Mondays are difficult, aren’t they? End of the weekend, back to work or education and, in the case of this one on the first full week of July, a change in the weather; the clouds are swirling and growing greyer, with unsettled conditions forecast for the days ahead. Thank goodness, therefore, for this – the final date of a UK leg that has been popping off on every date so far and, although not a sell out, the confines of Bristol’s famous boat venue are packed and full of chatter for BORN OF OSIRIS.
japan’s PALEDUSK are following up the last of these supporting gigs with a handful of UK headline shows, but they’re not taking these performances on with an air that they’re just warm ups – they want to upstage everyone. Coming on to EMINEM‘s forever great Lose Yourself is an interesting and somewhat comical opening, but it pays off as people laugh instead of cringe, before they’re blasted by nu-metalcore juggernaut Area PD. Like a lot of bands from the Land of the Rising Sun, PALEDUSK are technically proficient, especially guitarist Daisuke Ehara who shreds his ace with expert precision. Not everything hits the spot – Slay!!, featuring rapper Hideyoshi, is a mismatch of styles that doesn’t work and latest single I’m Ready To Die For My Friends is equally as directionless, but by this point PALEDUSK have won everyone over and made an army of new friends.
The British flavour on the bill comes in the guise of Birmingham’s OCEANS ATE ALASKA, who receive a hero’s welcome on their entry and the opening double salvo of Metamorph and Paradigm from last year’s Disparity album make for a strong beginning to their 35 minutes of metalcore. However, when Vultures And Sharks from 2015 debut Lost Isles kicks in, that’s when the band go up a gear; it’s followed swiftly by Blood Brothers from the same record and, by now, the room is bouncing, a sea of bodies crashing into one another and giving everything they’ve got – when Shallow Graves drops, the pit reaches it’s most potent and nobody standing within six feet of the edge is safe. Hansha provides a huge singalong and the closing duo of Nova and Escapist bring OCEANS ATE ALASKA back to their present day. Three albums down, they’ve still got a bright future ahead of them
Like their tour counterparts, Illinois’ BORN OF OSIRIS are coming into this show off the back of a rousing set at UK Tech-Fest, which saw them close the final edition of the festival by headlining the main stage. Tonight, the stage might be smaller and the crows less dense, but the progressive metalcore mob aren’t taking their foot off the gas and winding down. Neither are those in front of them – as vocalist Ronnie Canizaro bellows “FUCKING BOW DOWN!” to open an hour of breakdowns and carnage, the pit swells once more, incited by the frontman’s words and not a second thought between them. The bulk of the set comes from either most recent album Angel Or Alien or 2017’s The New Reign, and there’s highlights from both – from the former, White Nile and Threat of Your Presence, the aforementioned Bow Down and a stunning Abstract Art from the latter.]At one point, a crowdsurfer makes his way onto the stage during a rare quieter moment; Ronnie introduces him and then tells everyone to catch him when the song kicks back in. It’s one of those moments that reminds you just how important the metal community is – for all the online gatekeeping and problems that it faces, at the heart of it all is the desire to connect and enjoy, something very much on show here. A final one-two of Open Arms to Damnation and a triumphant Machine bring BORN OF OSIRIS‘ UK leg to a close and, despite the cool night air, the fires inside all those who leave burn brightly
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