Tonight’s song is something very special —a tour of bands pushing the envelope in metal music. Heading the forefront are Igorrr, the French experimental band; Master Boot Record, a self-proclaimed computer metal & avant-garde black metal group; and Imperial Triumphant.
Tonight’s sold-out show gives Imperial Triumphant the perfect audience to showcase their beautiful yet abrasive sound. Opening with “Lexington Delirium” really creates the ideal impact & has you glued to the stage. Their choice of masks & outfits really draws you in, but their stage presence keeps you glued to the whole set. This furious track is harsh but is full of melancholy.
“Devs est Machina” is a true powerhouse of a track & in the live setting, it’s even harsher but rewarding to hear. The interplay here with the band is so tight, & they can stop on a dime & go to complete silence before starting again. The musicianship between these three is impeccable.
Imperial Triumphant have always been a band I’ve enjoyed on record, & seeing them live made me appreciate their manic but controlled chaos, & I hope to see them in a headline setting at some point.
Review: Joseph Mitchell
Photography: Artur Tarczewski
https://www.imperial-triumphant.com
A group that I had never heard of until tonight, Master Boot Record (MBR) , absolutely blew me away. Their mix of heavy metal riffage with computer game style synth was fantastic. Even as a three piece of two guitar & drummers their sound was loud, pounding & so rich.
Their opening track “CONFIG.SYS” feels like the perfect intro song to any 80s action sci-fi film. If you love the work Mick Gordon has done over the last few years you will love MBR. Main songwriter & mastermind Victor Love feels like a cyber hacker meets a symphony composer on the stage. Having fun riffing but in control of every element. Live drummer Giulio Galati had me watching his feet at times with this crazy double bass section & ton of groove with this feel. He knew when to keep it simple & stripped back but also when to give colour to the song.
And lastly guitarist Edoardo Taddei who is one of the best shredders I’ve seen live all this year. His playing style is superb & looks effortless!
Its always great when you go to a show & with a new band you want to deep dive their back catalogue & MBR are now my new obsession.
Review: Joseph Mitchell
Photography: Artur Tarczewski
The time has come for the final act of tonight & for my first time seeing Igorrr live. Now there is a band I’ve wanted to see live as I’ve always enjoyed their albums but have heard such great things about their live show and boy did they not disappoint.
Opening their set with “Daemoni” really got the crowd pumped. The slow build of the heavy bass & synth feels like a demon crawling up your back & with a stage show that Igorrr has really set the scene. As the band kicks in the sound guy is doing a fantastic job. It’s loud, every element of the band is crystal clear & it hits you hard. Vocalist JB Le Bail takes the stage & unleashes his beast like vocals which feels like a huge punch to the gut there so heavy.
“Blastbeat Falafel” is a fun track that’s main riffs got stuck in my head through the whole set. This fun & balls out song builds nicely element by element before the band unleashes. Drummer Rémi Serafino is a true beast, his timing & how hard he can hit those drummers the entirety of their set just kept taking me by surprise.
“Silence” is a nice moment in the set that strips everything back & showcases Marthe Alexandre’s mezzo-soprano vocals. This track feels like it is truly a soundtrack worthy of a high budget film. It also showcases Gautier Serre the main song writer & master minds true talent & made me appreciate his musical genius even more.
As the set draws to a close “Himalaya Massive Ritual” gives the crowd one last chance bask in the glory that is Igorrr, throughout the night its the craziest crowd i’ve seen in some time. Nearly all of the standing floor is moving, headbanging, dancing. The band feel infectious & after seeing what a powerful performance they give i can see why & how this band has reached the highs they have in the last few years. Please if you get a chance to see Igorrr please take it, as they are a true force of nature.
Review: Joseph Mitchell
Photography: Artur Tarczewski
