Live reviews

It doesn't happen very often that the supportact blows away the headliner, but Tank86 does just that. The 4-piece demonstrates an impressive act of instrumental stonerrock, that makes the passing away of a band like Karma to Burn a lot more bearable. A vocalist wouldn't add a sinlge thing to this band. On the contrary: a vocalist would probably bring down the barrage of mighty riffs and heavy rythms that drive forward cleverly composed songs like 'Moloch' and 'Dmitrj.

Around 3 o'clock Tank86 boldly kicks off in a, despite the early time, crowded W2. I've seen the band play a couple of times now, but today in a filled venue with a big sound, the band really shines. The guitarists make their Flying V and Les Paul roar, while intereaving traditional stoner riffs with creative rythms.
The instumental stoner still resembles Karma to Burn, but especially at the times that the band leaves the blueslines for what they are, you can hear that they have quite a bit more tricks up their sleeve. At the start the ramshackle hippie-drumkit (borrowed from Witchcraft) causes some problems with the drumsound, but halfway through the set the drums also go through the roof.
After a bit of talk with the guys themselves I learn that the Dozer tour came as a bit of a surprise, but things are going smooth. After today's gig the band travels with Dozer to the Mastodon concert in Utrecht to shake hands with that band. And if that is not cool enough by itself, the band goes on touring through Gemrany together with the Swedes. In short, this band of instrumentalists is doing just great.

Tank 86, Breda's most ideal son-in-laws; merciless stonerrock without vocals. Tool on speed, Karma to Burn pitched to 120 percent. De official saviours of the stonerrock genre in Breda and way beyond. Probably the band read a recent review on this site that claimed they were not ready yet. Well, merciless is the only correct term for tonight's show.

Pro: The setting of the Vijverstage with the falling dusk is ideal for the atmosphere of Tank86. Unleashed, rampant or limitless, call it what you will. The only thing that was left standing was the band itself. Stiff necks from banging along, and a buzzing ear are all part of it and are worth it. Once Tank86 was Breda's best kept secret, now it is Breda's biggest export on destuction and deafness. Pure class!

Con: Please turn up the volume. The only cons are the length of the show (half an hour is too short) and the volume that was toned down halfway through the show. Only nitpickers can say anything against this show. Allrght call me a nitpicker.

Conclusion: 9/10 and only because of the volume

First band that played this afternoon was Tank 86. What the hell! This band absolutely blew me away. I’ve heard about this Breda based band before, but I actually never had the chance to check them out before. The first band of the night and they give me from the first note on, shivers down my spine. They play instrumental groovy Stoner/Sludge-metal, that is comparable to a band like Capricorns. Tank 86 is a bit more straight forwarded and not as dark moody as Capricorns though. The riffs are there, the ideas are there. If this band continues to grow even more, then the Netherlands have a new band, that easily can beat the competition out of the US. This band is by far one of the best Dutch bands I’ve seen for a very long time. They have a self released mini-CD out, and they played all five songs of it. With my personal highlight in the song 'Dmitrj'. This song starts off with a riff, which sounds like when Slayer would play groovy Stoner-rock. An absolute neckbracking riff, which turns slowly in a more slow, improvised moody song. What a beginning of this afternoon!

Those who have missed the rise of Tank86 since the release of their EP 'Behold' must have been out of the country or something. The story is well known by now: four gentlemen with above average control over their instruments captivate the audience from the first riff to the last strike. The danger that automatically presents itself with an instrumental repertoire, namely that the musicians value their musical skills above the listenability of the music, is skillfully avoided by the band by writing clear and powerful compositions. The band by now knows how to win a venue over, the group bursts with confidence and plays as tight as a string. The growth that the band has undergone in the last year, not in the least thanks to the pushing grooves of drummer Rogier Berben, makes us curious about the future. The gig of tonight suggests that the ceiling is not yet in sight.

Description:
No microphones? Nope, there is no singing in Tank86. Promising! The music is best described as übermelodic stonerrock. Tank86 is getting big. About four years back the were the best band in the "Uit je hok" series in Mezz, now they play the W2 as a support for Triggerfinger.

Plus:
Wow! This is the Apocalyptica of stonerrock, Tool drenched in a sauce of Kyuss. In one word: brilliant! The awesome stonerrock works itself to great climaxes and the songs blend together beautifully. Though there are no vocals, Tank86 never gets boring. Musically everything is perfect, everything is right.

Minus:
Musically there is nothing bad to say about Tank86. The band may look a bit "freaky" sometimes, but they are also sturdy rockers. Just one little remark: guitarist Joost, don't wear a shirt of you own band on stage.

Conclusion:
Tank86 are brilliant. For three quarters of an hour the audience was completely mesmerised by the melodious stonerrock of these four guys. Progressive and beautiful are the right words for this band. They might just become very big...

Grade:
Is a 10 too much? Make it a 9.5 for the bandshirt then.

Tank86 from Breda makes instrumental stonerrock with a post-rock approach. That means music with a thorough and meticulous buildup and bombastic climax. Melancholy is however substituted with pure musical power. This means that there is no timidity in long jams. Rogier Berben abuses his cymbals in every possible way and bassist Jochum van Weert blows the hats off of the audience heads with monsterous basslines. The music of Tank86 is truly an uncontrollable barrage of sound.

The new Tank 86 album has been released and of course it will be demonstrated for the Breda public first. This is done during the first edition of the Rising Magma travelling heavy festival.

Tank 86 is serious! From the start of the first song Tank hits the audience like a heavy sledgehammer and this feels awesome. It feels like Tank 86 runs over you so hard with a pulverizing heavyness that all you can do is go along with the trance of the songs and shake your head along with a big smile. The next songs are also launched into the venue with a lot of energy. The bands playing pleasure oozes off the stage. It's clear: here is the new surprise from Breda

Because of the surprising breaks and tempochanges within the songs, but also between songs, the show never bores for a second. The mission is clear: Less talk, more riffing. Between songs a "thank you" is thrown into the audience only to make the guitars do the talking again as quickly as possible.

The professionality this band shows is an example to many Breda bands. The band brought along 2 huge backdrops: one of the Rising Magma festival and one of the album cover. The band resides on stage with big confidence and is clearly well rehearsed. 2008 will be a great year for Tank 86. I hereby rename this year to 20086!

The majority of the audience has already gone home the moment Tank 86 enters the stage. As soon as the first notes ring, it is more than clear: this band is made up out of four genius musicians. Tank 86 easily interleaves the most complex arrangements, messes around with timings effortlessly and chooses to do so without vocals. "Thanks!", shouts bass player Jochum van Weert into the crowd after the first song, because there's no microphone on stage. This microphone is never missed. The music is exciting enough by itself and it doesn't need any singing. Pounding stonerrock overwhelms the remaining members of the audience and can be rightfully called the climax of the evening. Actually it's strange that this band participates in B-Stage, because in my opinion there is nothing to improve about these guys.

[...] You should also keep an eye out for Tank 86. This four-piece is, according to bassist Jochum van Weert, working hard on new material. Well bring it on, because the psychedelic instrumental stonerrock of Tank 86 rises above regional level by now. The hypnotizing devilrock that sounded through Stageback yesterday, made you forget more than your crappy easter breakfast. Tank 86 belongs on next year's edition of the infamous Roadburn festival in Tilburg, without a doubt.

"[...]Then a band that does understand it's genre.
Tank 86 plays instrumental stonerrock with psychedelic power. As soon as the band starts playing you are instantly sucked up by the sound. The tension buildup is a little long for a half hour set, but it takes you to explosions where you are slapped around by the huge heavy sound.
Great solos, remarkable and well executed breaks and tight grooves. Satisfyingly loud and raw."

"[...] Yesterday, Breda's Best Kept Secret, stonerrockband Tank 86 introduced their first CD (with also the bands Karunga and Willem on it) in the metaltent "de Spaanse Kraag". The huge wall of guitars and cymbals was already impressive at the POB-parade in february. On the ramshackle equipment in De Spaanse Kraag it impressed even more."

"[...]That hope is given by Tank 86. This 4-piece from Breda is master in the art of leaving the right things out in their own gritty version of stonerrock. And not just because the absence of vocals.
Not a note too much (and not a note too little too in the guitarsolos) in the music of Tank 86, who are clearly influenced by stonerrock legends Kyuss. With the dynamic and very loud instrumental rock you could image yourself in the the hot, dusty and windy desert around Tucson, Arizona instead of in café de Speeltuin in Breda. Tank 86 is ready for a bigger stage."