LIVE REVIEW: WREX @ Fuel, Cardiff

Usually, there is a hustle and bustle around a venue in excitement for a show and the bands performing that night. With the whole of Womanby Street usually brimming with energy and passion for the music set to be performed in the Fuel rock club in Cardiff. However, on this fateful evening, there was a cloud of confusion that abounded from all parties, as the times for doors and sets were different between the venue, bands, and fans alike; depending on who you asked. Information on when everything would happen that night was misinformed, and the bands were told a different time to ticket holders, resulting in everything kicking off an hour later than expected. This left a lot of people, musicians and fans alike, to stand around like lemons, causing a strange atmosphere to set in before the show. But was the night worth it, despite the ill-communication, or did the confusion spoil the show for headliners WREX and the support bands alike?

Once the wait was eventually over, the first band of the night, IDLE MINDS, kicked off the show in full force, with passionate and heartfelt lyrics at each turn and incredible riffs to accompany it. Helmed by Distorted Sound‘s own Megan Jenkins, each song is given just the right amount of energy and conviction in every aspect of it, and their musical range is showcased in the diversity of themes that their instrumentation enhances. The eclectic rhythms and grooves in their beats and riffs are fantastic, and their effort in performance is wonderful to witness. Overall, Idle Minds have yet to disappoint, and they immediately lifted the mood after the initial confusion, as they brought the right sort of atmosphere for all in attendance and began the gig on a much brighter note. 

Rating: 9/10

Next up was Bristol’s KITE THIEF, who certainly knew how to create hype as they entered the stage, inviting the audience closer to enjoy their energetic pop-rock and welcoming everyone into their space from the jump. A mix of beautiful guitars, fun lyrics, and the performers enjoying what they were playing made for a great set all around as they powered through latest EP Ambiviolent. Vocalist Elin Allan showcased a great vocal range and held a strong connection with the audience throughout the whole set, which was fantastic to see. At times, their songs did blend into one another and it was hard to differentiate them at times, but were still fiery and enjoyable throughout. KITE THIEF are an up-and-coming name within the scene, and it’s easy to see why. Another high-octane set with great music to boot.

Rating: 8/10

Finally, to close out the night, headliners from Brighton, WREX, tore up the stage as soon as they got on with their fierce and hard punk-influenced rock, mixed with stunning harmonies from dual vocalists Mae Seaton and George Donoghue. The rhythms and riffs blended together wonderfully, and showcased a lot of levels that exemplified their eclectic and talented songwriting skills. The heavy sound worked well for the vibe and each theme, whilst the bass connected with the rest of the instrumentation. Every song, from the opener S.A.D., to the closing song Static Waves, hit correctly and showed their range within the musicality and in their lyricism. Each part; loud, soft, heavy, and electric, were fantastic to hear. Since their latest EP, This Hell Goes A Long Way Down, was released the week before, it was great to hear songs like S.A.D, the title track, Heaven’s Gate and Take A Walk live, alongside their earlier songs like Halfway and Vacant. This made for an eclectic setlist and showed the journey WREX has been on since its inception and where they are now musically.

In addition to hearing the newer songs live, the energy from all the band members was infectious. Despite there being a slightly smaller audience, due to things starting later than expected, in addition to it being a Bank Holiday, WREX still performed at their highest energy possible as if they were playing to a full house, and to the best of their abilities. The band’s interactions with the crowd were stellar, creating an energetic, safe and fun environment, which rubber-stamped them as a great band to watch live. Truly an unmissable group that rose above the odds and soared above all expectations.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery from the night’s action in Cardiff from Stu Rowles here: 

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