Dorje / Derange [Live Review – Boston Music Room, London, 9/12/2015]
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With an insanely massive TMMP-related project on the go behind the scenes, it’s been a while since I ventured beyond the desk and into the world of high-impact soundwaves. This show was more than worth the trip.
Derange (85%) are very, very awesome. Think Tesseract with a female vocalist in possession of one hell of a scream, and you’re in the right ballpark. Deep-reaching grooves, big riffs, signs of a stellar stage presence in the making, and new single The Thinker dominating the room for its entire duration added up to an awesome showing.
By the time Derange’s cover of Tool’s Forty-Six & Two closed their set, I’ve no doubt many new fans were made. On the constructively critical side, though, dropping the cover and prioritising a set of exclusively original material would be a good future move. Derange’s original material is more than strong enough to fuel an entire show, and for some merch-table-allergic punters, it could mean the difference between them remembering Derange as “That sick metal band, Derange,” and “That sick metal band who covered Forty Six And Two”. It’s a small detail, but Derange have hit a level where even the smallest change makes a big difference in terms of competitive advantage – and they undoubtedly deserve to go much, much further.
Dorje (91%) are a band whose attention to detail is practically unparalleled. These guys have been TMMP favourites for as long as they’ve existed, and they’re now at a point where their star is deservedly on the rise. In addition to every song from chart-topping debut EP Catalyst (reviewed on TMMP here), this set also took in a bunch of new monsters. Centred And One; pro-peace anthem To Survive; anti-racism riff-fest Flower Of Life; undeniable set highlight Outspoken; and searingly cathartic “…ballad about pain” Zero all pointed the way toward Dorje’s next EP, which may just top a release that I gave 100% to here.
On this evidence, I’m going to need to break my own marking system to accurately rate Dorje’s next release – and yes, live, Dorje are even more dangerous for your face than they are on record. YouTube super-hit Aeromancy, given a slightly lower tempo for extra chunkiness, and already-classic social justice singalong White Dove brought an utterly immense night to an end, leaving a full room of fans satisfied and hundreds of ears ringing.
2016 is going to be a very exciting year for these guys. They’re pretty much an industry unto themselves – and a band not just to watch, but to fucking love.
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