LIVE REVIEW: Being As An Ocean @ Islington Assembly Hall, London

BEING AS AN OCEAN in London is always touted to be a huge event. It was promising to see the band headed to larger spaces having sold out The Underworld in Camden on a previous run in 2014. Islington Assembly Hall boasts a capacity of 800, though on arriving to the venue the number of those queuing dwindled in the low-mid double figures. The chilly weather or the fact it was Guy Fawkes night may have kept punters at home. Regardless, the Islington Assembly Hall filled up.

Opening the evening were Florida-based outfit AFTERLIFE. Many people have said that nu-metal has been making a resurgence over the past few years. AFTERLIFE are the concrete proof. Down-tuned riffs and background electronics are the perfect accompaniment for vocalist Tyler Levenson. The occasional rapped verse provided stark contrast to breakdowns and huge clean choruses. AFTERLIFE made an impression on those witnessing them for the first time.

Rating: 8/10

NOVELISTS FR make their UK return with a highly anticipated third record which is due for release in early 2020. If the first single Head Rush is anything to go by, C’est La Vie will be an album to be reckoned with. Vocalist Matteo Gelsomino is able to transition from screams to cleans effortlessly. The room turned into a sea of illuminated phones and lighters during The Light, The Fire, whilst the crowd erupted into a frenzy for A Bitter End. Riffs a-plenty, and with a tonne of bounce, NOVELISTS FR made their support slot the perfect warmup for headliners, BEING AS AN OCEAN.

Rating: 8/10

BEING AS AN OCEAN are now on their fifth studio album, PROXY: An A.N.I.M.O. Story. The record is a clear departure from some of their previous material but shows an evolution that few could have predicted. Having been considered behemoths of melodic-hardcore, their new sound was a difficult reality for some to accept. For the most part, the Californian five-piece brought a set comprised of tracks from the recently released PROXY: An A.N.I.M.O Story and 2018 record Waiting For Morning To Come; however they kept fan favourites L’exquisite Douleur and This Loneliness Won’t Be The Death Of Me much to the fervour of the crowd. The blockbuster nature of the new record (and all its associated visuals) translated well to a live setting; BAAO’s lighting setup brought the whole thing together. Vocalist Joel Quarticcio spent most of his time across the front barrier overseeing the crowd below. A short chorus of “Happy Birthday” for guitarist Tyler Ross broke up what was a lengthy but intensive set. Quartuccio eventually made it amongst the crowd itself during The Hardest Part Is Forgetting Those You Swore You Would Never Forget, before the scene descended into chaos with the chant-like finale: A.N.I.M.O.

BEING AS AN OCEAN were made to feel at home in London once again – may the next time be even sooner than the last.

Rating: 8/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from Rhys Haberfield Media here: