LIVE REVIEW: Whitechapel @ O2 Academy Islington, London
Having hit Download Festival just last weekend, it would have been rude for deathcore titans WHITECHAPEL to pass up on a run of shows in the surrounding area, particular as it’s been years since they touched down on UK shores. Thankfully this was not to be, with the six-piece cruising through London earlier this week alongside Nepalese newcomers UNDERSIDE, an act who also shared the Download bill with them. Here’s a closer look at how things went down.
Being the only support band on the lineup, UNDERSIDE had to bring their A-game in order to ensure they did their job of priming the swathes of spectators for the main event. This was a task they hurdled with ease, bring the room alive effortlessly and showing no sign of post-festival fatigue. Travelling from Kathmandu specifically for the tour was impressive enough, but the band’s stage presence, demeanour and sound followed suit immaculately, displaying the confidence, energy and professionalism of a local, seasoned outfit. Broadly speaking the quintet offered a modern take on metalcore, combining raw heaviness and melody in a manner reminiscent of WHILE SHE SLEEPS or CANCER BATS, and doing so with passion and vigour. Overall the sound came across as grandiose in nature and watertight in delivery, each double kick, ambient lead, solo and bass lick being deployed expertly. As if this weren’t enough already, there were a few extra embellishments to keep the crowd engaged, most notably the NEKROGOBLIKON-esq. figure in traditional Nepalese headdress looming in the shadows of the stage, and an impressive rendition of SLIPKNOT‘s Surfacing in homage to their Download set just days prior. Overall this was a performance offering fun and captivation in equal measure.
Rating: 9/10
Having taken the scene by storm for the first time in the mid 00s and consistently maintained critically acclaimed status to this very day, it almost feels remiss to critique WHITECHAPEL‘s competence as a live act. By this point the Tennesseans are the epitome of professionalism, and this was made abundantly clear to the London crowd. Complete with the semi-legendary Alex Rudinger filling in behind the drum kit, every member was on sparkling form. Rudi once again succeed in capturing rhythm, aggression and precision with every swing of the stick, Ben Savage‘s neglected to put a foot out of line with his tapping, soloing and ambient leads, Alex Wade‘s signature ‘djenty’ riffing shook the room to its foundations, and talismanic frontman Phil Bozeman delivered a characteristically masterful and arresting performance. In fact, Bozeman was a revelation in particular, more so than expected. It’s truly uncanny how seamlessly he still delivers his signature gutturals and piercing fry screams after so many years, in addition to sporadic forays of clean vocals from the more recent material. Not only has his range never faltered, but it’s grown, and still makes for a truly enthralling live experience.
Moreover, despite a somewhat disappointingly short set (especially considering there were just two bands on the lineup), WHITECHAPEL delivered a delicately balanced setlist, taking the audience on a journey spanning nearly their entire back catalogue. They performed contemporary hits such as When a Demon Defiles a Witch and Black Bear with pride and gusto, but also treated the audience to the self-titled album’s I, Dementia, This is Exile‘s Father of Lies, A New Era of Corruption‘s End of Flesh, Our Endless War‘s The Saw is the Law and a selection from sixth studio album The Mark of the Blade. In summary, this performance was very much a celebration of WHITECHAPEL as a band and as an institution. Aside from striking as a gloriously accomplished appearance in itself, the main lasting impression was that not only are this act not even vaguely jaded, but they’re not even close to being done yet.
Rating: 10/10
Check out our photo gallery from the night’s action in London from Hannah Cole here:
