Bleed the Civilian
SILENT CIVILIAN
BLEED THE SKY
Colosseum Sports Bar
Wilmington, DE
March 23, 2006
By GREG MAKI
The Colosseum Sports Bar in Wilmington, Del. is not where
you would expect to see a metal show. With pool tables and
TVs, it is exactly what its name claims it to be: a sports
bar. It has a small stage about a foot off the floor and frequently
has live music, but the vibe was that of a watering hole where
the locals go to hang out. Only a small percentage of those
who came out this particular night seemed to actually be there
for the music. I was one of those people, eagerly anticipating
the performance by Silent Civilian, the new band featuring
former Spineshank singer Jonny Santos.
Silent Civilian took the stage first. It was a minor miracle
that they even did that, considering Kyle Moorman from Bleed
the Sky filled in on guitar (replacing Tim Mankowski, who
decided to leave the band less than two weeks into the first
tour) and bassist Henno, sporting a broken ankle, was propped
up on a bar stool. But with Santos front and center on vocals
and guitar, the band instantly commanded the attention of
everyone, including those just looking to blow off some steam
on a Thursday night at the bar.
The 30-minute set featured six songs from the band’s
upcoming debut Rebirth of the Temple (in stores May
2), including all four songs currently available on the Silent
Civilian MySpace
page. The sound is a terrific blend of old school thrash
metal and the occasional melodic chorus. And who knew the
singer from Spineshank could shred on the guitar? Santos is
the real deal, and he clearly loves being in this new band.
Drummer Chris Mora is another star in the making, laying a
solid foundation for each track. Highlights of the set were
the album’s title track, “The Song Remains Un-Named”
and the closer, “Divided.”
Bleed the Sky followed after a short break. They are essentially
another thrash band, but they’re set apart by Noah Robinson’s
genuinely good singing. If they would emphasize that a little
more while not sacrificing any heaviness, they could be something
special. As it is, they are a solid band. I’m looking
forward to hearing their next album, which Robinson said they
have begun writing. I’m encouraged by his introduction
of the short snippet of a new song, with which they finished
their set: “Remember, heavier does not always mean faster.”
One more band, Spinebelt, played after Bleed the Sky. I didn’t
stick around for them, as I had an 80-plus mile drive home
and work the next morning. Not very metal of me, I know, but
gas doesn’t pay for itself. Silent Civilian was the
main attraction for me. I cannot remember being so excited
about a new band. These guys deserve to make it big.
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