As we had just seen a more than excellent show with Macabre the day before at the actual Brutal Assault festival, there was nothing that could keep us away from the short drive to Prague, to see them again at the official festival afterparty.

The fun actually started already as we were driving around outside the site, looking for a place to park. Who should we spy on the other side of the street, dragging their instruments around like they were taken straight out of the Anvil! The Story Of Anvil movie? Why, it was Corporate Death, Nefarious and Dennis The Menace of Macabre, looking ever so lost!
We managed a short hello with Dennis, whom we had met previously at the festival, before the band needed to rush in and get their stuff in order for the show later in the evening.

We had heard that there might be some unsatisfactory weather conditions, and sure enough, during the second song of the night, The Trial, the rain began its gentle drippity drop, which would only escalate as time went by (see the festival review for some pretty astounding hail photos).
If it was the increasingly inhospitable weather conditions, which was obviously messing around with the equipment, or if was a short stage-time which was pressing on the band I do not know, but I quickly noticed that all the usual song introductions had been cut from the show; a sad fact as they are a big part of the overall experience of a good Macabre gig.
The band didn’t seem to have much fun either, only running through the songs without any visible emotion or connecting with the crowd, something which is more or less a trademark treat with this band otherwise. Corporate Death was even snapping at his band-mates sometimes, as when Dennis got a bit exited and began counting a song in too soon. Dennis on the other hand, was the only one who was actually living the show; he just seemed to have a great time there at the worn down old concert-place in the pouring rain.

I didn’t catch the title of the first song of the evening, but once again we were given two new songs in the gig; the first one was Countess Bathory if my memory serves me right, and towards the end of the show we got to hear something off of the upcoming album Grim Scary Tales called Burke And Hare, a story of two murderous Irishmen in Scotland during the early 19th century. Something to look forward to, I can assure you.
Sadly the rain grew really wild during the last three songs played; Burke And Hare, McMassacre and Vampire Of Düsseldorf, and even though the set may very well have ended with these songs, it still felt as though the concert was cut short, as the band quickly got off and ran for shelter in the back-stage area.

Macabre’s songs can certainly hold their own, no question about that, but after seeing them in top-shape only the day before, this half-played gig was nothing in comparison, sadly. I look forward to the next time though, certain that they will rise above this temporary setback.

Setlist (incomplete):

Temple Of Bones
The Trial
Countess Bathory (Venom cover)
The Iceman
Albert Was Worse Than Any Fish In The Sea
Scrub A Dub Dub
Burke And Hare
McMassacre
Vampire Of Düsseldorf