I can’t tell you how excited I was when just after New Year’s this year 8 Foot Sativa announced that they would be back with a greatest hits album, a DVD and a new album. To add to all that was the fact that Jackhammer and Gary Smith were back in the fray and ready to step up once again.
Their first show back was opening for Fear Factory at the Powerstation in Auckland. The line-up bringing back the key members of the band Axe slinger Gary smith and the mighty Jackhammer on throat. New additions were Rigel Walshe on Bass and Nick Davies as a second Guitar player.
Emotions were high for both fans and I’m sure the band but the second they stepped onto the stage the crowd lit up and roared their approval. The undisputed kings of NZ Metal are back and in supreme form. 8 Foot was back to rule again. With horns high and the mosh pit going crazy the band hurled at breakneck pace through hit tracks like Destined To Be Dead, Believer, Chelsea Smile, Hate Made Me, 8 Foot Sativa and Seasons for Assault. This is a band back stronger than ever and ready to take on the world which with the strength of their first two albums and some new material too come could make its mark once again. Jack Hammer interacted with the crowd to huge response and showed old and new fans how it’s done. Gary looked awesome with his long hair and head banging riffs. They ended their comeback show with the song Fuel Set and the pit going absolutely nuts. The crowd roared for more but sadly they were the support band on the bill so no encore but left us panting for more and anticipating the tour about to unfold.
They were tight sounding and also looked like a strong and energised unit which will hopefully keep it together for the long haul. Kiwi metal needs a fresh injection from 8 Foot Sativa. Bring it on 8 Foot I plan to get to as many of the upcoming shows as I can and I strongly suggest you do too, you wont regret it.
Exploding out of West Auckland in 1998, 8 Foot Sativa have gone from being a local band playing every week, to becoming the premier Metal band in New Zealand.
They are the first metal band in NZ to crack out of the small scene and bring New Zealand Heavy Metal to mainstream Kiwi's doorsteps, with the song 8 Foot Sativa staying at number 1 for three months and eight months in the charts. They have also had success overseas, in Australia, USA and Europe. With their first album Hate Made Me achieving Gold Record status, the follow up with Season for Assault, which established 8 Foot Sativa as a household name. Since then they have released 4 more albums Breed The Pain, Poison Of Ages, The Shadow Masters and 10 Years Of Sativa.
8 Foot Sativa have played with the big names of metal including Pantera, Motorhead, Korn, Children of Bodom, Disturbed, Soul Fly, Shihad and Corrosion of Conformity. They have had 2 Big Day Out appearances on the main stage, sharing the stage with Slipknot, Metallica and System of a Down.