Tonight was originally booked for the 1300 capacity New Century Hall across town but was switched to the much smaller Club Academy a couple of months ago, and the word on the street is that it hasn't sold well at all. It looks pitifully empty just after the doors open and isn't that much busier as Helms Alee take to the stage.
Helms Alee open with some maudlin Americana guitar chords before the rhythm section join in and absolutely hammer their instruments. There is an indie rock sensibility to them and the overall effect is like PJ Harvey jamming with Kylesa. It is thunderously heavy and very rhythmic with the sonic assault coming in waves. The bass tone and rhythms also bring tonight's headliners to mind. All three members add something different vocally. The guitarist Ben Verellen's vocals have a coarse, raw edge reminiscent of High On Fire's Matt Pike. The bassist Dana's voice has a Sinead O'Connor edge and the track where she takes lead is much more atmospheric and, dare I say, beautiful, like rays of sunshine breaking through a thunderstorm. There's the odd awkward moment, such as the drummer dropping her sticks and a clumsy transition from a quiet part to a heavy part, but it doesn't damage the impact in the slightest. The penultimate track sees the drummer Hozoji and Ben harmonise to excellent effect, giving the impression of a doom Fleetwood Mac. The crowd keep heckling 'very good' but it is hard to disagree.
It's filled up somewhat and is about half full when Torche start their set. As a lot of bands are doing these days following Ozzy's passing, they open with a Sabbath cover. To be fair, their cover of 'Breakout' is probably more focused than the original. Their own material sounds as good as ever too. Their patented 'thunder pop' is heavy enough to get heads banging but has a good dash of melody and accessible vocals as demonstrated by the bouncy yet hefty 'Grenades' is hefty. 'Pirana' has a powerful, steamrollering rhythm. The uptempo biker punk of 'Speed Of The Nail' is great. The summery stoner rock of 'Across The Shields' has a fantastic groove perfect for driving round town in a sporty convertible on a hot Summer's day. The dynamic 'Kicking' is the perfect blend of the heavy and the melodic whilst the waves of noise which propel 'Minions' steadily forwards are pretty hypnotic. The devastatingly heavy bass tone of 'Warship' is crushing whilst 'In Return' is an absolute barrage. They seem to be getting heavier and heavier as the the set progresses. To be honest, I'd completely forgotten about Torche but tonight is a welcome return. I just wish more people were here to see it.
Torche ****
Helms Alee ****
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