Spitfire Down, Sheffield Corporation
The Cricketers is a charming place. A room above a pub opposite a football ground in the middle of Sheffield. No stage, there’s a folk band playing in the bar downstairs and there’s no Cd player so an eerie silence envelopes the room whenever the people present stop talking. Still, it’s charming as fuck.
And tonight, it’s bloody packed for the arrival of Newcastle straight edge hardcore band Spitfire Down. But first of all, it’s up to FIFTY ON RED to start proceedings. This is the second time I’ve seen them, and they were better than the first, despite the sound being a bit dodgy. Straight edge hardcore bores me at times, and I occasionally felt myself drifting off while FOR pummelled out song after song in quick succession, but they warmed the crowd up nicely for what as to come and their relentless hardcore onslaught is enjoyable, if not earth-shattering (6.5)
Following FOR were KILL THE LIGHTS, which, incidentally, is my band, so I can’t really review us. Although I will say that we played alright, people seemed to enjoy us, but we can play a lot better!
From cheeky northerners to soft southern nancies (ha), THIS TIME AROUND were next up to face the crowd. Before tonight, I had heard the name but not the music of TTA and I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised if I’d tried. Playing fast, crunching hardcore but with more melody than a Sunday school choir and an explosive vocalist, they narrowly scraped ‘Best band of the night’ for me. Similar in style to maybe a faster, more aggressive Steel Rules Die, they took the straight edge hardcore mould and smashed it to pieces. If I had one criticism, however, it was the way everyone but the vocalist stood at the back, in a line, to play their instruments. While you could still tell they were totally into the music, a bit more energy wouldn’t have gone amiss. (8.5)
And then all hell broke loose. THE VERSUS PROJECT are from Leeds and are metal.as.fuck. This, dear readers, is a very, very good thing. They were only playing with one guitarist due to the other one being ill following chemotherapy (get well soon to you sir) but hey shredded anyway. Frantic guitar solo’s playing to a fast paced, almost Death Metal inspired back line, interspersed with some gargantuan breakdowns and a vocalist who’s occasional switch from vicious growl to more melodic leanings was neither overused or underdeveloped. Unfortunately, they appear to be going on hiatus due to the whole second guitarist scenario, but I for one can’t wait to hear from them again (8)
And to top it all off, Dead and Gone’s SPITFIRE DOWN. While it’s pretty damn hard for me to pick a favourite of mine from the D&G roster, at the moment, Spitfire Down are pushing for that dubious honour. Playing what is essentially brutal, but melodic straight edge hardcore, the Geordie foursome doesn’t disappoint. As soon as they set off, there are bodies flying everywhere, including that of the vocalist. If there’s one thing you can say about hardcore bands it’s that they don’t outstay their welcome. Blasting out a full set of songs in around 25 minutes, SD leaves you begging for more but strangely satisfied. While the sound was a bit dodgy, the enthusiasm of the band, the crowd and the excellent songs on offer more than made up for it (8.5)
On the whole, a cracking evening. Something that restores your faith in any kind of scene you wish to think yourself a part of. Packed to the rafters with people just enjoying themselves to some top quality music. What more do you want from a Friday night? A pint you say?
Ross
(This show was at the Cricketers Arms)
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