Photos by: Samantha Potts
Baranovich
Baranovich starts their set with thundering bass chords and intense drumming sequences. Double-time riffs are played on the guitar in downward slopes. The stage is misty and bright lights from behind highlight the band’s silhouettes, giving them a sense of allure.
Instruments are overshadowing the vocals initially. The stage is crowded with equipment and there?s not much room to move around for a five-piece. Their drummer is hidden behind them in the shadows but heard the loudest throughout. They prompt us to fist pump but the crowd is stagnant.
Guitar riffs that now climb upwards for days are played with an urgent approach. The rapid energy on the drums never stops. Melodic vocals from the lead singer now carry to the back of the room and are layered with backing vocals which give the songs much depth, each instrument complimenting and intersecting the others with perfect timings. They announce a song from their ?Supercharged and loud as hell? EP. They lived up to the name tonight. More heads in the crowd are nodding along now.
You can tell they love what they do and are comfortable within themselves and with each other. Their facial expressions are fun, proud and sure throughout. They all seem very experienced; no cues were missed. They express consistent talent and energy throughout their set.
Guitar solos on a fork-shaped guitar highlight their musical complexities. Bass notes are played up and down in sliding scales, never sounding the same. They interacted well with the audience and had us all laughing at times.
The lead singer has a huge vocal range. Melodic and meaningful slower songs with beautifully high-pitched scales induce accentuated “woahhhhhs”, the crowd is now heavily involved; the drummer stands up to join in. The set gets heavier with integrated scales and thrashing instruments, their sound is widespread.
Ending their set on a bouncier note they?re moving more flamboyantly. Light still shining through the smoke and is now highlighting the many tones of their synchronized vocals. Gravelly but velvet melodies are heartfelt and belted periodically.
Fists in the air, sliding guitar riffs getting higher and higher, lyrics catchy and prominent. Their version of a ?Thin Lizzy? cover to finish has everyone moving, we?re warmed up for sure.
Izengard
Humming-like chakra chanting music starts the set-off, clock chiming and ancient-sounding vocals are heard on a backing track, lights dim to dark blue and grey tones, it all feels ominous. Demonic-sounding voices whisper non-intelligent words, and wind chimes and evil laughter are heard. Counting down soulfully into loudness and quirky theme tune nightmare-like noises are played, while the lead singer holds the mic stand diagonally, moving his hips to the sounds. This huge lead up integrates vocals that are unfortunately not enhanced well by the mic.
The guitar sounds grumpy, it?s low and muffled, and drums banged on in urgency leading into non-distinguishable vocals. Dramatic backing tracks; old-fashioned theme tunes and the energy of authenticity as rock stars engage us well. The mic stand is now upside down.
A sense of uniqueness is felt from the female band member playing the keyboard and vocals, she?s incredibly talented. There are huge crowd applauses in between songs. More vocals on the monitor are requested and now they?re in full swing. A song dedicated to us ?Vikings? is played and a huge drum roll leads into synthy keyboard sounds and classical rock guitar riffs, all well blended although each is equally significant as stand-alone, the crowds loving it.
The mic stand is now facing off the stage and into the crowd which may be why we didn’t obey when asked to ?move up closer?. Lights turn neon purple and their silhouettes are fully rocking out, we can tell they love what they do.
They announced a new album coming out, and songs from this are played and received well.
Violin-sounding prangs are quick and intense, and chords are positive and suspenseful. There?s lots of passion, projection and precision in the vocals now.
They interact well with the crowd and come across as thankful and relatable.
Meaningful lyrics are sung, dark and gothic, about lost souls. They emphasize and ask us to sing two words: ?Love me? People sang to partners, friends and the air, these lyrics echo around the room; gravelly and wholeheartedly.
Vocals with no end elongate the music and don’t break the songs up, the sound is continuous but ever-changing.
Wind churning noises and isolated vocals accompanied by just the keyboard sound intimate, then drums come in, then strings, they stagger their instruments well for maximum suspenseful effect. Brisk floating synthy sounds and painfully pitched on-purpose noises escape the amps, sounding dramatic, fleeting and loud. There?s a sense of urgency in the last song with double-timed hi-hat hitting and low bass notes tying it all together. The way they interacted with the crowd throughout and gave us regular cues made us feel part of the performance.
Anvil
There?s suspense in the air of this very crowded room, with a now less busy stage that has a