It’s something we’ve talked a lot about on this site recently, but the UK metal scene is really thriving at the moment. Not only are more established bands pushing themselves further than ever before and handing in their best work, but there’s also a plethora of young new bands that feel so fresh and exciting within the genre. Tonight is a celebration of both. Rolo Tomassi headline as part of a UK tour in support of their freshly released sixth album ‘Where Myth Becomes Memory’, with support from Pupil Slicer and Heriot.
First up are Heriot, who seem to be spreading like wildfire with a smattering of singles released over the last year, a tour support recently completed with the mighty Svalbard and a debut EP out next month. It’s fair to say that it’s all happening for the young Midlands quartet and with good reason. They combine absolutely crushing metal core riffs with an industrial influenced intensity. There’s also ethereal vocal passages, bludgeoning breakdowns, thrash workouts and some pretty serious guitar soloing.
It’s a full on live show with the band playing as intensely as they sound; guitarist Debbie often sounds as if she’s descending into hell. An incredibly thrilling live set with plenty of killer riffs and neat twists, this lot already seem like a well oiled machine. Definitely a band you wanna keep an eye on.
Next up are Pupil Slicer. I got into this band due to absolutely loving their name, but ended up really getting into their blistering debut album ’Mirrors’ released last year. Blending metal-core meatiness with math, grind and hardcore, I can confirm that they are just as frantic live as they are on record. Possibly even more so, which makes for a super fun live show, with guitarist and vocalist Katie often jumping into the front row, guitar around her neck, soloing away!
There is something very old school about Pupil Slicer which I love – in a world where metal bands take themselves very seriously, it’s nice to see some of that mid-noughties party band spirit come out in their set. Making techy sound party, Pupil Slicer warm us up for Rolo Tomassi perfectly.
The crowd interaction has been belting throughout the gig, pits kicking off immediately for Heriot and a lot of excitable moshing for Pupil Slicer. So, now on to to our headliner, Rolo Tomassi. Tonight we get a fairly even mix of tracks from the last two full lengths, opening with the absolutely colossal riff of recent single ’Cloaked’. It sounds fucking gigantic, as I’d hoped for.
One of the many reasons I’m pretty obsessed with this new record is its perfect blend of the heavy and the melodic and hearing them execute that so well tonight is a pleasure to watch. One minute you’re completely lost in a barrage of ludicrously heavy riffs and guttural screams, the next you’re floating on a cloud of candy floss. ‘Mutual Ruin’ is another gleaming example of this, particularly its beautifully concluding piano passage. Annoyingly, some drunk dude finds it appropriate to yell ROOOLLLOOO all over it, but is thankfully stopped by a select few punters politely telling him to shut the fuck up. Oh, I’ve missed gigs.
Of course, it’s great to hear stuff from ‘Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It’, working really well against the new album material as well. ‘Alma Mater’ is completely brutal with its ferocious beat downs, while ‘Rituals’ nearly makes my head fall off with it’s pummelling doomy riff. As well as Rolo being superb at the heavy stuff, they’ve really nailed the melodic stuff recently. New track ‘Closer’ sounds stunning in all its shimmering, post-rock beauty and ‘Aftermath’ closes the main set with such elegance, the whole room swaying along to its infectious vocal refrains.
You have to give it to this band – they have always pushed themselves, not just in a recording setting but in a live setting as well. On top of that, they’ve put together an insanely well crafted live show that is equal amounts ferocious and euphoric. With three sets as good as this tonight, I reiterate my initial point on the UK metal scene being in the strongest position it’s ever been in right now, to the point of it being absolutely vital. Insert horns.
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