By Jase Walker
After being greeted with a warm spell just in time for Easter weekend, I’ve decided to make the most of it by going to a dark room to get my ears blasted to bits by one of the most bizarre bands in the metal scene. Unfortunately, Drumcorps have had to drop out, which is a real shame, but we’ve still got a support act in the form of Otto Von Schirach, who I’ve been informed is similarly as weird as Igorrr…
A bit later than advertised, Otto takes the stage dressed up in an outfit that would appear becoming of a Power Rangers villain in their black metal phase. So far the start of this show has been a bit closer to the likes of Marc Rebillet except with a bit more of bizarre bleep bloop style sound sampling.
Look, I have seen some very strange and odd acts that have bizarre stage performances, but Otto is kind of blowing them out the water so far. One of the odder moments is him doing a crab walk across the stage making various guttural noises before grabbing the mic like it’s his penis – I’m a bit lost for what to say here. I mean I think in the end I need to be clear that I did really enjoy this show, but I didn’t get it, it was incredibly bizarre and entertaining, and easily one of the weirdest things I’ve seen live!
The stage now cleared and ready for Igorrr, the venue is absolutely bloody heaving at this point, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Club Academy this packed! And finally, here we are, again a little later but we’re already straight in with the strings and busy Drum and Bass, the next hour is only going to get more hectic from here. Finally, the whole band is on stage now and the madness is fully kicking in and it sounds huge, this is even more than I could have hoped for already and then some.
Each part of the show, the backing harpsichord, both singers, the drums, the grinding guitar and the jumping back and forth between metal and pounding breakbeat like it’s all perfectly natural, Igorrr are truly unique in their sound and stage show. Partway through we get one of the singles off the latest album, the massively heavy and Arabian Nights-esque, ‘Downgrade Desert’ but of course with Igorrr’s signature vocal synth breaks before giving way to soaring wailing vocals, all of it cuts through so clearly, exceptional. Not satisfied with just leaving it there, ‘Camel Dancefloor’ is next, continuing the ‘Spirituality and Distortion’ theme.
It catches me completely off guard, they’re playing my favourite song by them, ‘ieuD’; it’s my go to song to introduce Igorrr anyone, a bloody incredible song that really showcases all the facets of their musical style! The black metal influences, the baroque, the soprano vocals in focus, the breakbeat DnB, it’s all in there one way or another. Towards the end of the show, especially after they wait until the encore to play ‘Cheval’ and ‘VERY NOISE’, it’s very clear that a lot of people might write Igorrr off as ‘just a weird band’, but this show has really put the sort of music they’re doing into perspective.
Igorrr *are* weird, there’s no doubt about that but it needs to be said that they’re also one of the more unique bands around right now, and they’re pushing the boundaries of musical fusion in a way that very few other bands can even come close to. But just saying they’re weird undersells them, not only in how outrageous their musical ability is, but also how tight they are live. This has truly been one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen, Igorrr’s live show is special in a way that’s hard to put into words, bizarre and sublime.
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