Most concerts are raucous affairs, and a metal concert no less than expected. Push all sentiments of suspicion and derision of metal aside, though; as I walked into Kordin’s Sergeants’ Mess, a beautiful,historic building somewhat reminiscent of Tasmania’s Port Arthur, the first impression I got was how contented everyone looked and, dare I say it of this cloud of black-clad humans, even welcoming.
This year’s edition of XMA 2014, held in Kordin, featured 15 bands, 12th Ode, 26otherworlds, Abysmal Torment, Angelcrypt, Blind Saviour, Chaotic Remains, Fallen Icon, In The Name Of, Insurgence, Loathe, Relicuia, Repugnance, Rising Sunset, Onicectomy, and War Trigger.
In the interests of full disclosure, I should say that I was playing at this year’s edition of Xtreme Metal Assault (XMA) with my band Loathe. Loaded with questions about this successful brand of local metal festival, I took a seat alongside organiser Edward Tagliaferro.
Bands that do not play a style befitting other festivals organised on the island will try their best to belong to XMA
In the beginning, XMA took over from a predecessor festival which folded in 2006 after a number of editions. Tagliaferro, then frontman of local death metal outfit Arachnid, organised a gig with four bands on the billing, only to be convinced by Paul Falzon from The AV Warehouse that a proper festival should be organised.
Tagliaferro was sceptical at first, until Falzon said: “You contact nine other bands, I’ll find you a venue.” So was born XMA, and it’s been going strong ever since, barring 2009 when Tagliaferro was far too busy with another birth, that of his second child.
Not much has changed since then; the focus is still on local talent of the metal variety, the venue was changed only when a location was found which allowed the festival to be run on more than one stage.
I asked Tagliaferro why bother with the hassle of organising a festival for such a misunderstood and oft-maligned style of music. Outsiders of the genre have suggested to him that including a different genre would increase attendance, but Tagliaferro feels that in doing so, he would be straying from the path of creating a great event for the music he loves most and the bands that play it.
In addition, he is careful not to step on toes; all musical events organised locally present many challenges to the people setting them up, so he is loathe to add salt to the wound in any way.
Any event with repeat editions must have enjoyed success, however, so I pressed for more detail. “I always get very positive feedback from both the bands that take part and the people who attend.
“Bands that do not play a style befitting other festivals organised on the island will try their best to belong to XMA, and it is these bands who will most express their gratitude for XMA to me as it is usually one of the few performances they get to give each year,” Tagliaferro said.
Bands have come and gone, but XMA has stayed a permanent fixture. How come? To Tagliaferro, it was a matter of demand and supply following the first edition. As a member of an active band for many years, he understood that the opportunity for bands to play at a festival to present their material to a decently-sized crowd, compared to the smaller numbers in a usual gig, is very desirable indeed.
I asked just how big undertaking XMA is. Tagliaferro conceded that over the years it did get easier, partly because “things tend to fall into place” and partly because the people involved know the drill by now.
“The hurdles are minimal, though a lack of sponsors translates into lack of investment in foreign acts, even if I did manage to book Italian band Onicectomy this year. Another issue is that of time limits concerning loud music – this is a problem with any venue you go to – so I try to work around these and keep everyone happy.”
Is it worth the hassle?
Tagliaferro beamed and answered that yes, it is a bit of a hassle, but the hours during the festival are unbelievably rewarding – seeing the crowd of metal fans concentrated into one event and enjoying themselves gives him the courage to keep going.
Since we were talking high points, I asked him about his best-ever XMA moment, as well as his most embarrassing XMA incident ever.
The high point comes gushing out: “2007, the moshpit during Arachnid’s set. Although, in fairness, just observing the crowd having fun with each band is a big rush in itself, year after year.”
As for the embarrassing ...
“Last year we had complaints about sound reaching households, so the venue manager and I decided to move two portable toilets opposite to the offending stage to try and block some of the sound. Without thinking twice, we grabbed both these portable toilets and moved theminto place. As soon as we set them down, the door clicked open and a young lady presented herself through one of the toilet doors, blushing scarlet yet laughing hysterically – I must have apologised 50 times.”