Band: The Word Alive
Support: Dayshell & I See Stars
Venue: O2 Academy Islington, London
Date: 03/12/2013
It’s a cold Tuesday evening in London and we’re here to celebrate the wonderful US of A. The Word Alive have come over as support to various bands and frequented festivals such as Slamdunk, but a headline tour is well and truly overdue.
Opening the evening are brand new band Dayshell. By now we’re sure you’ve all heard of them and if not then go now! Frontman Shayley Bourget was once one half of the dual vocals in Of Mice and Men but now he’s seemed to find his home with Dayshell! It’s the bands first time on UK shores and with their debut release only a few weeks old it’s a shame that more of the crowd don’t get involved. The band are a fantastic opening with strong vocals and a set up you’d expect from a band far older than they are. Banging out tracks from their debut such as ‘I Owe You Nothing’ and ‘Share With Me’. After tonight’s debut London performance we’re sure that in 2014 we will be hearing an awful lot more from Dayshell. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
It seems that the majority of the crowd are here to see I See Stars. The chants and screams alongside the excessive number of band tshirts on show is evidence enough. The band are their own brand of Electronic Hardcore Music- yeah we didn’t know that existed either- but it’s the perfect explanation of their music. Their 35 minute set just really isn’t long enough to squeeze in material from their four studio albums but the band do a damm good job fitting everything in. The set is filled predominantly of tracks from latest offering ‘New Demons’ and the roars escaping the mouths of the audience show that despite being new it’s as well known as older tracks. From the opening beats of latest track ‘Murder Mittens’ the pits well and truly explode into play and it’s hard to fault I See Stars on either their musical offering or their crowd interaction, they have the crowd at their mercy.
It seems that less people are here for The Word Alive than some of their support as the venue actually begins to thin out after I See Stars leave the stage. Despite this Tyler Smith prove to everyone why they are one of the most exciting acts in the current post- hardcore scene. Ahead of an expected new album in 2014 they mix equal measures from ‘Lifecycles’ and ‘Deceiver’ and tracks such as ’Dragon Spell’ and ’Battle Royale’ bringing unadulterated chaos to the floor. ’Astral Plane’ is when Tyler’s vocals are shown off to the max with his screams that come with such ease and commands such organized chaos.
Tonight is a complete showcase of the highlights of American music and we’re excited for when all three bands return to British soil.
7/10
Review and photos by: Rhian Westbury
