Arcane Roots / Carnival Kids / Gallery Circus [Live Review – The Boileroom, Guildford, 21/5/2015]
Some nights are destined to be awesome. While most opening acts are content to warm up the crowd a bit, Gallery Circus pushed the Boileroom’s earlycomers as far as possible using massive Led Zeppelin-esque riffs, heavy beats, and buckets of raw energy. Then Carnival Kids came on and nailed a raft of angular, square-rooted and danceable math rock tracks including Here They Have Guns, The Future Is Mine, Mechanism, and Lateral Living. Deep in the crowd, heads were banged, hips were swayed, and pulses were raised.
The evening’s headliners likely need little introduction. Arcane Roots have been making increasingly tidal waves for years now, simply because they never fail to impress. From epic opener Slow to set-ender You Are via Sacred Shapes‘ pinch harmonic of doom; the undulating waves of Over And Over; an emotional singalong to Energy Is Never Lost, Just Redirected; super-heavy pitch-shifted riffs lending Resolve an estimated total of nine-and-a-half extra balls; the labyrinthine SikTh-on-crack vibe of Million Dollar Question; and Hell And High Water‘s gracefully lilting intro/frantic riff combo (complete with additional pig-squeal-ridden guitar freakout)…wow. That’s a lot to take in – and it’s not even the whole story.
In addition to their already immense back catalogue, Arcane Roots are currently sitting on a whole bunch of arena- and radio-ready bangers. Last night, the Boileroom hosted three. When Did The Taste Leave Your Mouth is going to be massive when AR hit the summer festival circuit this year; Leaving cuts deep with emotional and instantly catchy lyrics; and If Nothing is incontinence-inducingly huge. If you witness that last one this year, you will require a change of underwear. Just saying.
In short, Arcane Roots fans have a lot to get excited about. That fizzy-blood feeling in your chest? That’s what it is.
Links
Arcane Roots official website.
Carnival Kids official website.
Gallery Circus official website.
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