The Titans @ Red Lion, Gravesend

After a month of venomous attacks from the snow, leading to this gig being rescheduled two weeks later than first planned the Titans gig finally went ahead.

Openers Sanctorum (8/10), back at this venue again after turning up and playing on the original date, showed why they caused waves at Bloodstock last year with their titanic riffage and pounding stadium sized songs. They open tonight with another set of head banging masterpieces such as 'Carved in stone' to an appreciative crowd.

Death metallers Infestation (8) get into the groove immediately and succeed in blasting every last person in the Red Lion to the outer layers of Hell with a set of scorching intensity. The vocals from Dave Samuel are stunning, giving the band extra ammunition to send down onto an unsuspecting crowd. At times they sound like Vader and Cannibal Corpse ganging up on Glenn Benton for an easy kill. As their set ends the crowd clap with what energy remains.

Following such an exlosion of musical heaviness is never easy, but The Custard Chuckers (7.5) do it with ease. Their tongue in cheek comedy acoustic act couldn't be further away from the death metal onslaught that went before them, but they manage to drag some of the crowd into the spirit of the occasion with songs about Mark Fowler (Eastenders) and sleeping with certain family members.... I doubt you find a bigger group of death metal fans with smiles on their faces for the rest of the year.

Techno metallers Silent Descent (7.5) end the night on a high with their usual mix of pounding beats and heavy guitars. In truth it leans more towards the metal side of things with the electronics taking a back seat to some grinding riffs and guttural vocals , courtesy of Tom Watling. The set is not only a fitting send off for their bassist who is leaving the band but also a great end the week.

The Titans came, they played, they conquered.