Gig Reviews
The Smile
K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, DEN - 13/3
Album Reviews
Bring Me The Horizon
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support Architects + The Devil Wears Prada
author AP
date 01/02/11
venue Store Vega, Copenhagen, DEN
It says something about the size of the Danish scene when even the heavyweights in the genre have trouble selling Store Vega out. Granted, the event fell midweek in the capital, preventing all but the central and peripheral dwellers from attending due to issues to do with school, work and money. Perhaps a venue like Lille Vega or Amager Bio would be better suited for accommodating bands of this caliber (at least on weekdays)? It's not that Store Vega was echoing with vacancy tonight, with most of the available floor downstairs occupied by masses of alarmingly young attendees, but it does pose a danger that the headlining act might not be willing to give it all, especially if we're talking about a band capable of, and used to, playing before thousands of people.
In the past, Architects have had some trouble handling their instruments with the proficiency they demonstrate on record, but tonight, it seems the band has finally fallen into a comfort zone where pulling off a demanding tapped lead on the move is no chore at all. On the new songs, which emphasize a more simplistic, chord driven approach, the level of energy is of course even higher, but overall the band before my eyes is one with thrice the experience and precision they had last year, supporting Underoath. But even so, while the performance lacks completely in flaws, it never pulls my jaw toward the floor or prevents me from checking my watch. Architects might be considered as battle worn veterans in the scene already, but steps still need to be taken to differentiate their trade from the growing number of djent-riffing, time-bending metalcore shooting stars shipping over here in legions. Musically Architects achieved this long ago, with "Hollow Crown", but with the recent lapse into poppier territory where Alexisonfire already thrives, the time has come to take their show into another dimension.
High on confidence, low on mistakes, and riding a decent sound mix, Bring Me The Horizon woo us through sheer power and precision leaving no one cold. At the same time, maturing has its downsides, particularly for a band marred by voluptuous controversy, as expecting a band infamous for breaking the rules does not pay off tonight. Instead, the setlist has been tailored to reflect the band's current mainstream success, meaning that the profane, chaotic stuff of "Count Your Blessings" has had to succumb to the band's more accessible side. For the casual listener this is good news as it provides ample opportunity for crowd participation, but for the more battle hardened of us, the newfound pop sensibilities are simply not convincing enough to match the aural and visual violence of the early years. Since Oli himself is no tenor, and newest member Jona Weinhofen can do backup at best, the band attemps to spice things up with numerous guest spots. Denmark's very own Jacob Printzlau (who used to sing for The Fashion and directed the video for "It Never Ends") steps in to cover Josh Franceschi's contributions on "Fuck", Sam Carter expectedly handles his duties on "The Sadness Will Never End", and Tek-One's Tonn Piper joins in for some rapping during "Football Season is Over".
But as cool as such details are (the triforce vocals courtesy of Sykes, Weinhofen and Printzlau on "Fuck" are chilling), it is difficult not to feel like the most essential element of Bring Me The Horizon is missing. Rather than living up to the unpredictable, chaotic and visceral show that past incidents like being thrown off stage foreshadow, the band is surprisingly tame in their delivery tonight. The audience, on the other hand, seems overcome by folie á deux, which is the most natural reaction to songs as explosive as "Alligator Blood" and "Diamonds Aren't Forever". And so, while Bring Me The Horizon fare well when it comes to executing their material glitch-free, the show is a little too safe for my liking. It will be interesting to see whether such an approach can propel the band into the big league where arena venues are mundane, and also what fate awaits the remnants from the band's ferocious past. Will the old material be scrapped altogether to push the band's current image, or will the band also continue to mine its roots and establish itself as an unstoppable live force?
Setlist:
- It Never Ends
- Chelsea Smile
- Alligator Blood
- Fuck
- The Sadness Will Never End
- Crucify Me
- Football Season is Over
- Blessed With a Curse
- Anthem
- --Encore--
- Diamonds Aren't Forever