Arriving in time for the start of UK based act ARCHITECTS, this was a prime example of what I mentioned earlier. Their music is not for the general passer by, but for the near enough full venue, they lapped it up. The band did have plenty of energy and got the crowd going but I’m afraid it ends there for me. Their sound got old quick (even in a 25 minute set) and I was glad of it to be over so I could visit the bar. Unless they write something with a twist in it and show some progression and evolution, its hard to see them appealing to a larger fan base unlike AS I LAY DYING and UNEARTH. The majority of the set was made up from latest album ‘Ruin‘ with a couple of new ones thrown in which included ‘Follow The Water’ and ‘Early Grave’, which presumably will feature on the new album ‘Hollow Crown’ released in January next year.

Up next were Canadian dual vocal deathcore outfit DESPISED ICON, and because of technical difficulties during soundchecking, they came on 15 minutes late and on a tight schedule with the amount of bands on the bill, this was a disaster as it meant they had to cut their set short, so that other bands could keep on time. Unfortunately, the technical difficulties were still there as straight from set opener ‘Furtive Monologue’, Steve Marois’ mic was too low to hear his squeal style vocals above anything else. This was not the case for other vocalist Alex Erian, who climbed onto the barrier so the crowd could sing parts of ‘A Fractured Hand’. There 20 or so minute set closed with ‘In The Arms of Perdition’ to the crowd’s delight.

Having seen UNEARTH a few times before and being impressed with them on every time, tonight was no different. They were on top form and probably one of the tightest bands you will see around at the moment. Their style of thrash tinged metalcore went down a treat amongst the crowd tonight, and frontman Trevor Phipps got the crowd moshing at every available moment and every breakdown was lapped up by the metalcore faithful. Opening with ‘Endless’, their set was a mix of new material from latest album ‘The March’, of which ‘Crow Killer’, ‘My Will Be Done’ and ‘We Are Not Anonymous’ sounded excellent live, with classics which included ‘This Lying World’, ‘Giles’, ‘The Great Dividers’ and ‘Sanctity of Brothers’. Just before they left Phipps mentioned they would be back in the UK in February next year doing a headline tour in support of the new album. This topped off a terrific performance from the Massachusets outfit and judging by the way they went down tonight, their will be a few familiar faces in the crowd come next Februrary, me being one of them.

Onto tonights headliners and having the tough job of following such a brilliant performance from UNEARTH, Aussies PARKWAY DRIVE came on to a sold out venue and delivered a very good performance. Technical problems saw frontman Winston McCall’s mic play up during set opener ‘Boneyards’ where he was barely audible at times, but that was soon sorted out, and the band marched on with the crowd loving the likes of ‘Gimmie A D’ and ‘Carrion’. The set was made up from their two studio albums with highlights including the crowd getting a chance to sing into the mic through ‘Dead Man’s Chest’, whilst other tracks that shone were ‘Anasasis’ and set closer ‘Romance Is Dead’.

Tonights show was a huge success for all the bands on the bill, and each band will have gained a few more fans thanks to the likes of these sort of shows with so many bands on. One thing is definately certain – metalcore is still on the rise and it probably won’t be long until we start seeing these sorts of bands playing larger venues, so while they are still playing club like venues, get in now and check them out. A good night for both the fans and the bands.

Ratings:

Photography by Alexander Shaw (click here)