Date: Saturday, April 23rd, 2005
Location: The Distillery - Sacramento, California
Other Bands:

and Skarp 

Well another long drive to a show, but well worth it.  The Distillery is a small bar/club in downtown Sacramento and a very nice place.  No stage as such, just an area in the front.  Sound was good for such a place and there were plenty of fans on hand.  This time we went to see the headliner Kuru in celebration of their new record release 'Epidemic' on Deathgasm records, but having Ludicra (S.F. bay area based band) playing as well was an extra bonus.  However, we were disappointed in Kuru.  We were expecting death metal but found out that they have changed their music genre to grindcore with a little death now and then.  Their first release, an EP named 'In Between Worlds', was all death metal but now they have dropped nearly all of the death metal with this new release (Epidemic).  So, since I am not a big fan of grindcore, I found myself not liking this band more and more as they played.  When we left we listened to Kuru's EP and then the new release and you can definitely tell that they have changed.  Never mind, Ludicra made it well worth the trip.  So with that, said this review will start with Ludicra.

Ludicra:  Took the stage at 11:30 pm and played for about 45 minutes.  The crowd was at its largest and most intense.  Ludicra was fantastic like they were when I saw them the last time at Gilman Street.  They played songs from their latest release 'Another Great Love Song' and from their first release 'Hollow Psalms'.  With Laurie belting out the lyrics, Christy with additional vocals and of course her amazing guitar work, John on guitar, Ross on bass and Aesop on drums, Ludicra brought forth the onslaught of what we call black metal although Ludicra has it's own sound, but black metal is probably the best way to categorize them.  No matter how you categorize them, this band has a great sound and they know how to deliver live.

Kuru:  Took the stage at 12:30 pm and played for about an hour.  Well like I said earlier in this review, we were disappointed with them.  OK the music was good but the vocals has changed to more grindcore.  Not a lot of people stuck around, maybe it was late.  But for those that did they enjoyed the performance.

Skarp:  This opening act came on at 10:30 pm.  Never heard of this band before and if I have to be honest, which I am in my reviews, I did not like this band at all.  Guitars and drums were OK but the vocals were terrible.  That's all I have to say.

In closing this review; although it was another long night for us we had a fantastic time.  We got to talk to band members of Ludicra and enjoy a great performance by them.  If you ever get a chance to see Ludicra, even if you have to drive for miles, go!

Written by:  Steven Ansell