LIVE REVIEW: Obey The Brave @ Boston Music Room, London
Whilst on the European festival circuit in support of their new album Mad Season, Canadian hardcore bruisers OBEY THE BRAVE made a short stop in the UK including a headline at the Boston Music Room in London. And to sweeten the deal they brought along two of the most underrated bands from UK hardcore in COUNTING DAYS and POLAR.
COUNTING DAYS are shaking off some rust as they open things tonight. It’s been several months since they last played a show and they are also playing with a new drummer for the first time. This combined with a criminally short set time meant COUNTING DAYS were never going deliver their very best tonight but they still do a good job getting things started. Songs off Liberated Sounds are still a fantastic onslaught of riffs and newer track Born Enslaved hints that the future for COUNTING DAYS could be very exciting.
Rating: 7/10
POLAR remain one of the UK’s hardest working band. No matter what show they are playing the band are always firing on all cylinders. Woody is the usual storm of aggression he is at every POLAR and the entire band are fired up from the moment they set foot on stage. Pulling all the best songs from their last two albums means they deliver their best possible setlist within their 30 minute slot. The dedicated fans spend the entire set either moshing or screaming every word with Woody. They might never be one of the biggest bands from the UK but the passion from both the band and fans really makes POLAR stand out tonight
Rating: 8/10
The might be far from full when OBEY THE BRAVE arrive on stage but the band still go all out. Alex Erian is full of charisma from the very first moment. He swaggers around the stage full of of confidence and there is so much attitude in his vocals. OBEY THE BRAVE might not be the most original or challenging hardcore but they are just so good at what they do. When it comes to simple, meat-headed hardcore OBEY THE BRAVE tick every box you could want. Their songs are just loads of fun as well, filled with some great shout along mosh calls and “woahs” for the crowd to sing along to.
It’s very clear that a lot of people in the audience are attending their first hardcore show and OBEY THE BRAVE are a definitely a great starting point. Their latest album Mad Season increased melody makes them even more accessible but they never turn their back on their hardcore roots. It’s a huge shame their aren’t more people watching as OBEY THE BRAVE really do deliver a great set but those who are watching clearly had a great time.
Rating: 8/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from Fran Dignon Visuals here:
