Words and Photos by: Nick Ashton
Manchester-based Cages For Preachers open the evening, having brought a young and enthusiastic crowd along for the ride. Blending metallic riffs with grungy darkness, they explode into life and immediately make their presence known. Vocalist Kai Doyle is in your face, encouraging the audience to come forward and join them offstage to get bodies moving and energy levels pumping. His predominantly clean style is tempered with the occasional scream, pushing the dials into the red and upping the ante. Guitarists Josh Weston and James Parkin-Garner keep the riffs coming thick and fast, blending heads down, chuggy metal with the signature sound of Seattle to create something familiar yet distinctive. The resultant dynamic ebbs and flows with bursts of energy tempered by moments in which we pause for breath before re-immersion into the chaos. Definitely a band worth catching if you have the opportunity.
Sheffield’s riff masters Dead Blonde Stars have been quiet on the gig front recently, concentrating instead on recording their third album, so they are brimming with pent up energy after having been locked away in the studio. Tonight they debut several of these new songs in a set containing just one previously released track, closer A Friend Like You. First impressions are that the time has been well spent. The overall sound is still firmly grungy, thanks to the dense wall of noise created by three guitars churning out the riffage, and Gary Walker’s distinctive vocals. But, like many of the great grunge bands, they are not afraid to explore different avenues. Alpha blends light and shade with a kick in the teeth, Trying To Say Goodbye has a real underlying swing and In Style has one of those catchy choruses that are difficult to shake off. Keep your eyes open for a release date later in the year and hopefully more gigs to promote the album.
Buried in Bermuda’s modern metal first grabbed my attention just over a year ago and, having subsequently won a slot on the Grand Central Stage at Firevolt Festival, they have been making friends steadily in this part of the world. Due to festival stage clashes I wasn’t able to enjoy all of their set last time, so tonight I was up for the full experience and they did not disappoint! Now expanded to a 5-piece with the addition of new guitarist Cale Murray, the band dynamic has changed, freeing up Gilles Macey to focus on vocals. This is definitely a step in the right direction as Macey is a true frontman. The low Network stage is too small to accommodate the whole band, so Macey sets up camp in front from where he commands the attention of the whole room, prowling like a caged tiger as he unleashes a roar to shake the rafters. The set blends light and shade perfectly, moving from the delicate Until We Meet Again to the heavy riffage of Torment and everything in between – including a cover of Madonna’s Like A Prayer which actually works well as a metal song! This is magnificent stuff, so it comes as no surprise that they have been invited back to Firevolt again this summer.
Continuing the theme of metal mixed with different flavours, London’s Night Thieves take us down a different road blending anthemic soaring soundscapes with crushing riffs. The band have been creating quite an impression in the media, and it’s easy to see why. Vocalist Jess Moyle is a powerful presence capable of delivering both huge symphonic metal and deft pop anthems with ease. The rest of the band, Paul Andrew (guitar), Rick Hunter-Burns (bass) and Ryan Delglyn (drums), batten down the hatches as they unleash a whirlwind of riffs and punishing drums. The set pulsates with energy, pumping up the crowd as the intensity builds before subsiding in quieter, reflective moments. Gilles Macey joins Moyle for a bone crushing duet and then all too soon the set draws to a close with a frenzied rendition of Walkaway.
