A welcome return to London for the Dewsbury stalwarts!
This evening’s bill features some veterans reborn and fired-up, some relative newcomers on a red-hot creative streak, and some young folks out to get seriously noisy. Oh, and it’s at the excellent venue-cum-brewery Signature Brew Blackhorse Road. How could we not show up? It’s what recently sadly-departed Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell would have wanted; he’d certainly approve of the wall of Marshall stacks onstage!
First up are Slayer Sanctioned Violence. Ok, that’s actually State Sanctioned Violence, but surely the architects of ‘Reign In Blood’ would approve of Milo’s utterly relentless drumming and Andy’s guitar histrionics on the thrashy crust/D-beat of ‘Violent Mercy’ and ‘Moral Disease’. They’ve never exactly been slackers in the live setting, but they’ve also never sounded as tight and crisp as they do now – a Proper Band, no less!
The ‘they make a wasteland and they call it peace” refrain of ‘Progressive Destruction’ carries extra weight tonight, considering the chaos unfolding across the Middle East, and my goodness, it’s got the musical muscle to back it up. Apparently they’re going to record an album later this year, and on tonight’s evidence, it’s going to be a belter.
Ah, Dealing With Damage. We’ve reviewed these guys several times before on Punktuation, but this time, the London psychedelia-meets-post-hardcore quintet are armed with a superb new album in ‘The London Particular’. They play a decent chunk of it tonight, and of course it sounds great, especially an urgent ‘Be Careful’.
Of all tonight’s bands, they’re clearly having the most fun; they’re on their best form to date, and they quite rightly exude playful confidence. A special mention goes out to guitarist Andy, who coaxes merry hell from his low-slung instrument, and makes for a fine Mr Hyde to his co-vocalist/guitarist Ed’s (slightly) more sedate Dr Jekyll. Check out that album if you haven’t already – it truly is that good.
“We’re the Instigators, and we don’t do chitty chat!” That’s Instigators vocalist Andy (they’re everywhere, these Andys!), and the man does not lie. As with their sterling set at the Underworld last summer, they go on a heads-down, no-nonsense romp through their back catalogue of anarcho-punk/vintage hardcore anthems, with the likes of ‘Computerage’ and ‘Blind Eye’ sounding suitably intimidating.
Andy’s mostly static presence contrasts brilliantly with guitarist Simon maniacally hurling himself around the stage, and by the time they close with the potent brace of ‘Situation Desperate’ and ‘Ignorance Is Bliss’, we’re left in no doubt that their inner fire still burns brightly after all these years.
Cheers to all involved, and keep up with all things Instigators via the links below!
All Photos: ALEX GOOSE
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I spend my days teaching English to foreign students, and my evenings attending as many gigs as possible. Raised mainly on a diet of 90s third-wave punk, my tastes have grown to include just about anything from trad ska to thrash metal. The Ramones are my musical gods.
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