Gallows LIVE

Much has been made of Gallows’ decision to continue without riot-starter Frank Carter. But if there’s one thing that tonight proves, it’s that Gallows are alive and kicking and have recruited a man who not only can fill Frank’s shoes, but outgrow them.

The starter of tonight’s 4-course hardcore meal are **The Catharsis**. A young and spirited band, they take to the stage with real vigour, unleashing stonking grooves and ear-splitting screams one song after the other. It’s an accomplished performance, one that sees new songs ‘No Recluse’ and ‘Heartburn’ off the band’s new album, _Romance_, go down a storm.

Next up are Plymouth’s **Brotherhood of the Lake**. A band that describes themselves as “Blackened Crust Metalcore”, they are by far the most interesting band stylistically of the night. With songs like ‘The World to Me’ and ‘Black Hearts’ BOTL are well-placed to leave their mark. Unfortunately, the mix is a little too muddy for their sound to have the desired effect thus making for a somewhat lacklustre reaction.

Following all the doom and gloom are road dogs, **Feed the Rhino**. A well-oiled and seasoned touring machine, Feed the Rhino know how to get a party started. The dubstep intro soon gives way to southern rock-tinged riffs, outrageous levels of swagger and some scrumptious melodies. New single ‘The Burning Sons’ off the album of the same name impresses, whilst fan-favourite ‘Mr. Red Eye’ whips up a real frenzy. In stark contrast to the previous acts, the crowd are well up for this 5-piece’s amicable blend of rock, metal and hardcore – at one point even forming a wall of death.

And then, finally, the band that everybody had been waiting for. Opening with ‘Misery’, the room explodes within a matter of seconds – Wade McNeil has to contend with a number of projectiles before he’s even had time to grab the microphone! It doesn’t matter though; it only fuels his performance, which becomes more and more aggressive as the minutes go by. Given the release of the band’s new self-titled album, a large percentage of tonight’s set-list is comprised of new tunes. A let-down for some, perhaps, but overall there’s a healthy balance of new (‘Last June’, ‘Everybody Loves You’) and old (‘In the Belly of a Shark’, ‘London is the Reason’). Gallows have always been a ferocious live band, but tonight they’re something else: they’re a force of nature.