Royal Rumble (all-dayer) @ Camden Underworld 17/01/09
Search Party, Lone Wolves, Chaos Days, Santa Karla, More Than Life, Lower Than Atlantis, Burn Down Rome, Gold Kids, Dreaming In Oceans, This Is Colour and Dead Swans
Royal Rumble, put on by A Hero's Trial Promotion is the 2nd show for the young promoters. Being an all-dayer which showcased some of the best and up-coming UK and Euro hardcore bands is quite an achievment to say the least! Even more impressive was the organisation and large turnout of the gig which ran smoothly (with time to spare!)
It's 2.20 and the first band on are Search Party, a relativly unknown band hailing from Glasgow - this is their first show out of Scotland! If the band has any pre-gig nerves they certainly didn't show as they launched into a solid set for such a young band. I would strongly recommend anyone reading this to download their free demo on their myspace. I hope they manage to venture outside of Scotland in the future.
Second on are Lone Wolves, who offer up a raw mix of thrash/metal and hardcore. If I'm being honest, they wouldn't be a band I would typically listen to - but these guys are not only tight live they sound brilliant. They guys won't be unsigned for long - if anyone has sense.
Next on are Chaos Days, whilst I can't fault the band on their fun and technically tight performance, I personally wasn't keen on the frontman's voice. Although I think I think it's good to mix things up a little in an all dayer (and i love several pop-punk bands) Chaos Days for me didn't seem to fit into an otherwise strong hardcore line-up.
I've only seen Santa Karla once before, last year at Bar Monsta they were ok then. The Santa Karla of today are 20x better. The hardcore/metal band from Kent are the first band of the day that seem to grab the crowd's attention throughout their set. Their fast paced crushing sound blasts through the speakers and refuses to let go until they finish. And even then i was left wanting more. Their EP 'A Thousand Deaths' is worth your attention.
Anyone who has an intrest in UKHC will have heard of More Than Life, and if you know me you'll know how much i rate them. Even though the band only performed in the very same venue a few days before, where the reception wasn't as involved, tonight holds no such qualms. Kids two-step, fist punch, scream they're hearts out. Get on it.
Lower Than Atlanis are still a band that I've never quite got. They make several Gallows jokes through out their set, but funnily enough do sound similar live. Not that this is all a bad thing! Or that they mean it. There just seems to be quite a few other bands out there that are along the same lines but are better at it.
The seventh band of tonight are Burn Down Rome, who last year released their blinding album 'Devotion'. After their set i'm itching to give it another spin! The vocalist takes a few songs to get warmed up, but at their best they offer up some brillant songs, laced with passion, intelligent lyrics and swirling guitar riffs.
Gold Kids are flying the flag for Europe as the only non-UK band on the bill. Good job their on the bill because they're bloody brilliant! The band wear they're hearts on their sleeves and passionate would be a grave understatement to describe vocalist Andre. Raging like a man on fire, the band are on top tonight. Gold Kids have just released 'The Sound Of Breaking Up' on vinyl you say?
The ninth band on are Dreaming In Oceans. There was some confusion on the day whether they would be playing due to rumours of another break-up - but thankfully they did show up. On record I 've never much rated Dreaming In Oceans, yet for some reason tonight live they slay it. It's crushing breakdown after crushing breakdown and the crowd lap it up. It might appear as hardcore by number but it works and they go down a treat. Whether they are a staying power however, will remain a question for now.
The penultimate band is This Is Colour, another band which i never quite followed but by the looks of tonight's crowd certainly have the support behind them. They are more metal than hardcore, yet are still able to comfortably transend with either audience. 'Brothers In Arms' is their highlight and seems to gather the best response. With a new album just out on TDON Records and a honing of their sound - things could seriously open up for TIC.
After 6 hours of relentless bands, with sing-a-longs, stage dives (and maybe a few too many spin kicks!) aplenty, you might think the crowd would be worn out by now. This however doesn't seem to be the case when the headliners are Dead Swans. As the first chord of 'Lines Of Seperation' play things kick off and they don't slow down from then on. And with trampoline stage dives and crowd invasions things don't get much better than this! Headlining and drumming up such support across the UK and beyond on an EP and split 7" alone, makes me realise that much greater things are yet to come from the UK's best hardcore band. 2009 should see the release of Dead Swan's debute album - and we're all holding on with baited breath.
Round 2 next year.
If you want to see my photos of Search Party, Lone Wolves, Chaos Days, Santa Karla, Gold Kids and Dreaming in Oceans visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ksulli1sulli2/
I haven't posted anything in a while due to finishing up uni. I've started a DIY record lable with a friend called Breakout Records. We've already got 3 releases in the pipeline, one tape, one CD and one vinyl - with more in discussion. I'm not in a band at the moment (although would like to be), so wanted to help out other bands. It's totally non-profit for me, as the money goes to the bands - but thats the point. Theres a lot of great hardcore/punk bands in the UK at the moment - ones i feel deserve more attention and/or don't have a release out yet. Check us out on: www.myspace.com/breakoutrecordsuk
Swiss sxe band Unveil, offer modern fast-paced, energetic hardcore. One of the best demos I've heard in a long while!
Youth crew hardcore in the vein of Judge, Floorpunch and Youth Of Today. 8 track demo.
If you like Straight Ahead, Get The Most and Mindset - Clear Sight is for you. Fast hardcore from the Ukraine!
For fans of Minor Threat, Uniform Choice and The First Step. Greedy Man is my faavourite track of theirs. Demo tape is out now on Brainwreck Records - check out their releases!
UK based Dirty Money already have an EP out and split 7" with Trapped Under Ice, however their 2006 demo is still up to download. Get it while you can!
Faced-paced, lyrically strong hardcore from Canada. For fans of Have Heart, The Effort.
UK hardcore/metal that sounds like a man on fire. Good stuff! For fans of Converge, Cursed and Trap Them
Myspace: 
