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Witnessed
Vektor: 2012-09-16
22/03/13 || InquisitorGeneralis
Who: Vektor
Where: Ras Hall, Washington DC
When: 2012-09-16
When the best thrash band around plays a sunday afternoon show at a Caribbean restaurant in a normally quiet corner of the capital of the free fucken world, you forget about sports, work, and any other responsibilities hanging over your worthless head and go! And that is exactly what I when Vektor pulled into the WashingDUMP DC for the last show on their first nationwide, headlinging tour since relocating to the east coast from Arizona. It was an awesome afternoon, let’s get to it!
First, the venue was Ras, a small Jamaican restaurant in the outer fringe of DC with much love to Haille Selassai going ‘round. Not a typical place for a metal show, but for some reason it worked. I arrived in time to see Richmond, Virginia based thrasher Battlemaster lay down an energetic set. The lead singer talked a bit too much, but he did say some funny shit…especially a rant about a sex-themed song named “Brutal Penetrator” or something. I liken them to Municipal Waste, who also hail from the former capital of the CSA.
Bro’ing down with Vektor
But, it was clear that most of the crusty thrashers in the joint were there for Vektor. And boy did we get ‘em. These dudes are clearly in it for the thrash and truly enjoy serving up healthy doses of it to their fans. It was awesome to see a band as intense and talented as Vektor in such an intimate setting. The started with the epic opener from “Outer Isolation”, their newest album, the ten minute thrashfest “Cosmic cortex”. It was a risky pick due to the length, but Vektor nailed it and had the audience in the palms of their greasy hands right from the start. They wisely followed with fan favorite “Black future” which kept the good vibes flowing. Actually, people rocked the fuck out for the whole damn show. Thrash will do that to you! “Echoless chamber” may be my favorite Vektor track, and it was the highlight of the set. The chorus rules and the whole crowd was was into it. “Deoxyribonucleac acid” got a great reaction from the crowd as well. I would have put the title track to their newest album earlier in the set and finished up with a three-peat of shit from “Black Future”, but the show still ended pretty fucking great. “Asteroid” ending things with an Apophis-like bang…and things were over way too soon.
It was hot and steamy in there.
At one point, the communal headbanging in Ras’ was soo intense that one front row thrasher got his luscious locks caught in guitarist Erik Nelson’s axe. Nelson still managed to shred while seeming to be genuine concerned for the chump’s clumps. Thankfully, the guitar and hair parted ways and the show continued without incident. The set was a bit short, but Vektor packed enough punch in there to make it worth the dollars. These dudes are coming up in the world, and I expect nothing less than galactic domination from future shows and records.
Haille Selassie looks on with approval as Vektor shreds another thrashtastic tune.
The show gets 9 Voivoids out of 10 detangled headbangers because it was fun, cheap, and totally rippin’. Vektor are one of the best bands out there and their version of hyperactive spacethrash is pretty fucking groovy once you get into it. So get into it, poser, and get in the pit!
Vektor Setlist:
Cosmic Cortex
Black Future
Tetrastructural Minds
Echoless Chamber
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
Outer Isolation
Asteroid
