OK, well what can I say, I DID NOT expect that!
When these boys walked out in their stage personas (I had been standing next to the lead singer all night without recognizing him) and started to play a nice slow relaxed bassline, I figured the night was about to mellow out a bit. I was wrong. So so wrong.
The performance alone was intense enough, with the guitarist power stomping through the crowd thanks to a wireless set up (which didn't cut sound at all!), and the whole band was moshing and jumping around the entire set, I don't think those foldbacks have ever been stepped on quite so much in one night. Crowd interaction was great as well, with free CD's being given away as bribery for a bigger better moshpit, there was even a bass wah, in a metal band!
I do have to say that even though the whole band was amazing the stand out for me was the vocalist, I was left wondering if he had been taken vocal lessons or if he just had a giant set of lungs on him (turns out he has actually had vocal training). Not only was there a vast range of vocal techniques but I would liken his style to speed metal guitar riffs, but vocally, I shall call it "speed vocals" for lack of a better term.
Now some of you may have noticed by now that I havn't actually mentioned the musical "style" yet, and for good reason too- I HAVE NO IDEA. It's quite obvious that this is a mesh of genres and influences, but it's a mesh that works, so until you get out there and check them out for yourself there is really only one word that I can use to describe their sound- Fuelset.
In mid 2005 Joe Murdie and Jason Anderson fresh out of the ashes of Attica and in search for something new, came across Darrin Floyd and Tonie Pohatu, and the uncompromising and powerful all original metal outfit Fuelset was born.
Fuelset played their first live show together at Hysteria on 22 October 2005. Since then numerous live shows throughout New Zealand and Australia, as well as constantly writing new material, has seen the band go from strength to strength.
In February 2007 Fuelset entered York St Studios NZ, with engineer Andrew Buckton, to record two new tracks, 'Breakdown' and 'The Everchanging', which were mastered in Australia at Studio 301.