Bedford Alternative Music Present: As Daylight Dies Headline E.P. Launch, with Change Of Plan, Broken Conscience, and Afterburner.

Holy Molys Lev 1 Esquires Bedford. 19th October 2012.

We are Breaking The Waves tonight in Holy Molys Lev 1 Esquires for the As Daylight Dies new E.P. ‘Breaking The Waves’ given away free at this gig. After a few support slots at other gigs around the venues building, it was about time ADD got their first headline show, making a change from having to have their set cut short at Luton venues. They also chose the main support and the opening band which tonight was AFTERBURNER, a band new to me, very ‘metal’ and reminding me of another local band Crimson Dream. Their sound is mainly old school thrash and forged a shouty opening to the proceedings and soon inducing an up front line of moshers while people at the back showed their appreciation more by applause leaving the moshers healthily partying up to the front stage step. A cover of Paranoid causing a floor explosion in particular.
With all their metal enthused bravado I think they would be a band lost if having to play to an empty gig, if you add up the sum of their parts, they are defiantly better than an opening act, galloping drum rhythms well structured tunes, souring guitar riffs, harsh thrash vocals forming their fun set, All in all a great band to open on.

One of my new favourite bands of the year next with BROKEN CONSCIENCE with a sizable mosh support up front, they have a tight well practiced and performed set. They also have a thrash metal sound with welcome added growled vocals from their bassist. I wondered if the well delivered vocals were actually coming from their main guitar/vocalist to begin with, sounding better that you would have thought, delivered through their new war time looking new microphone; certainly very Metallica like and making me wonder what this band would sound like if Metallica had never existed. They perhaps need to capture their own sound more but intensely excel at what they do. If they are this good now at their early stage, only a good future with more great things to come from this outfit are predicted.

Self chosen by the headliners and more screamo in style CHANGE OF PLAN were a band that had yet to leave their mark on the Bedford scene up until now, I’m sure though, they have raised the conscience of the scene and gained a few Bedford fans after their performance to a well up for it frenetic mosh induced crowd.
They stood out a bit after the previous metal bands with their appealing fast uplifting screamy and quite melodic party sound. They are a lot like many bands of their type, but good at what they do and good to see them interacting with their new audience. The band kept apologising for not being a more metal orientated act, but I think they were a welcome variety distraction and defiantly no apology needed. A surprise and great to hear cover of Real To Real’s I Like To Move It was busted out and towards the end of their set gave us their facebook song Glass Houses to rapturous moshing to the well structured tune.

Smoke billows out at the audience as the first headline show of AS DAYLIGHT DIES take to the stage, saving their new songs from their E.P. till later and giving us a few classics from their old set first and their obligatory Rage cover which at this more intimate of surroundings, you just knew would go down well!
Thank goodness their singer didn’t chav out and retain the cap all the way through, which he was wearing after having it placed on his head.
As you anticipate with their gigs, plenty of enthused energy ensues, with their spring healed front man leaping around clawing gnashing chewing the scenery and everything around him, with the only thing to slightly calm him down while at the same time demonstrating his talent being when he has to go on guitar on some parts as well, even that has some quirky swing out movements between cords and throwing his hand up in to the air quickly to punctuate between chords also. I think being an energetic front man works well not having to play guitar all through their set, indeed that side of things are in the more than capable hands of quite a well practiced musician of their main guitarist; perhaps to much on the static side preferring to concentrate more on the accuracy side of playing ability rather than shape pulling showmanship.
Their bassist knows how to get in to his stride with movement given to pull off a good performance on a live show, while their drummer closely related I think to Animal with regard to his fast paced style, while bursting in to action with his well played thrash out drumming.
Gritted teeth and snarls of growled vocals emanate from the front man like a Jack Russell Terrier that won’t let go, it was good to see the band have progressed and not just churning out the same set, even to a point of desperately wanting to drop some of their classics being sick of having played certain tracks for so long. I somehow don’t think they can loose grip of some tracks, especially with some oaf in the audience insistently shouting the track name wanting to be played!
I somehow thought ADD hadn’t put that much in to the practice at places, being the only downside to an enjoyable set, probably the longest they have played and making a memorable gig party performance to remember while going home clutching the new and free As Daylight Dies E.P.

As Daylight Dies BBC Introducing Three Counties Beds Bucks Hearts Radio Interview Vid

As Daylight Dies Vid

Change Of Plan Vid

Broken Conscience Vid

Afterburner Vid