In the past year, word has spread of Japanese Electro-Metalcore band Crossfaith as being one of the most exhilarating, high energy live bands to step foot in to the UK in years. Tonight marks the final date of their recent tour supporting Bring Me The Horizon as well as a few select headline shows around the country, it had all been leading to this, the band’s first London headline show. It is clear from the atmosphere radiating off Camden’s Underworld, expectations for tonight were nothing but high.
First on was late edition to this line up, Guildford hardcore band Polar, due to a slow box office queue I unfortunately missed their opening track “Destroy” from their new EP Inspire, Create, Destroy being released late this month , luckily very little more was missed and I got in to see a respectably large crowd already moshing to fan favourite “Tonight Mathew I Am The Batman”. Polar carried on cramming as many songs as possible into their 30 minute set, getting an extremely positive reaction for all songs, most noticeably debut single from the upcoming EP “Create”. With front-man Woody (Adam Woodford) having an incredible control over this crowd, mosh pits were constantly open, the entire front row was seen clapping along and screaming back to Woody, whilst people further back opened multiple walls of death instantly on request from the band. Polar gave an incredibly good performance tonight, you struggled to see them as the opening band of the night and it is close to a mystery why they are not headlining venues such as The Underworld. (8)
Next on came German Electro-Rockers, We Butter The Bread With Butter, possibly the most suited support band of the night, but far from the best. However once you’ve got saying their tongue twister name sorted and can look past the Jedward inspired hair styles, it is clear to see from the reaction to their entrance, this band have got some big fans in the room tonight and once their first riff kicks in, many other people in the room join the bounce that the German rockers are leading. Much to the enjoyment of the crowd the band bring out some small surprises such as the small lights show created by their torch badges and also large balloons being thrown into the crowd, however having some fun and an exciting light show can only get you so far as a live band, and unfortunately musically WBTBWB suffered a large downfall. With guitarist Marcel Neumann’s pedals being knocked off by the nights first crowd surfer and a particularly poor vocal performance by front-man Paul Bartzsch, I found it hard to enjoy their performance despite how much fun the band and the crowd seemed to be having, lacking musically as much as they were gave the potential of ruining their performance. (5)
The final support slot of this evening is filled by Hacktivist, the band who are almost impossible to class as one genre, but do create the sound you could image coming from Dizzee Rascal joining Meshuggah. As soon as the band step onto the stage it is clear who in the room who is and isn’t a fan, with mosh pits opening instantly but seen as almost an annoyance to others around. Despite this, things change rapidly as a few songs into their set, one of the front-men Ben Marvin demands for the whole crowd to bounce along to their track “Blades”, it becomes a mission to see people who have not obliged. Comments have been thrown around concerning Ben and whether he serves a significant purpose in the band other than prancing around and providing occasional muffled vocals. Despite at points this possibly being a true statement, moments such as this prove that their live show would definitely lose out without Ben there. Their set does nothing but improve from here, with their cover of Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Niggas In Paris” causing movement throughout the entirety of The Underworld and this not stopping once for remainder of their time on stage. (7)
Finally the performance everyone had been waiting for arrived and Crossfaith took to the stage. Chaos instantly broke out with the iconic electronics of the band’s Zion EP opening track “Monolith” filled every inch of the venue. Leading on from “Monolith” to “Jägerbomb”, no one in the room stood still. The band’s set carried on with not a single moment of rest equaling in one of the sweatiest shows that Camden’s Underworld has ever experienced, songs such as the band’s cover of The Prodigy’s “Omen” being a personal highlight, as Crossfaith front-man Kenta Koie taking a page from the likes of Slipknot with commanding the entire crowd to crouch down and jump up as the song kicks back in. There was not a calm moment throughout the entire set, with Crossfaith’s set closer “Stars Faded In Slow Motion” inviting an uncountable amount of stage divers up onto the stage within the few minutes of the song, bringing a chaotic close to a chaotic set. (10)
In previous months an incredible hype has been formed around Crossfaith that seems almost impossible to be true but tonight proved that wrong, not only did it explain the hype and prove it is fully deserved but also showed that Crossfaith are more than ready to Headline venues three times this size and still put on the show of their lives. (9)
Released through the clothing line Drop Dead, Inspire. Create. Destroy. is the latest EP for Guildford Hardcore mob Polar.The EP is a follow up to last years debut album Iron Lungs and is some of Polar’s best work yet.
samjdignon 