LIVE REVIEW: Conjurer @ The Underworld, London

Since releasing their debut Mire in 2018, CONJURER have garnered increasing respect as an uncompromising metal act through thunderous sludge darkness, social progressiveness, and (of course) massive riffs. That respect has parlayed into some big shows, including main stage appearances at Damnation Festival this year and at ArcTanGent, where they remain perennial favourites for both their work and for their CURSE THESE METAL HANDS side project. As such, The Underworld in Camden finds itself filled on a Wednesday night for the latter stages of a tour behind their recent third album, Unself. The last few tickets sell out on the day for the band’s largest headlining show in the city, accompanied by close (if diverse genre-wise) friends from the UK heavy music scene. It’s a crowd game for both relentless headbanging and cathartic appreciation.

The unbridled energy of queercore duo DEATH GOALS awaits the early arrivals. It’s a brand of fast-paced hardcore that rarely lets up. There’s distorted guitar that spends most of the set letting rip dissonant, distorted harmonics; pounding drums that play only at very fast or very slow tempos, usually within the same song; dual vocals with some punk heft. Vocalist and guitarist Harry Bailey takes every opportunity between songs to preach positivity and attack the prejudices faced by queer and trans communities. A few mosh pits break out for the grooves that best tickle the lizard brain, and anyone not quite bought in in a sparse but growing crowd finds themselves forced into action when Bailey goes on an extended crowdsurf journey over walls of feedback.

Rating: 7/10

The contrast between DEATH GOALS and PIJN is staggering, and a little jarring at first. The chaos energy and heartsleeve extroversion of the former are followed by controlled introversion from a post-rock five-piece, the appearance of a cello on stage during the changeover symbolic of the contrast.

Any concerns of an impatient audience are mostly dismissed. PIJN may be a post-rock band, but they’re not of the glistening music-box variety. Their set is at its best when building tension that lives in the lower registers – sludgy, muscular, the music and crowd finding release in pounding single-note riffs. Guitarist and creative force Joe Clayton finds twisty riffs and melodies, always playing something a little unorthodox to grab your attention. Credit must go to the drum work as well, the dynamic range and control spot on throughout.

Rating: 8/10

CONJURER take the stage with the venue properly packed, acoustic guitar on the PA heralding the country-tinged intro to Unself. Tonight is a celebration of that album, every song finding its place on the setlist amidst a light show synchronised to its green and red colour palette. The musicianship is razor-tight, all four band members in perfect sync, particularly on the slower tempos. Guitarist Brady Deeprose and bassist Conor Marshall present whirlwinds of energy at the front of the stage, matching that of a busy pit frantically moshing for the likes of Retch from their debut album, and the hundreds headbanging in unison to each thundering riff.

Yet it’s guitarist and vocalist Dani Nightingale who draws the eye, a more stoic yet rageful presence, their thunderous growled vocals increasingly the hallmark of the live performance. Amidst those plentiful riffs of heft and purpose are cleaner guitar sections of beauty, Nightingale’s voice showing impressive range to match. Their impassioned speeches – defending trans rights before Let Us Live, and a furious takedown of both billionaires and capitalist systems preceding Hang Them In Your Head – draw genuine cheers from a sympathetic audience.

The set closes as the album does with This World Is Not My Home, reprising the melodies and intense emotions of the opener, each chord a hammer blow of drama. And it’s not quite the end either – a fan tweeted earlier in the day promising to get a tattoo if Hadal made the set, which the band duly obliged to end the night. It’s a strong and confident showing from CONJURER, who had this venue on their bucket list since their inception. Their show easily clears the bar of a performance to match.

Rating: 9/10

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

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