LIVE REVIEW: Electric Callboy @ Eventim Apollo, London

The Tekkno train of ELECTRIC CALLBOY rolls into London for one night only at Hammersmith’s iconic Eventim Apollo, bringing German post-hardcore trio FUTURE PALACE and Finnish Eurovision stars BLIND CHANNEL for an evening of riff-based revelry. 

Taking the stage just half an hour after doors, FUTURE PALACE open to a sparse crowd, but those that are here cheer, clap and sing loud enough for twice their number. Flickering, pulsing tube lighting flanks them onstage, a visual treat that backs their arresting blend of soaring choruses with raw emotion and understated electronics. It’s surprising to see they’re a trio, the mix sounding full in spite of a lack of live bass and the band’s presence spilling over from the stage. By halfway in, the crowd’s filled out significantly and is just as enthusiastic, with calls for circle pits and even walls of death being answered gleefully. Half an hour passes all too quickly. 

Rating: 8/10

In a firm rebuttal of metal fans being overly serious and hating fun, Sweet Caroline over the PA sees a room singing along in deafening unison shortly before BLIND CHANNEL are due. The Finns erupt onto the stage with Alive Or Only Burning and We Are No Saints, the crowd immediately in the palms of the hands. A giant diamond with the band initials emblazoned flashes the colour of the lighting as the sextet tear through their take on rap metal with fast flows and towering melodies. To say BLIND CHANNEL know what they’re doing is a gross understatement; their stage presence is electrifying, several members bounding across the stage, making full use of risers and commanding the crowd with ease whether it’s dancing or opening pits. The band pack in more than enough bangers including a cover of ANASTACIA‘s Left Outside Alone that, while it doesn’t reach the same heights as MALEVOLENCE‘s cover, still gives them more than enough to cement themselves as a band not to be missed live. 

Rating: 8/10

To call ELECTRIC CALLBOY‘s production preposterous, outrageous even, is both incredibly accurate and a compliment. It means the German partiers have achieved exactly what they set out to; turning the Apollo into a neon-splattered rave powered by ludicrously catchy songs, pyro, lasers, confetti and a light show that’ll sear itself into your brain. Even down a member attending to a family emergency at home, there’s not a chink in their armour as they lean fully into the ridiculous nature of their Eurodance metalcore.

Tekkno Train hits exactly as hard as its namesake, The Scene has the room jumping front to back; even their inter-song banter is delivered almost entirely tongue in cheek. There’s few exceptions, particularly Arrow Of Love, whose introduction is a heartfelt appreciation of the diversity of their fanbase, along with its rousing chorus that preaches loving everyone. It’s immediately followed, of course, by Mindreader in which a huge circle pit kicks off. Drum solos are often an unnecessary extravagance, but setting it to throbbing techno goes a long way to stamping their own identity on it. Even if it didn’t work for some, it’s followed by the stratospheric smash hit Hypa Hypa and Fuckboi that regains any lost momentum and some. It’s an hour-plus of gloriously extravagant silliness and breakdowns that, frankly, is impossible not to spend with the stupidest grin on your face.

Rating: 10/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from Chelsea Cochrane here: 

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