LIVE REVIEW: Catch Your Breath @ The Asylum, Birmingham
What’s better than one metalcore band on a lineup? Three metalcore bands on a lineup. America’s breakout band CATCH YOUR BREATH have embarked on their first UK headline tour, bringing OF VIRTUE and UNTIL I WAKE along for the ride. No variety, no added spice, just three hours of straight-up metalcore. It’s like Marmite: you’ll either love it or hate it.
OF VIRTUE open up the night, hitting all the classic metalcore beats: dual vocals, heavy riffs, and loads of movement. With many opening bands, the crowd usually isn’t familiar with them but that’s not the case here. Fans are singing and cheering along from the start, setting a strong tone for the Birmingham show. We’re even told they’re filming a music video, and everyone’s eager to be part of it. The room splits down the middle for a wall of death, even if only half the room fully commits, it’s still a standout moment in their set. Overall, a great opener and a perfect fit for this tour.
Rating: 9/10
The middle slot is usually the easiest; crowd’s warmed up, and the goal is just to keep the momentum going until the headliner. Lead singer Cody Jamison strolls on stage, cup of coffee in hand, looking more like he’s about to give a keynote speech than scream his lungs out. That illusion quickly shatters as he launches into a gut-wrenching scream. Like OF VIRTUE before them, UNTIL I WAKE tick all the metalcore boxes: crushing riffs, soaring vocals, and a few solid mosh pits. If you’ve never been to a metalcore show, it might feel like déjà vu at times – but that doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable. Overall, the set was solid throughout the night, though it occasionally felt like the band was coasting rather than aiming for the ceiling.
Rating: 8/10
With a sold-out crowd tonight, CATCH YOUR BREATH take to the stage slowly, greeted by huge cheers. It’s their first headline show in Birmingham, and the excitement in the room is undeniable. Playing tracks from their debut album Shame On Me, this show feels special. With only one album out so far, this might be the only time we get to hear some of these songs live for a while. Hearing breakout singles Dial Tone and Shame On Me in a live setting adds an entirely new layer to them. The crowd’s eerie, unified chorus during the ending of Dial Tone sends chills through the room, even the band seems moved. Their sound is made for bigger venues, and hopefully next time they grace our shores, they’ll be headlining on a larger stage.
Overall, this was a great night featuring three fun bands. Sure, the similarities might be a turn-off for some, but for metalcore fans, it’s exactly what we love. Even if you came for just one band, chances are you left as a fan of the others too.
Rating: 9/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Birmingham from Serena Hill Photography here:
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