Review: Black Peaks & Heck // Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff // 15.09.16

There are a lot of people that would have told you earlier in the year that british hardcore and metal was dead with the scene relying on old, past their best bands to keep the genre going. However on the evidence of a sweaty night in Cardiff it may just have a future.

Black Peaks @ Clwb Ifor Bach

After This Be The Verse warmed up the crowd Black Peaks took the stage to a filling room. With an incredible energy, the band began to tear through their set of metal infused math rock which not only sounds excellent on record but translates brilliantly to a live show.

Black Peaks' debut album 'Statues' is possibly the breakout rock album of the year with the band getting great coverage across popular radio stations and magazines - something almost unheard of for a band that started life as a hardcore math rock band. 'Glass Built Castles', 'Saviour' and 'Hang Em High' are all truly epic on record, but live they go up another notch. However most impressive was the anthemic 'Say You Will' which carries a sound you can envisage blasting out of festival main stages and arenas. After such a storming set Heck had a tough act to follow.

Heck @ Clwb Ifor Bach

The first thing you will hear about Heck is the almost insane reputation of their live shows. Within the first song the lead singer was at the back of the room, guitarist in the centre of a mosh pit and mic stands strewn across the floor, and 50 minutes of similar carnage then ensued. At points there were people hanging off the ceiling and circle pits around tables in what seemed, at times, like a satanic ritual. The crowd almost seemed in awe at the energy of Heck and their manic presence with many having just stopping and staring for the first half of the set. However Heck's manic energy is infectious, drawing everyone slowly in to the experience.

Heck ended their set with their gruelling 16 minute epic 'I. See The Old Lady Decently II. Buried Although III. Amongst Those Left Are You' closing an incredibly sweaty and messy night for all involved. The venue looking like a bomb site, mic stands strewn everywhere and the satisfied crowd shuffled out in a haze of sweat and exhaustion after what had been a hectic night for all.

However this isnt the end of the story. What this tour and the critical acclaim of both bands' albums is doing is continuing a story which has been brewing for a couple of years now. Ever since Royal Blood  burst on the scene in 2014 the radio shows and magazines have been more inclined to cover heavier and heavier music. Between these 2 band, and others like Slaves and countless more, they're slowly laying the foundations of the future of punk & rock in the public eye. If you're a fan of the heavier genres - it's a very exciting time.

-Luke

Artist Spotlight // Enter Shikari

Enter Shikari @ The Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - 26.02.16

Members:
Rou Reyenolds, Chris Batten, Rob Rolfe, Rob Clewlow

Location:
St Albans, Hertfordshire

Description:
Hectic electronic infused post hardcore

Songs To Get You Started:
Redshift (2016), Sorry You're Not A Winner (2004), Anaesthetist (2015), Gandhi Mate Gandhi (2012), Mothership (2007)

Discography:
Studio Albums:

1. Take To The Skies (2004)
2. Common Dreads (2009)
3. A Flash Flood Of Colour (2012)
4. The Mindsweep (2015)
5. The Mindsweep: Hospitalised (2015)

EP's & Singles:

1. Nodding Acquaintance (2003)
2. Sorry You're Not A Winner (2003)
3. Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour (2004)
4. Mothership (2006)
5. Sorry You're Not A Winner/OK Time for Plan B (2006)
6. The Zone (2007)
7. Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour (2007)
8. Johnny Sniper (2007)
9. We Can Breathe In Space, They Just Don't Want Us To Escape (2008)
10. Juggernauts (2009)
11. No Sleep Tonight (2009)
12. Live at Milton Keynes - Bootleg Series Volume 1 (2009)
13. Tribalism (2010)
14. Thumper (2010)
15. Destabilise (2010)
16. Live at Rock City - Bootleg Series Volume 2 (2010)
17. Live from Planet Earth - Bootleg Series Volume 3 (2011)
18. Quelle Surprise (2011)
19. Sssnakepit (2011)
20. Gandhi Mate, Gandhi (2011)
21. Live in London NW5 2012. EP (2012)
22. Live In London. W6. March 2012. - Bootleg Series Volume 4 (2012)
23. Arguing With Thermometers (2012)
24. Warm Smiles Do Not Make You Welcome Here (2012)
25. Live in the Barrowland - Bootleg Series Volume 5 (2013)
26. The Paddington Frisk (2013)
27. Rat Race (2013)
28. Radiate (2013)
29. Rat Race EP (2013)
30. The Last Garrison (2014)
31. Anaesthetist (2015)
32. Slipshod (Urbandawn Remix) (2015)
33. Covers (2015)
34. Live & Acoustic at Alexandra Palace (2016)
35. Redshift (2016)

