By Jase Walker
Imagine my surprise when I check the door times for the Ritz for this show and see “doors 5:30pm”. I don’t think I’ve ever scrambled to get to a venue so quickly before because I don’t think I’ve ever seen the doors for a Ritz show be this early!
Somehow I’ve managed to make it into the venue before Novelists start which is pretty awesome, as I wouldn’t want to miss these guys! It stands immediately that this stage production is no ordinary setup compared to previous shows, they’ve got their signature logo lit up as a massive set of lights. Bit of a weird start though because the lights are flashing, the drummer did what appeared to be a brief intro and then… stopped? They’ve also got Sam Kubrick on main vocals tonight as Tobias is getting some well needed rest. Also despite the seriously early doors, there’s a pretty solid turnout for this time too! I also feel sorry for the poor lad who got caught in the middle of the first wall of death and fell over into a massive beer puddle three times in a row.
It’s been pretty entertaining seeing the few people trying to get a proper pit going for Novelists. I suspect there’s few people who know them quite well for this show (not that it’s impacting my enjoyment!). Seeing them put on this sort of production at the Ritz, compared to previous shows and with legitimately about a week’s notice, is fantastic as well! The set leans much more heavily towards their ‘C’est La Vie’ and ‘Déjà Vu’ albums, which is pretty expected, even if I am a bit of a ‘Noir’ fanboy. It certainly reflects a much more mature style and I’d be lying if I said the newer albums weren’t much more refined in their use of melody and pacing. Overall, a great set from the French lads, seeing them on such a massive stage seems well deserved.
In the middle of me having a bit of a moan about bands using extended intro tracks, in this case ‘Chop Suey’, August Burns Red carry on from the track and end up completing it, as they released a single cover of it bizarrely!
When ABR really get into their heavy grinding breakdowns and their singer’s jumping back and forth between gurgling gutturals and shrill vocal fries, it’s just bloody obscene.
The sound balance for this show is incredible too, every groove is matched perfectly with the bass drum firing off like a machine gun in perfect synchronicity. Not only that but the fact that the soaring melodies against a background of chaotic riffing sings through is fantastic too, August Burns Red are truly putting on an incredible show.
One of my favourites, ‘Invincible Enemy’, with its constant off beat drums, incredible grooves and relentless tapped melodies, what a banger! I really cannot get over how intensely melodic August Burns Red are; these, along with bands like ERRA, where the intensity just doesn’t let up for a gasp of breath at any point, are unbelievable to experience live. Of course we’ve got shenanigans for tonight’s show by having the whole crowd singing “Happy Birthday” to the drummer too. It really is astounding the sheer energy that August Burns Red puts out in their live show, and the fact that they keep it running at 110 per cent for the whole set. There’s rarely a single moment that the band or the audience can even gasp for breath, it’s legitimately incredible.
August Burns Red are absolutely on top of their game right now and this shows easily been the best I’ve ever seen them. What a fantastic set!
And finally, the band I’ve been waiting to see again for ages, Bury Tomorrow!
Opening with ‘Choke’ is a choice banger from ‘Cannibal’ and the crowd is already going bloody mental! Following it up with ‘The Grey’ as well and following through with their massive ‘Cannibal’ singles! Not stopping for breath, we’re in ‘Black Flame’ and this set of songs one after another sees the crowd going absolutely berserk by this point, the entire front arc of the crowd is smashing into each other.
Even the new singles sound fantastic too and despite the loss of Jason from the band, I can assure you that nothing has been lost from Bury Tomorrow’s insane energy.
This is definitely one of those bands where I’m so caught up in the show I’m almost forgetting to take notes. Between the insane live show that sounds amazing and watching the crowd go berserk (which is no small amount I can tell you), I just can’t take my eyes off them.
I find it hard to overstate just how on fire Bury Tomorrow are at this show, they are a force to be reckoned with that builds momentum with no sign of slowing down. A ‘Runes’ banger, ‘Man On Fire’ rings through the tall ceilings of the Ritz and gets me right in the chest; every chug is felt, every beat is heard: what a song! Finishing with their ‘Cannibal’ album title track and an odd choice of ‘Death (Ever Closer)’, Bury Tomorrow prove that they are on top of their game now more than ever.
I am sodden with sweat and my heart is racing at an immense speed. This gig has been one I’ve been looking forward to for the entirety of 2022 and it’s delivered far more than I could have hoped. Bury Tomorrow, with every single move they make, it’s constantly pushing the envelope of what they can do with their music and what they can do with a live show. I don’t doubt for a second that their next tour is going to end up in some pretty massive venues!
- PHOTO CREDIT: Photograph courtesy of Bury Tomorrow.
- All content © Über Rock. Not to be reproduced in part or in whole without the express written permission of Über Rock.