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Converge, Kylesa, Gaza, Kvelertak @ The Underworld, London |
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Converge
Kylesa
Gaza
Kvelertak
@
The Underworld, London
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As a hungry crowd gathers and the pit of The Underworld begins unveiling its gladiatorial beasts, there’s a clear air of impending doom as all await the brutality that looms ahead of them.
Opening tonight’s mammoth line-up are Kvelertak, Norway’s very own kinetic gems. Bursting with energy, immense musicianship and character that’s hard to come by, whilst boasting guttural growls and pure party riff’s (check out 'MJØD', and try not to move), they leave a stunned crowd, ready for a tear-up.
Meeting an initially fairly dispersed crowd , Gaza step to the stage and it’s as though a cloak of darkness enshrouds the venue and ceilings begin to close in, as they pummel out uniquely harrowing, and sometimes sludgy grindcore. The crowd stealthily becomes brimming, and onlookers appear transfixed as vocalist Jon Parkin descends (all 6’7 of him) into the crowd, roaring his anger-driven words. An unexpected atmosphere from a band termed ‘Saucy Tossers’.
At last Kylesa greet the eager crowd, who are by this point nicely warmed up and hankering for a face melt. Unyielding, they storm seamlessly through tracks with no talk interjecting; only slowing the pace with ‘Unknown Awareness’ that lulls the crowd into a trance-like sludge-swoon. The thunderous drums allow an impeccable flow from tracks such as ‘Hollow Severer’ into the pounding of ‘Scapegoat’ and ‘Unkown Awareness’ that rouses the crowd like they were an army of dormant beasts.
And the animalistic nature of the crowd is only magnified as Converge immerse savage and tenacious, and all that can be seen is a sea of limbs and hair; a mere bundle of ferociously advancing human matter. From the first riffs of ‘Concubine’, to the crushing atmosphere of ‘You Fail Me’, they propel, almost bloodthirsty through their carnal back catalogue. The only chance to regain composure or soak in the intensity of it all, is the fleeting banter that they cut through the otherwise tense set - they even request a charming Happy Birthday chant for Ben Koller.
Tonight, regardless of feeling like being repeatedly smashed in the face, surely stands as being one of the best gigs, thus far of 2010. The calibre of talent this evening is somehow a breath of fresh air, a cathartic haven - like ripping off a plaster, it hurts but it sure feels good the let the stank out.
Reviewed by Victoria Walsh
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