin Oglive (Aka OhGr) starts the set as a blurred faced cloaked horned creature from the forest, which is creeping around

Hoping not to be discovered. Before being stripped of the garments and breaking into the first number in the set. Skinny Puppy really are the bridge between art and music and are mesmerizing to watch. From weird creatures to turning almost into a syringe voodoo doll. They have a frontman who is really not scared of saying his views or what he is feeling.

Was the blue suitcase full of these syringes a statement about the Manchester bombing and bombers missing blue suitcase. Or just a coincidence, we might never know. But it really did make a statement in these difficult times, when a band doesn't know if it's safe to take to the stage to perform. This is why emails were sent out before

Or just a coincidence, we might never know. But it really did make a statement in these difficult times, when a band doesn't know if it's safe to take to the stage to perform. This us why emails were sent out before the show, and their is heightened security checks on the doors.

Tonight's set is one for the fans, with songs taken from 'VIVIsectVI, Rabies, Handover, Bites, Last Rights, Too dark Park' and a massive five songs from 'The Process'.

Their is a good connection on stage between touring guitarist Matthew Setzer and OhGr, and live drummer Justin Bennett is really on point. Sad point is we don't get to see more of musical mastermind cEvin Key who is trapped behind so many keyboards and gadgets for the majority of the bands set. 

The bands technical ability and tightness on stage is something to behold, and the live guitar of Setzer sounds incredible on tracks like 'Tin Omen' off the album 'Rabies' and 'Crucible' off the album 'The Process'.

'The Choke' off the bands first album 'Bites', like the brilliant 'Assimilate' sounds slightly different tonight but equally impressive with it's turns and twists, should not be taken out of the bands set for quite some time and hearing the 'Killing Game' live was fantastic, it didn't fail to impress, but the track of the night was 'Assimilate', which sounded so strong. It's flow really got the crowd going, and was the highlight of the evening... and my personal favourite in tonights set.

One of the sad points of the evening is that they seem to end a little abrupt, you can see a couple of his classic outfits... sitting on one of the amplifiers... ready to come on... but they sadly never see the light of day. But all in all a really awesome night and one that I will remember for years to come. I personally can't wait until they come back to the UK, but if not I will go out of my way to travel to see them again.

Skinny Puppy - Setlist
-----------------------------------
Jahya
Dogshit
Fascist Jock Itch
Death
Tin Omen
T.F.W.O.
Crucible
Hardset Head
Village
The Choke
Worlock
Killing Game
Assimilate
------------
VX gas Attack
Candle

Review and Photo's by Dan Devour

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