Social Media:
Enter Shikari Twitter
Enter Shikari Facebook

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Review: The Algorithm // Brute Force

There are a lot of bands and artists out there that completely disregard genre boundaries but none quite in the same way as The Algotithm. A brilliant and frantic blend of math rock, metal, trance, electronica with the occasional flurry of chip music and on the odd occasion, a bit of reggae is what awaits any listener of the new record 'Brute Force'.

'Brute Force' is a somewhat apt name for this LP; it reflects the aggressive way this album, from the first beat, is just completely in your face, The frantic drums wouldn't be out of place on a metal record and the frenzied electronic sounds are, on first listen, difficult to keep up with but with each play through the LP becomes more intricate and interesting.

To a lax observer each song on 'Brute Force' would sound identical to the next, however under every song and it's hectic sounds are subtleties, intricate basslines and interesting layering that build a picture of each song. The first single from the album - 'floating point' - for example has a thumping main sound with bass and drums dominating but underneath the cacophony of noise is a subtle guitar riff mixed with intricate high pitched electronica patterns which adds so much depth to the song. The other single from the album 'pointers' may seem quite similar to 'floating point' but despite also being quite drum & bass focused, this song has a lot more subtle electronic elements.

Most tracks from Remi Gallego - the man behind The Algorithm - consist quite heavily, at times, of metal elements, however for fans of The Algorithm's previous work this album will seem much more electronic based and less reliant on those metal elements.

The band are currently on tour promoting the album and start the UK leg of the tour on 16th April.

Overall this LP is an extension of The Algorithm's already excellent discography. It's an interesting and exciting listen from an artist combining math core and electronic to great and intriguing effect.

7.5/10

Review: The Qemists // Warrior Sound

The Qemists blend of drum & bass and metal is not something unheard of, but something other bands rarely pull off with the creativity of the group from Brighton. With bands like The Prodigy  and Pendulum floating in the same genre it's difficult to create a sound that doesn't sound like a recreation or rip-off of those bands, but it's something The Qemists don't seem to struggle with.

'Warrior Sound', the follow up to their 2010 record 'Spirit In The System', is a great continuation of their previous work, with some fantastic collaborations and a great blend between synthesized sound and real instruments.

The LP opens with 'Our World' a track which can be seen as an introduction to the album, Ambient yet aggressive it gives you a taste of what's to come. The record then launches into 'Jungle', a collaboration with rap-metal band Hacktivist. 'Jungle' further sets the tone for the album, losing a bit of the ambience and heading in the direction of mixing metal with drum & bass in an aggressive and expressive way.

The Qemists // Warrior Sound

With further collabarations on the album with Kenta Koie of Crossfaith, Charlie Rhymes and Ghetts. The album contains some incredible tunes which dip into mainstream drum & bass while still retaining The Qemists artistic integrity and metal roots.

However, the stand-out song on 'Warrior Sound' is 'Run You'. Sounding as if Enter Shikari had been heavily remixed, it's a song that would bring fans of electronic and post-hardcore metal together. Dance-able but with aggressive vocals and a semi-political lyric: it sums up everything The Qemists stand for in their music.

With a tour of Europe in March supporting Enter Shikari - a show not to miss - swiftly followed by a tour supporting Crossfaith, it's going to be a big few months for the band considering the strength of this latest LP.

The Qemists tour with Enter Shikari around Europe in March

Overall this is a stunning album; exciting and danceable music created by those in a metal background - what's not love.

