October Fest - Saturday 27 October 2001
Gabba gabba, hey ho - let's go. As yer man said.
Taking us away in fine style are Seraphim. The 'Phim are a four piece (drums, guitar, bass, lead shouting) who I suspect may have a couple of records by Limp Bizkit, or The Chilli Peppers in their possession. Having said that, they're very good at what they're doing - what I assume was an ever so slightly shaky starting track was quickly forgotten as they battered their way through the rest of their set with a real sense of anger and determination.The set highlight was "Oblivion heights" - as good a chorus song as ever you'd want. Visually, they're something of a treat, too - Darth Maul on lead guitar, a singer whose stage persona put me in mind of nothing so much as Henry Rollins in a hawaiian shirt(without the surfeit of neck, obviously) , and on bass, one of the very finest heads of hair you'll ever see.
Paddy Garrigan
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Supporting Left Side Brain @ The Alex, Lancaster
08/02/2002
Another evening of top notch rock hits the dark place. Local heroes Seraphim, after a mere 10 minute soundcheck(Sunlight can be brutal taskmasters!!) open proceedings. Don't seem to be hampered by the brief sound check and play a great set, framed by the formation seraphim line dancing team strung across the stage, bizarre!. I reckon the choice of covers, chop suey and How you remind me, won 'em a few new fans, and judging by the amount of cd's they were flogging, they must be fairly chuffed!. Well worth viewing if you aint seen 'em b4!.
Betti, Resident DJ
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Dog On A String, Hamlets Hornsea Pottery, Lancaster 02/03/2002
Seraphim were next and repeated the crowd bouncy thing.They do a very good System Of A Down,Chop Suey,in fact the music is very much in the SOAD vein,which is fine by me as I consider 'Toxicity' the album of 2001.
Ian Roberts - Event Organiser
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Dog On A String Showcase, 23/03/2002
Last up and much looked forward to were Seraphim. By now a large mob of excited teenagers, all baggy jeans a quiver and trembling keychains were building themselves up to a Gareth Gates hysteria, and Seraphim didn't dissapoint. Huge slabs of metal songs and rock posturing too, GREAT! All their songs off their excellent C.D. were there plus a couple of popular covers for the kids to shout along to. With this type of music very much in the media spotlight, with the right breaks Seraphim could go far.
Ian Roberts, Event Organiser
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Band On The Wall, Manchester 26/03/2002
This review is gonna be a bit different as its being reviewed by a memeber of the band that being me. After travelling to Manchester via Wigan (its a long story!!), we arrived, did some canvasing and made our way to the venue. We new it wasn't going to be an average night right from the off. The main door opens to "Fucking hell mate, thats a fucking cracking beard" , "Well I've put alot of work into it" I replied. Our equipment arrived and we had the fastest and most professional sound test we've ever had. Crystal clear sound, perfect monitor mix- superb. Our faithful arrived half an hour before we took the stage and although the coach was far from capacity, the people there seemed up for it.
Opening the set with the massive impact of 'Sleeping' we were off. Initial reactions were mixed but its was always going to be difficult playing metal to an 'indie-rock' crowd. Following up with 'An Unnecesary Emotion', taken from our second EP, things stated to pickup. The opening chords were met with cheers (always a good sign) and the pit got going. We battered through newy 'Stories' and the mellow 'Last Dance' before going old skool with 16. The anthemic 'Oblivion Heights' was next, the Seraphimettes we in their element. Finishing off with, in my opinion, our strongest song 'Chinese Food Ming Games' and we'd put in, without doubt our best technical performance to date. We is happy.
Nick B
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Band On The Wall, Manchester 26/03/2002
Lancaster. Not a place one would normally associate with music. There have been one or two bands to escape from the confines of the Lune Valley and Pendle Witch curse to come to the attention of the rest of Great Britain, Angelica being the most notable, but generally the gaze of the public has escaped the small city.
But despite being stuck "up there" next to the Lake District, Lancaster has a thriving music scene, particularly a metal scene. One of the bands to emerge as strong front runners is Seraphim. The fact that they can count part of Angelica as part of their entourage that have come down from Lancaster on a specially chartered coach (on a rather random Tuesday) says something about the talents that the band possesses. The venue for tonight's excursion, their first gig outside of the Lancaster circuit, is Band On The Wall, Manchester. This small intimate venue puts on the "Showcase Well North Of London" once a week to allow unsigned bands to strut their stuff and show the world what they are about.
