BCEX Presents - BATTLE OF THE STUDENT BANDS.
'From Inside The Pit' - Ascenshion, The Delaneys, The Radiating Eyes, Watch The Walls, Special Guests - Lost Without Cause.

The Corn Exchange Friday 10th July 2009.
Review by David Green.

Poster by Daz Warr B.B. Designes.



Tonight is the third annual Battle of the Student Bands, regularly held at the Bedford Corn Exchange. Although a little lighter on people than last years event, the atmosphere as I entered the room was tangible, as The Delaneys and Chaos Faerie were finishing up their soundchecks. A nice bit of Metallica is played, and we are then called forward to the stage.

After a nice bit of banter, the first band is announced as ASCENSION, which is odd. But then, it becomes obvious that it is merely Chaos Faerie, renamed since I last saw them. They have the unenviable task of opening tonights gig, and the crowds response is such. Chaos Faerie/Ascension are a nice bit of metal, if you like that sort of thing, which I do, and the vocalist has a mean growl on him. After a couple of songs, the crowd warms up, and a nice breakdown opens up a hefty mosh pit.
A pit that is quickly put a stop to by the bouncers. This was to repeat itself over the night. The large, moshless space in the crowd remains, and, however much Chaos Faerie/Ascension spur the crowd on to move, they remain docile to the end of the set. Any sign of movement is quickly ended by the bouncers. Upon offering one more song, Chaos Faerie/Ascension are denied, leading them to leave stage, and leading me, to feel a little sorry for the opening act.

Another nice bit of Metallica bridges the gap between Chaos Faerie/Ascensions leaving, and the arrival of the altogether more indieDELANEYS. I must say, I myself am not a fan, but their jaunty brand of indie rock, with decipherable vocals, and less hairy frontman certainly have the crowd up and dancing. It all blurs together into one song for me, but the crowd have a nice reaction to it, so, everyones happy. I even found myself dancing along a little bit.

I make my way to the front of the stage, for the band that I personally have been waiting for, RADIATING EYES. A nice bit of merchandising has led to quite a few members of the crowd being dressed in Radiating Eyes t-shirts, and, with a quick blast of Michael Jacksons Thriller, they begin the sonic descent into hell. Its all lovely hardcore nonsense, with frontman Ben Goodson roaring into the mic, and throwing himself against anyone unlucky enough to be stood in the front. Its a mix of their old and new songs, and quite a few people are singing along, as Goodson thrusts the mic into their faces. There are some severe moshpits happening, and, in Only The Dead, a wall of death is started that even the bouncers have difficulty stifling. Quite a hellish, yet brutal musical experience all round.

I found myself missing quite a bit of WATCH THE WALLS, being that I went downstairs for some air, to recover from Radiating Eyes, but I managed to snatch little glimpses. The reaction is certainly mixed, with a large group further to the back of the crowd sitting down completely. Obviously not impressed. I wasnt really around enough to pass comment, but, with a reaction like that, it cant have been good.

Yet MORE Metallica, segues us into tonights special guest act, LOST WITHOUT CAUSE. Despite being hyped by the host, Ive never heard of them, but I am certainly reminded of Green Day, and the bassist has the most amazing guitar in the world. Its yet more jaunty, upbeat, sing along songs, and everyone is quite quite happy with it, if a bit tired from the rest of the night.

And finally, we reach the end of the evenings festivities, and the winner is about to be announced. I sit, along with everyone, waiting quite patiently. Finally, the winners are announced (to much angered shouting and happy yelling) to be The Delaneys, and the runners up, are Radiating Eyes. I know quite a few people who would have wished it to be the other way round, but thats just the way the panel decided.
Overall, a night of pretty ace music, if it werent for the bouncers being utter idiots about them moshing. Well, what can you do? Im all for next year.