8/10

-Luke

Enter Shikari // Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff // 23.02.16

It was a cold quiet February Tuesday night in Cardiff and the Motorpoint Arena opened it's doors at 6. Hoards of gig goers flocked in for a show many of them had been anticipating for months. The excitement building, a buzz in the air as 7pm ticked closer and closer.The lights dimmed bringing the 3 quarters filled hall to a standstill.

One of the huge appeals of this tour was not just the headline act Enter shikari who themselves are incredible, but the quality of the bands supporting them. Most excitingly The King Blues who were returning for the first time on tour after 'splitting up' 4 years ago. Itch and the band had been tearing up political punk rock since about 2004 with numerous LP's reflecting Itch's objection to politics and also his personal struggles. When the band split in 2012 it sent shock waves through the world of punk rock and a lot of people were sad to see them go.

King Blues @ The Motorpoint Arena (photo by Ben Cowper)

Understandably the crowd were excited to see them back. Having released an EP 'Off With Their Heads' not much longer than a week before not only was it a chance to see a band which everyone thought had run their course but to hear some of their new material for the first time. Itch and the gang did not dissapoint, getting the crowd going with a set of old favourites, a call to protest against Cardiff Arms Fair and a brilliant rendition of their new single 'Off With Their Heads'. They were everything that was expected of them and more, so good in fact that they had the room calling for an encore.

The King Blues @ The Motorpoint Arena

However The King Blues had to give way for another incredible support act. All the way from the US the next support band were The Wonder Years, bring their brand of sad pop punk to Cardiff. Opening with 'Cardinals' and '& Brothers'; two songs that start off their latest album in an anthemic and hair raising fashion, they then led into a set filled with songs from every album. Fan favourite 'Passing Through A Screen Door' went down a treat with fans and new comers a like. Those unaware of The Wonder Years before the night soon became familiar with their tried and tested pop punk formula  and as the set went on more and more people in the hall were getting into the music, with mosh pits opening up left, right and centre.

The Wonder Years @ The Motorpoint Arena

As support acts go, Enter Shikari or whoever manages their tours did a fantastic job. With the crowd thoroughly warmed up and already sweating, The Wonder Years ended their set and the crowd waited in anticipation as behind a huge black curtain you could see lights flashing through, drum kits testing, the crowd knew there was something big was to be revealed. As the clock ticked round to 9pm there was a countdown in a deep synthesised voice.
"3 minute"
"2 minutes until show time"
"1 minute to go"
The lights dimmed.

The impressive thing about Shikari is their creativity. The genre which they fit into is a combination of electronic, metal, post hardcore and the remnants of rap metal, something not unheard of, but something they achieve with brilliance on record and in a live environment.

Enter Shikari @ The Motorpoint Arena

As if that wasn't enough Rou and the boys extend their creativity to live shows. As the band has progressed up the musical ladder its become easier for them to express themselves with extravagant shows with stunning lighting rigs and incredible sound and boy where the crowd at The Motorpoint Arena treated to a show.

Enter Shikari @The Motorpoint Arena (photo by Ben Cowder)

The curtain dropped revealing drummer Rob Rolfe's elevated stand and the band's logo suspended in metal from the rafters. Launching into the set with old favourite 'Enter Shikari' it took very little time for the crowd to rile up and become raucous, chanting back at the band "and still we will be here, standing like statues". Shikari created an atmosphere that made hairs stand on end, smashing through a set covering their entire discography, from studio albums new and old and one of singles, no one was left disappointed.

Enter Shikari @ The Motorpoint Arena (photo by James Aylward)

However, the most impressive thing about Enter Shikari was their inventiveness. With easy transitions mixing one track into the other, Rou's improvised vocals at the end of 'Radiate' and a spontaneous rendition of 'Angels' by Robbie Williams they had the crowd captivated and in the palm of their hand throughout the show. As a band they do so much more than perform songs, they create a show, a spectacle. A tactic that is slowly propelling them away from being an act on their way to the top to one that is already there.

Enter Shikari @ The Motorpoint Arena (photo by Robert Harris)

-Luke