LIVE REVIEW: Employed To Serve @ The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent

May 29, 2022 James Weaver

Since the much-heralded lifting of the last COVID-19 restrictions, live music (at least in the UK) is back in full-swing. With tour after tour, most of many being postponed for two years on the bounce, hitting the land in such a short space of time, it’s forgivable that music fans are spoilt for choice and their selected gig of choice is far more limited to that of three years ago, especially given the current cost of living crisis. That said, for the bands themselves, the opportunity is ripe and so, UK heavy hitters EMPLOYED TO SERVE hit Stoke-on-Trent as part of a surprised announcement of dates across their homeland.

Burner live @ The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

As sole support, it’s down to London-based metallers BURNER to incite the crowd before the main event. And despite a dwindling attendance, the band take to the stage with the utmost confidence and provide a set of true quality. With much of the set comprised of material from forthcoming debut EP, A Vision Of The End, this intended to be a statement intent from this promising band, and one in which they achieve with relative ease.

Frontman Harry Not is as enthusiastic as he is charismatic, leading the band’s cauldron pot of death metal-meets-hardcore with the utmost conviction. Rat King Crown is an explosive opener, one in which opens the set with true malice, whilst the likes of Death Worship and A Vision Of The End really allows BURNER to flex their musical muscles. A powerful set from yet another bright spark in UK heavy music.

Rating: 8/10

Employed To Serve live @ The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography

At this point in their career, EMPLOYED TO SERVE‘s reputation is set in stone. The Woking metal-cum-hardcore hybrid are an established name in British heavy music and the confidence they exude in their headlining set in Stoke-on-Trent is testament of that. The riffs are absolutely gargantuan, with the smashing force of I Spend My Days (Wishing Them Away) being one just example, whilst the chemistry between Sammy Urwin and Justine Jones is world class.

As Jones leads the line, with a commanding vocal presence and a sly smile between songs, reinforced by Urwin‘s slick work on the guitar and backing vocal barks, the power in which EMPLOYED TO SERVE unleash is jaw-dropping. New material from last year’s excellent Conquering sounds excellent in the live setting. Set opener Universal Chokehold sets a precedent of metallic fury, Exist is as groovy as it is born for bigger stages than The Sugarmill whilst older cuts like Force Fed and Eternal Forward Motion sound just as vicious as ever. EMPLOYED TO SERVE are a British heavy music treasure, one in which must be protected at all costs. With them at the helm, the future is bright indeed.