Following a brief intermission from the end of the first act, Seraphim launch into their 7 song set. And launch is an understatement. The group hammer through the opener, "Sleeping" with every ounce of energy that the adrenaline can force out of them. Seraphim are undeniably "Metal". Their image, (Matt and Alan's long hair; Little Nick's strange hair braiding; Alan's "Metal" stage presence and vocal styling) songs and followers would suggest nothing less. But there is more to them than that. Songs such as "Oblivion Heights" and "Last Dance" offer metal with, can it be?, feeling. (And "Oblivion Heights" also offers the sight of the bands girlfriends and the "Seraphimettes" performing a dance routine, much to the amusement of the by now very large audience). The set is a varied one, taking songs from their first E.P 'Seraphim', the follow up 'Seraphim.2' and also newer tracks such as "Stories" and "Chinese Food Mind Games" (which has to be one of the best and yet strangest song names...EVER!).
I'll admit, I'm not a "Metalhead". My hair is too short, I don't have any inclination for piercings, and I don't see why you need to scream when you have an amplified mike... But Seraphim genuinely impressed me. Their songs were tuneful, melodic and extremely well delivered. The sound that emanated was perfect. Every instrument could be heard succinctly and formed with Alan's vocals to produce almost an aural nirvana. You could not have asked for a better musical result. This is even more remarkable when you consider that parts of the set up such as the drum kit and PA, were not the bands own, leaving the band to struggle on at times with strange configurations. (Particularly in Matt, the drummers, case). (Note to the band...you really really don't need a keyboard player...the sound is perfect as it is).
What more can I say. An impressively delivered set filled with genuinely good songs. I honestly look forward to the recently commissioned album with anticipation...
More information on Seraphim can be found at www.seraphim.iwarp.com
Rating- 5/5
by Fraser Reid - 21-4-2002
Taken From Miuzik.com
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S&M (Seraphim & Markus) @ The Bobbin Lancaster
17/04/2002
.... there was no way I was going to miss Seraphim. They are fast becoming one of my fav bands
Next up, Seraphim, how these guys are in the fortunate position of being one of the only groups around these ere parts doing the metal thing I don't know, and if there were any more bands doing the metal thing they would have to work hard to be as good as Seraphim. Vocalist Alan Tyson is 100% showman , he jumps, he shakes his long hair, sits on stage to do the ballady bits, takes his shirt off (one for the ladies). All he now needs to do now is roll around the stage crying and pleading like 50 's rock legend Johnney Ray. Alan is only assisted in the climb to rock stardom by the guitarist 'lil' Nick Adamson (I've seen him S.O.A.D. ) and scowling bassist 'Big' Nick Billington (you would not want to take a pint off this guy). All this is topped of by thrashing stixman Matt Ashford.
Their songs reach out to you, grab you by the throat and shake you about, especially their ' An unnecessary emotions', which is the best song i've heard in a long while. Oblivion Heights which has become their signature tune saw Alan bringing on stage their loyal fans, which is nice as it is giving something back to their supporters for staying with them.
I would advise you to see them next time they are playing, as I reckon 2 years down the line you might see them with 'Slipknot' as support.
Ian Roberts- Event Organiser, Dog On A String
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MayHem The Yorkshire House
11/05/2002
Man, I was kind of glad they did, though, because it meant that when Seraphim came on stage, I was very much in the clear - I didn't have nothing left for them to blow out! See, you got to be up early in the morning to get one over on the Freischmeister, but, man, I assure you, being up early the next morning was one thing I most certainly was not about to be doing at that point in the evening. For tonight - Let the RAWK commence. Man, I went to mosh, as did, ooh, eight men, seven men, six other man, but not their dog (woof woof). I moshed almightily, as Seraphim rock - WITH THE ANGELS!!!! Major dudes. Major respect. Major beer problems. I got stood in the middle of the room, and all I could see in front of me were dudes moshing, and all I could see behind me were dudes laughing. Man, it's soooo cool when music lets everyone have a good time. And I looked up at the ceiling, and thought, man, this is all too much, man, it's much too much, it's too too much. So I took another bite from the Bud, and that's kind of the last thing I remember - I came round for a bit a few minutes later, and Seraphim were going "Show me the way to the Heights of Oblivion". Show you? Show you? Man, where do you think I live!!!!!!!!!! Although, thinking about it, my man Alex lives in Abraham Heights with some theatre dudes in a big house. Maybe Seraphim heard the directions wrong. Actually, they must have done - I was right the way to Oblivion, and I ended up on the carpet. Oblivion isn't that high up at all.
Judd Freishcmeier
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The Witchwood Tavern, Ashton-Under-Lyne 19/05/2002
SERAPHIM AT THE WITCHWOOD
An interesting night realy. A coach trip filled with toilet humour and moaning about the absence of beer. We entered a pokey little pub, in an area that looked somewhat like an industrial estate surrounded by pubs and takeaways. Here we found out Seraphim were to be the only band playing tonight. After about four hours of waiting they were finally told to play.
After a bit of heckling and something whispered by Alan they burst into Sleeping (The song not the state of unconsciousness) with an immense display of power, total moshpit of two. The next song actually saw one of the four locals actually dancing. Still, grumpy faces on the stage. Yet more heckling to do with Alan's Mum and fifty pence, in reply one of his trademark cheesy intros, "Who wants to hear some stories?". yet more power riffs and Matt giving his hi-hat what for. We were graced with a new song next, Broken world, aka Tales of the electric bell end! A good song with a catchy chorus.
