Two unknown bands touring Europe together for the first time seems like a huge leap of faith but there is a decent turnout tonight although I think this is aided by the local support act. It is the first show outside of the US for South Carolina's Excide. They should have played Leeds last night but cancelled flights due to extreme weather meant that they didn't make it.
Never Better start off as nu metal with eerie guitar lines and rapped vocals in the verse before leading into a punk rock chorus which is pretty good. The second track has a low end you can really feel and the rapped vocals are actually decent. The third track is funkier but not in a good way. The vocals are often in an angsty indie rapped fashion reminiscent of Jamie T. The fifth track is much better, with a surf rock groove and tighter vocals. Stylistically, they are pretty varied and they seem like a band with plenty to say, and the singer's delivery is suitably impassioned, There is a decent sized crowd and they go down pretty well but I have a feeling that they're playing mainly to their friends.
Japan's Hollow Suns play grungy post-hardcore which has one heck of a groove. The drummer is very smiley and he provides the punchy rhythms whilst also adding some neat fills. When they're at their heaviest, they are reminiscent of Helmet although the emotive vocals are much less aggressive. 'Free Fall' has more of a Deftones feel although that isn't that surprising considering the singer is wearing a Deftones shirt. The excellent 'Drawn To Tragedy' has a riff heavy Snapcase feel and that isn't the only time I'll be saying that tonight. 'Deep Down' has a Nirvana edge and that Pixies-esque bassline is great. 'Deception' mixes Snapcase style riffs with rocking, emotional post-hardcore. Every song has a great groove and a fair amount of power. Hollow Suns are pretty impressive.
Excide open with stop-start heavy hardcore of 'No Man'. It's short and sweet, as are most their songs although it does feel a bit too abrupt. The singer has one hell of a voice which is full of rage. He also has a neat line in two-stepping and is constantly encouraging the crowd to dance and, to be fair, he and the band do a great job of getting the crowd involved. The riff heavy '90s hardcore of Snapcase is a key influence, and 'Worth Your Salt' is an excellent example of the style. 'Call Box' mixes the heavy hardcore of Cast Iron Hike with catchy post-hardcore. They are much heavier and more energetic live, and they really take me back to the hardcore shows of the '90s. There are plenty of pinch harmonics which is a real throwback. All their songs are built for stomping or two-stepping and it is infectious. The riff at the end of the closing 'Your Flowers' has more than a whiff of Downset's 'Empower' about it, but nonetheless it is a great riff. At only twenty five minutes, it's a short but very sweet set.
Excide ****
Hollow Suns ****
Never Better ***
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