Anti-Flag, Sheffield Corporation
Why, if it isn’t another punk rock extravaganza held at the Corporation and promoted by the wonderful No Rules Promotions. What with this being the second of only 3 UK dates for Anti Flag, the Corp is pretty much packed out. Not to mention the fact that the Merch table is by far the greatest I have ever seen and sprawls across most of the wall at the back of the venue. But that’s not important.
What is important, however, is the quality of music on offer … which, admittedly, is open to debate when it comes to local openers LAST YEARS YOUTH. The name is particularly apt as they are made up of five Sheffield punk rockers in the old fashioned sense of the word. However, their fast paced street punk/oi falls on mainly deaf ears tonight. Having to play through tiny marshall amps when surrounded by hi-tech equipment on a stage that swallows guitar sound anyway probably didn’t help matters, and energy levels are a little on the low side for the entirety of the set. Still, a decent enough warm up for the people flooding through the door and into the bitterly cold Corporation. (5)
By the time the majority of tonight’s crowd had filtered into the cold, soulless Corporation (yeh, I may have a slight problem with the new room … only slight though. I was just fucking cold, alright?) it was time for the relatively unknown PIPEDOWN to mesmerise the gathering throngs with their particular brand of fast paced melodic hardcore. Sounding like AFI brawling with Strike Anywhere in a dark alley, the band somehow managed to overcome the appalling sound (His lips are moving, but nothings coming out!) to make a whole crowd of new fans for themselves. The brooding ‘Horror’ and the explosive ‘Losing the Sum’ are particular highlights, but it’s the energy being channelled by the band, and in particular, vocalist Ean Elliot, that wins over the previously sceptical crowd. Your new favourite band? They might just be mine. (8)
Before you could say ‘At The Gates’ it was time for Victory Records finest, DARKEST HOUR to step up to the plate, and they proceeded to completely obliterate the crowd with opener ‘The Sadist Nation’. With Darkest Hour, it is all about the riffs, and they don’t disappoint tonight. The politically charged ‘Marching to the Killing Rhythm’ goes down an absolute treat and, despite vocalist John Henry struggling with his vocal chords (and who wouldn’t when you have a death metal growl like his), they reel out riff after riff after motherfucking riff to baffle and captivate the majority of the fans here to see Anti Flag. ‘An Epitaph’ almost takes the crown for ‘highlight of the set’ but it’s the frankly insane closing solo, and the sight of Mr Henry beating half the drum kit into submission, that takes the biscuit in the end. While it’s difficult to play such technical material live at the same time as putting on a decent show, Darkest Hour cope admirably. Hell, that’s understatement of the century. (9)
Combined together, the two main supports provide a somewhat daunting stage for ANTI FLAG to try and emulate. Unfortunately, it’s all a bit too much for Justin Sane and company as they roll out their hour plus set to a small sea of excited faces. Old favourites like ‘911 For Peace’ and ‘A New Kind Of Army’ get a positive response, as do new highlights ‘Ranknfile’ and ‘Mind The Gatt’, but after about 40 minutes or so, it all seems a bit flat. Not to mention the constant sloganeering in-between songs that completely ruins the experience for me. Now, im all for political rantings on stage, as hell, you’ve got that opportunity, why not use it to convince people of what you believe in. However, these days, it’s become increasingly easy to say ‘Fuck George Bush’ and get a big response from a crowd and for me, it reeks of laziness and a reliance on entry level political speaking and playing to the lowest common denominator. Seriously, anyone can say ‘Fuck The USA’ but the more you say it, the more diluted the intention becomes and by the end of the set, you just look as bit fucking stupid really. Still, a cover of the mighty ‘White Riot’ actually comes off pretty well and most of the kids go home happy. I, however, felt a bit deflated, a bit tired and generally let down by the whole experience. Still, they weren’t bad, you know, just nothing world changing. (7)
So, I found a brand spanking new favourite band, I saw Darkest Hour completely shred it up, Swedish-style, and I saw Anti Flag knock out some decent songs and some not so decent meathead politics. Still, the fact remains that AF generally walk the walk and while they’re about as subtle as a breezeblock though a window, their heart is firmly in the right place.
Ross
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