Glad to see they've remade "16" shame they didn't remake Alan's intro "Pick a number between 1 and 50, this is 16." Despite my criticism of his one liners Alan makes up for it with his, all out, stage presence. Chinese food mind games next - nice! I still don't get the relevance of the title though. Typically they finished with Oblivion heights. With the usual line of girlys doing the dance. I refused to join in, not that there was anyone to see it but I'd feel silly.
A good show overall, minimum mistakes (even Big Nick messed up once - stop press). Nothing a bit more practice and less beer can sort out. Play like that on your tour and who knows you could be on the next cover of Kerrang. Good luck lads.
by Critical D. 19/5/2002
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The Lancaster Guardian
Angels with dirty faces
T0 SOME people Seraphim is but a celestial body gifted with love, light and purity, indeed one of the highest of the angelic hierarchy. In Lancaster, however, the name is synonymous with a particularly hard working, ambitious and very hairy rock outfit who are dedicated to taking their brand of Brit-grunge to the highest branches of the Kerrang tree. Since forming in 1999 the band have seen numerous members come and go but Seraphim seem to have finally settled on a line-up which exudes confidence and compatibility best sampled on their latest CD release 'Heights Of Oblivion'. The band have been courting interest from some significant quarters of late and have been working with Sanctuary Records UK and are currently in talks with Wyvern Records with a view to signing a deal. Okay, so this may be the darker side of Lancaster's, and indeed the nation's, musical youth and while at times it seems aggressive, introspective and equally melancholic it does at the very least pulsate with an energy and passion missing in so much of today's mainstream crap so beloved of the masses. There are a even few moments that could masquerade as deep sensitivity, for example 'Chinese Food Mind Games' and the title track 'Heights Of Oblivion' have more than a liberal scattering of tasteful musical flourishes that even my mum would find tolerable. It's not all guitar-washed rock though, the CD also contains the odd surprise with 'Oblivion High Trance Mix' being more than a slight, though nonetheless worth-while, diversion from the full-on metal that generally dominates this locally recorded collection-.- To promote the new album, which has been released due, in part, to support from Lancaster Market's Play It Again Records' Chris Stanley, the hirsute foursome have been trawling the depths of the country's rock- friendly venues, playing to ever enthusiastic spectators and will be continuing to do so in the coming months with a string of dates including appearances at festivals in Scotland and London as well as gigs in Lancaster at the end of August. On the whole Seraphim know exactly who their audience are and who they want their audience to be, which is just fine as the crowds of appreciative adolescents that. seemingly adore the band are more than happy to fulfil that role. Heights Of Oblivion will be released on Monday (29) and will be available from Play It Again Records in Lancaster. Market. For further information on Seraphim, including some lovely pictures and Smash Hits-style 'my favourite colour' type stuff, cheek out the band's website at www.seraphim.iwarp.com
Jon Carter- Editor
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The Morecambe Visitor
They're no angels!
Seraphim - 'Heights of Oblivion' SERAPHIM are four young lads from Lancaster whose latest album 'Heights of Oblivion' is nu-metal with a twist. They take influence from everybody under the sun and boy, do they sound angry. The album has energy, throbbing baselines and although in my view the vocals lack strength on some tracks, the general feeling is one of intelligence, talent and professionalism. All the songs are written by Seraphim, who on the CD inlay thank their parents, their families and beer for their inspiration and support. Tracks such as Another Day and Chinese Food Mind Games (Chop Suey?) contain harmonies US nu-metal favourites System of a Down would be proud of. They cleverly mix quiet (if metal can be quiet) sections of the track with high voltage guitar and rap. 'Stories' brought back scary memories of primary school 'carpet time' with an authoritative female voice saying 'hush now children, fingers on lips' before launching into a lyrically explicit rap and chorus that is very Linkin Park meets Limp Bizkit. 'Echoblast' could easily be a single which one would expect to hear on Kerrang Music TV on Sky- an alternative mix of melody, rap metal and techno which works surprisingly well. 'Sonnet' begins with a melody very reminiscent of 'Pimpf' by Depeche Mode (well done lads!) and is lyrically a passionate cry to unrequited love. 'Oblivion High Trance Mix' is just what it says, and with its female vocals could be an Ibiza dance floor filler- believe it or not. A pleasant break from the angry shouting of some of the previous tracks. Overall, if you like Static X, Marilyn Manson, System of a Down etc then give this a listen and become a Seraphimette. 8/10. 'Heights of Oblivion' is in all good record shops now. Catch Seraphim live at Lancaster Leisure Park's (Hornsea Pottery) 'Dog-on-a-String' night this Saturday (August 3) from around 9PM.
Greg Lambert
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