Gatecreeper are one of those bands that remind you of the early days of death metal when Scandinavia were producing quality groups at production line levels. Except, these guys are from Phoenix, Arizona. They’ve gone about getting a foothold in the music scene using split records too, another practice less common now. They sound huge tonight, often channelling little hints of Entombed but always with their own identity thanks to a bit of gothiness thrown in the mix.
Things are hotting up in the Apollo and the mood lightens a little with Swiss folk metallers Eluvietie providing a musical feast. There are eight of them playing a mix of modern and traditional instruments, and of course being from the land of perfect time keeping their set runs like a high class watch. Chrigel Glanzmann’s vocals just keep getting better as each year passes, and his ability to play numerous instruments is jaw dropping. Tonight they ooze class from start to finish.
We see the need for artists to move forward time and time again. Without it you just get stagnation. A case in point are Amorphis who started life as a death metal outfit but have now moved well and truly into progressive territory with a side helping of folk for good measure. And they sound fantastic because of it without losing their roots. Here in Hammersmith you can see the results of true freedom of expression, and true progression. This is music that connects people, it’s unifying, and boy do we need that right now.
There are high excitement levels as the banner reading ‘pure fucking metal’ drops and we begin Arch Enemy’s show. Playing in support of their twelfth studio album ‘Blood Dynasty’ the first thing you notice is how seamlessly new boy Joey Concepcion fits into the line up. His guitar work is unquestionably strong, but it’s the interaction with his bandmates that is tellingly positive. Michael Amott is his usual slick self, killing it and then some. We get to hear some classics within a set understandably showcasing the latest work, and that means we get to hear Alissa White-Gluz in an expanded role vocally. We already knew she could sing clean but her tone tonight is magical. And those growls still haven’t lost any venom either. Twelve records in and we find Arch Enemy sounding stronger than ever where it counts, on a stage.
Review and photos by Gary Trueman