PLUS: BLESSTHEFALL,
CHELSEA GRIN,
WITH ONE LAST BREATH
HMV Forum, London
21.01.12
Words: Jenny Chu
The Still Reckless Tour equipped with screamo, hard-core and a bit of rock ‘n’ roll, passing the torch to York mob With One Last Breath light their thirty minute flame with metal guitar riffs, screams at every pitch possible and aggression in the most glamorous sense. The five piece come together well as a band and deliver a performance that has potential to walk the footsteps of Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium.
Chelsea Grin create a stampede of muted guitars and blend of screams belched out at the lowest of levels. Bringing back an overload of the MySpace “bear claw hand” attempt to finish with a rumble of noise louder, heavier and ever so more addictive than with what they were welcomed with.
The Arizona chaps that make up Blessthefall deliver an outstanding performance that is deserving of gracing the 11 date tour. The marching of drums and the energy in Awakening followed by Promised Ones, new single off debut album Awakening opens up the set. Frontman Beau Bokan launches into the crowd after doing a backflip and crowd surfing his way back to the stage in To Hell And Back, putting in every effort into making the sold out show an intimate, memorable one whilst creating a connection with those that will hi5 him. Who says men can’t multi-task, Beau hits every note despite fighting to keep his shirt intact from fans dying to rip it to shreds as the guitar riffs hook every pair of ears. The intensity of every song, fuelled with commanding screams, breakdowns that would put UnderOath on the edge of their seat and choruses so strong they put Hulk Hogan to shame. Not forgetting the fans that have been there from the start, Hey Baby Here’s That Song You Wanted off 2009’s Witness and closing with Guys Like You Make Us Look Bad from 2007’s His Last Walk is a reminder that these five faces are the ultimate kings of putting on the best live shows and are welcome back anytime.
What tonight is really all about and hoped for comes with a band that has broken America and leaves their trace everywhere they go. Asking Alexandria throw in their best efforts from the start, exploding into an impressive and intense drum solo before jumping head first into Closure that frames their ability to fall into the genre of screamo, hardcore and engage in whirlwinds of electronics and not forgetting sporting rock ‘n’ roll all into one great band. Their flair of confidence and expertise in incorporating a set that does leave everyone Breathless only surprises tonight’s audience that this show should be nonetheless than a stadium sell out. Worsnop walks the stage with pride even when unexpectedly lets his mouth run loose with explicit comments that only he would get away with. The spark in Asking Alexandria shines brightest when Not The American Average and I Was Once, Possibly, Maybe, Perhaps A Cowboy King provokes circle pits of rage and unleashes the beauty in that of Dedication, Dear Insanity and Morte Et Dabo displaying their journey from one album to another. The finale of Asking Alexandria closes with earth quaking riffs that make it hard to resist bouncing along too in Alerion and Final Episode drawing the night to a significant stage in Asking Alexandria.
