LIVE REVIEW: Jesus Piece @ The Joiners, Southampton
JESUS PIECE have somehow managed to make themselves bigger and better in the sometimes impossible task of following up a much-loved debut album with the infamously tricky follow up. …So Unknown, released earlier this year on Century Media Records managed to ensure that the excitement around the metallic hardcore act didn’t go stale, but only progressed into a more progressive and daring sound. On this UK run, the band play a mix of venues, championing UKHC on their support slots.
Brighton’s NO RELIEF open the bill. It’s clear that despite their short time as a band, they’ve put their BN1 pin in the UKHC map, with a lot of locals pulling up to the venue already sporting the band’s merch. Frontman Ethan Barry has been transparent about his lack of experience when it comes to fronting any band, let alone one of this nature that requires such ferocity. Despite this though, there’s a confidence in the band’s set, hurling the mic to the front row huggers who wail back their songs. It’s clear that this is a band here for the right reasons, invested in the hardcore scene and showing up to contribute; if you’re involved in the scene, this is a group of familiar faces you’ve already witnessed moving at other shows. The Joiners fills with chugging guitars, two step sections and vocal fries that are the perfect gift-package for a warm-up slot. The room gets moving, half of those clearly familiar with the band personally, and the others new fans exposed to their sound for the first time today. It proves that American hardcore need not be put on a pedestal when the UK is churning out bands that are this tight so early in their career.
Rating: 8/10
Somewhat local legends GROVE STREET bring a light-heartedness to any show of this ilk. Frontman Benjamin Sullivan jests with the crowd, encouraging them to come forward saying “you’re not gonna get hurt”, to which their is a teasing chuckle from half of the crowd. The band have recently signed to Aussie-based label UNFD; in the announcement they stated they don’t take anything too seriously. Their music reflects that, with a blend up of hardcore, hardcore Punk, hip-hop influences and thrash in a concoction that is authentically them. They pull it off with a stage-presence to match- guitarist Chris Sanderson leaping around during mosh-calls. The band manage to step up the room’s energy, with the crowd pushed to each wall and not a moment still in the open space.
Rating: 8/10
JESUS PIECE have been trailblazers for metallic hardcore in more recent years, with an industrial flare to a saturated soundscape. Their sophomore album …So Unknown saw a more ambitious take on their debut success, even if it did take five years to surface. Tonight’s show is par for the course: brutal. From the first discordant sludge to exit the speakers, The Joiners expands into chaos. There’s no need for vocalist Aaron Heard to amp up their audience, they’re overcome with frenzy from the get go. It’s easily done when a band sound this heavy in such a small room. The band are relentless in their broad, metallic, guttural sound in a visceral heaviness.
Whatever they’re putting in the JESUS PIECE tank, it seems to make their machine go harder and bigger with each show. It doesn’t take long for kids to catapult themselves from wall to wall, off stage onto the heads of the rest of the crowd. Despite the aggro nature of the set, the intimacy of the show lends itself to a sure feeling of connectedness between band and audience. All the members stare people straight in the face, like a non-verbal agreement to create a messy scene. It’s a display of why the band are well-beloved in the heavy music scene, and how to put on a live show that transcends anecdotal words. If you like heavy, you need to see JESUS PIECE for yourself.
Rating: 9/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Southampton from Dev Place Photos here:
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