We are in for a UK metal three-headed hydra as Sylosis brings Burner and Harbinger for a triple threat billing that can go toe to toe with anything from across the Atlantic Ocean. We tool up and enter the Key Club for an evening of all-out devastation!
Harbinger
Harbinger launches into their death tinged take on hardcore influenced metal early on and proves once again how solid and dependable this band are. Frontman Dilan Alves seems to get heavier vocally every time we see these guys, slaying with profound gutturals and searing fry vocals cutting through the primal concrete riffing. Harbinger won the crowd over easily and ignited the first circle pit of the evening mid-way through, ‘Antagonist’ The new track aired shows amazing promise for their next release, blistering, but for now, nameless. ‘Guile’ ignites in the penultimate position with that fierce vocal absolutely blazing the Key Club front row. When they hit the mid pace stomp section of the track the entire venue visibly goes OOF! in unison. ‘Hate File’ signs off another Harbinger beating for Leeds in fine style, these guys will surely be joining Sylosis as a home-grown main stage contender soon.
Burner
Burner are simply fucking devastating and hit the ground running. In a set loaded with their serrated barbs of pure hardcore metal glory, tracks like ‘Hurt Locker’ and ‘Siege Fire’ are set to stun and take zero prisoners. In Harry Nott they have one of the best voices in the British extreme metal scene, this may seem like a bold claim but we will throw that challenge down, seriously see Burner live! People compare this band to a UK Converge and on a form like this it’s hard to disagree. Burner are so tight live it’s incredible. Tonight is also something of a hometown gig for Harry Nott and he performs like his life depends on it! I haven’t seen intensity like this since the last time I saw Barney Greenway or indeed Jacob Bannon onstage, he really is that electrified! Slinging cuts out from their incredible ‘It All Returns To Nothing’ like nail bombs. We’re running out of superlatives here so we just implore you to go and see Burner at your next available opportunity, this is a priority people! “Nothing changes until we change ourselves!” is the rallying cry on ‘An Affirming Flame’ as Burner leaves a pile of rubble for Sylosis to play to.
Sylosis
That Josh Middleton is probably the most talented and prominent lead guitarist in UK metal is not up for debate. As a world class frontman too, he leads his beloved Sylosis through a pile driving set of pure head banging rage. The sold-out Key Club loses all of its shit as the band erupt into ‘Poison For The Lost’ then barely pause before hitting us with recent single and stand out album track ‘Pariahs’, the mosh pit fodder keeps coming feeding the voracious pit that chants back ‘I Sever’ in unison like a battle cry. The bass is profound, rattling from bassist Oli who eagle eyed Post Metal fans will recognise from his double duty in Conjurer you can’t miss him, he’s the bass player in a permanent windmill head banging as he doles out heavyweight pummelling low end. He’s paired with world-class rock-solid drumming from Ali Richardson which, when linked to state-of-the-art guitar tones hits like a sniper shot to your head. Architects’ loss is our gain as Josh proves why Sylosis are truly Britain’s answer to the Machine Head’s and Lamb Of God’s of the world. It’s very big and it’s very clever! Oldie ‘Blackest Skyline’ gets fists pumping and heads banging at a furious rate, we foresee aching necks in the Key Club’s near future if we are playing Moshtradamus. ‘Stained Humanity’ brings a wall of death and thorough kicking whether you participate or not.
The crowd is at a fever pitch in here and the atmosphere feels like it could actually ignite! ‘A Sign Of Things To Come’s’ hearty chug feast sounds genuinely iconic, and those trademark lead arpeggios just drip with heritage and true metallic power. Apparently, this is Josh’s favourite night of the tour, awww shucks, we bet he says that to all the crowds. Blushes turn to screw faces and ‘Worship Decay’ obliterates; accordingly, those stop start dynamics snapping necks like twigs. A parting one two of ‘Calcified into Deadwood’ solidifies this as one of the best UK metal gigs Key Club has seen so far this year it’ll take something titanic to change that title in 2024. Sylosis have firmly established their authority on their last album and sealed the deal on this tour.
Review & Photos By George Miller – https://linktr.ee/601music
Harbinger
Burner
Sylosis
