Tonight looks set to be a lively one, with French Metalcore heroes Landmvrks in town on their ‘Creature’ tour. They’ve brought a sizable undercard, too, in the shape of US heavyweight heroes The Devil Wears Prada and Like Moths To Flames. Opening the night from Malevolence’s MLVLTD label is UK hardcore metal kings Guilt Trip, which could get messy. Luckily, Stylus’ burly but friendly security team are hardened warriors in this field!
Guilt Trip
With pure gritty Manchester hardcore vibes and challenging, strobe heavy lighting that matches their kick drum patterns, Guilt Trip are definitely making their presence felt from the off with a massive ‘Fallen At My Feet’ and all guns are blazing. Unfortunately, that track was something of a self-fulfilling prophecy as the set is shortened a few songs in due to an early accident in the mosh pit. This is nothing new at hardcore shows and the band handle it like pros. They soon come back pummeling and with crowd slaying cuts like, ‘Severance’ and ‘Guilt Trip’ they get this party started right unloading bomb after bomb of stomping Mancunian rage. By the time the final blows of ‘Thin Ice’ thunder down the crowd seems very happy but quite battered and there’s still three more acts to go! Strap in!
Like Moths To Flames
Energetic and boisterous Like Moths To Flames hit the stage running with a huge ‘Angels Weep’. Frontman Chris Roetter lays down the rules for the crowd while he’s onstage, he certainly runs a tight ship, he demands jumping and acknowledges it’s his job to get us warmed up, like it or not! Casualty number two of the night halts proceedings momentarily during a particularly rabid moment in the crowd and after another pause in proceedings the band hit right back with new track ‘Kintsugi’ and get the arms of the crowd waving in unison, it’s actually quite a pretty sight, for a metalcore show. ‘I Solemnly Swear’ seals the deal with the Yorkshire crowd, with the familiar chant of “Yorkshire!” confusing more Americans as is traditional. We’re actually warming to Chris’s massively confident display onstage and even tales of ill-fated curry mishaps are welcomed. Musically the band are spot on with serrated modern metalcore just as at home igniting the flammable mosh pit tonight as they are laying down harmonies which are used sparingly which is actually something different these days. The band leave rapturous roars and the frontman’s earlier comment about his job description seems to suggest he and his band have put in a very good shift indeed.
The Devil Wears Prada
Suggesting the entire crowd surfs in the middle of the set probably wasn’t the greatest idea given the number of casualties tonight but that’s what The Devil Wears Prada do and our respect for the security here tonight is at, give these guys and girls a medal, status! The set got off to a cracking start too, with a huge sounding ‘Watchtower’ into ‘Danger’: Wildman and ultra-high energy performances all around. There’s something very likable about The Devil Wears Prada’s goofball approach to their live show that is in contrast to their deadly serious recorded output it seems. Even when they slow it all down with the vulnerable, ‘Broken’ they play with massive grins and appear to be loving every minute. Their approach to vocals is seemingly everyone gets a go but there’s two upfront voices leading this charge in Mike Hranica and Jeremy Depoyster, the former handling the harsh stuff and the latter being head crooner although these roles switch around. In the live setting this adds so much that you can miss on their recordings. One thing the band has in spades alongside obvious showmanship is the ability to spring a surprise or two, the dubstep drop in the middle of ‘Reasons’ was definitely one from the leftfield we were not expecting! The anthemic ‘Chemical’ is dedicated to the ladies in the audience and provides a little respite before the band reach their conclusion with ‘Sacrifice’ and you’d be forgiven for thinking this was their headline show with much of the audience singing every word back as they have been doing since the band emerged onstage. Tonight proved that this is one of those bands you seemingly have to see live to truly get the full picture.
LANDMVRKS
The Marseille wrecking crew have a lot to follow here tonight, this would be a gargantuan task ensuing the arena sized performance of The Devil Wears Prada, but as the band exploded into recent single ‘Creature’, we remember Landmvrks have something no other band has, quick fire French rap delivery! Any true hip hop head will tell you that French rap has always been technically amazing and delivered with a classy edge that immediately grabs your ear, combine that with a rock solid metalcore assault as evidenced on the aptly titled ‘Blistering’ and you get Landmvrks and something truly different. In a scene that has a reputation for being samey, tracks like ‘Visage’ and its slow mo build up to its huge payoff are definitely something special. Stand out album cut ‘Tired Of It All’ brings a massive singalong and any thoughts of Landmvrks having any trouble following such strong support acts are quickly forgotten. ‘Suffocate’ ushers in acoustic stripped back vibes and showcases the frontmans strong singing voice in intimate fashion, again this is a classy touch.
The band rejoins the stage and smash this one home with genuine emotion and once again we see why Landmvrks are the headliners tonight. Early day’s banger ‘Hollow’ brings the heavy and Leeds is moshing fiercely. It’s amazing that this boiling point audience still has life in them after the high-octane barrage that they have witnessed tonight. Blood has been shed and casualties have been suffered but for the most part everyone here is loving every minute. Landmvrks blast out a colossal ‘Rainfall’ and bid us adieu with the punishing ‘Self Made Black Hole’ and its crushing gutturals making sure the audience here are well and truly slayed. Tonight, has been utter warfare from the off but Landmvrks brought a certain element of class and sophistication to the proceedings to round it off. Tres Bon!
Review & Photos By George Miller
Guilt Trip
Like Moths To Flames
The Devil Wears Prada
LANDMVRKS
