The Philadelphia quartet make their long-awaited return to London!
Folks, tonight feels like a lot more than just another gig. It’s been over two years since Philadelphia’s Poison Ruïn last graced us with their presence, and earlier this year they released their third album ‘Hymns From The Hills’. It sees them hone their fusion of raw hardcore punk, medieval imagery, and dungeon synth into their finest collection of songs yet, and marks them out as an increasingly unique voice in a genre too often riddled with soundalikes. Finally, they’re back in London, and they’ve certainly brought a sense of occasion with them.
Openers Stingray are tight as hell. We’re showing our age here, but they remind us of veteran Liverpool crossover crew SSS, in that their squealy guitar histrionics are married to plenty of street level aggression on the likes of ‘Black Milk’ and ‘Impending Doom’. It’s clearly too early for a proper pit, but there’s quite rightly plenty of applause and no little headbanging from those who were smart enough to arrive early. Don’t bet against this lot going places, and check out their recent ‘Enemy’ EP.
A tough act to follow, but Brighton quartet Plastics are more than up to the job, with their livewire vocalist commanding the stage with ease. They too have a thrashy edge to their sound, which they use to devastating effect on ‘Scorpion’ and ‘Chromatic Feelings’; the latter chugging along ominously, before suddenly bursting into high-speed life towards the end. They deserve much more than the occasional bout of side-to-side mosh action that they get, but they can still count tonight as a victory, and your listening homework is last year’s ‘Flesh Circuit’ album.
Swedish quartet Xiao keep us guessing; switching between relentless D-beat style punk rock, seismic bass lines and the odd twist of metallic crunch, often within the same song. Of all tonight’s bands, you get the strongest sense that they need this music as catharsis. They do their best to get us moving, and there are a few stirrings in the pit, but there’s a sense that those present are saving most of their energy for the headliners. Still, an impressive display, and a band well worth keeping an eye on. Listen to this year’s ‘Tourettes’ single and last year’s ‘Control’ album – you can thank us (and them) later.
Poison Ruïn take the stage in typically atmospheric style, and as they slam into the opening ‘Lily Of The Valley’, it’s immediately apparent that they’ve grown in confidence since their last visit – and they weren’t exactly wallflowers last time around. They sound huge, too, not least on cuts from the aforementioned new record, and it isn’t long before a bruising brace of ‘Torture Chamber’ and ‘Hymn From The Hills’ whips the floor into the kind of sprawling maelstrom that’s been threatening to break out all evening.
Clearly stoked at the chaos unfolding before them, they push the energy levels through the roof, tearing into the likes of ‘Eidolon’ and perennial favourite ‘Harvest’ with savage glee. By the time they close with ‘Not Today, Not Tomorrow’, both we and they are a sweaty mass of hair and limbs, and it’s hard to think of a finer way to simultaneously sign off for the night and bring the house down. Cheers to all involved this evening, including promoter Real Life Presents for putting it all together!
All Photos: ALEX GOOSE
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