This year, Relentless Live returned with one heck of a line-up, featuring Huxtable, Slaves, Zane Lowe and Biffy Clyro at the Troxy in London. Everyone was waiting for the chance to see Biffy in one of London’s most iconic and intimate venues, but could they pull off something special, on a much smaller scale than the arena’s and top-bill festival slots that they’re used to?
Building up to Biffy and as one of the main supports of the night, as soon as Laurie Vincent and Isaac Holman step onto the stage, you sense a feeling of pent up frustration oozing from their bones; there’s no mistaking that Slaves are here tonight to imprint an impression deep into our skulls.
‘White Knuckle Ride’ does just that as the duo bash their way through an angry tormented quick-whip of fury, with Holman slamming down on his drums like there’s no tomorrow. In fact, their show is a non-stop 40-minute or so ride of pure inviolate brilliance that, perhaps, came as a slightly unexpected surprise to the crowd.
Ramping things up a notch with new single ‘Hunter’, it’s clear that Slaves have their formula of punk-rock-brawling reduced to simplistic, yet still intense sounds, that can even do battle with the mainstream. Drawing comparisons to Gallows, it’s clear they have the potential to make something as smart as Grey Britain in the future if they put their minds to it. Leaving us feeling comfortably shaken up, like any decent punk band should, there’s no doubt that we’ll be hearing much more from Slaves very soon.
But the band we’ve all been waiting for, Biffy Clyro of course, are up next and boy are the people at the Troxy excited. Fans begin chanting “mon the Biff” in order to hurry the Scottish rockers onto the stage, which works, as the threesome appear minutes later, shirtless and ready for battle.
Opening with ‘Different People’ the band transfix us with a hazy vocal tone, yet come crashing down full force mid-song with accelerating riffs that gratify the intimate venue. Straight away the room is impacted by the realization of just how special this moment is, seeing a band so high in stature perform on such a small stage.
Mid-set Simon Neil announces, “We’re trying to squeeze in as much as we can, otherwise we’ll be here all night. This is for the people that got up at 5am for the milk round.” He has a point, Biffy have so much material that if they did choose to continue with all their songs we would indeed be greeted by the milkman in the early hours. So in this case the set is kept short, succinct and leaving in all the hits you’d expect.
Tracks such as ‘Biblical’ and ‘Black Chandelier’ keep the crowd in check, as the heavier guitar riffs work the room up to a mosh-pit, leaving spectators upstairs headbanging in appreciation.
But it’s ‘Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies’ that really hones in on how spectacular Biffy can be on a small scale, with the build up to the song overwhelming us with static guitar plunges, before the crescendo of the epic sing-along chorus. Biffy are so in sync, even through the technical stagnated riffs, they have the musicianship to pull off a song so intricately laced on togetherness, that everyone is united in the spectacle.
This is a band that has built up to their legacy, not only with their impressive material, but more their tightly honed songs that in a live environment have the power to blow you away. There really is nothing left to say other than (you guessed it), MON. THE. BIFF.
Biffy Clyro played:
Different People
That Golden Rule
The Captain
Sounds Like Balloons
Wave Upon Wave Upon Wave
Biblical
Semi-Mental (First time since 2009)
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Bubbles
God & Satan
Glitter and Trauma
Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies
Many of Horror
Strung to Your Ribcage
Black Chandelier
Stingin' Belle
Mountains
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