Neal Snowdon

NO NONSENSE: SOAD
14/06/05

TICKETS prices were cheaper than average, the light show was basic and between-song banter was non-existent.

This was no-frills arena rock and the near-capacity crowd loved every pulsating minute. System don’t deal in the niceties of showbusiness.

For them it’s a case of turn up, tune up and blast it out.

The result was a solid 90-minute set that had the crowd going wild from the start and ended with grown men fighting over drumsticks lobbed into the crowd by skinbeater John Dolmayan.

Their musical stew of thrash punk, heavy metal and progressive rock means this Armenian-American four-piece serve up a sound similar to rock opera put through a crusher.

The opening blasts of BYOB and Revenga and old chestnuts like Chop Suey showed a band unafraid to change tempo and style. And the crowd loved them for it.