‘I Am The War’ proclaims everyone’s shirts – after a quick change at the merch stand, that is – so a casual observer would be forgiven for thinking tonight was going to be a militant affair. The war that Beartooth are winning, however, is one against the haters and the doubters as much as it is against their own demons. In the last two years since Beartooth played London, frontman Caleb Shomo’s opened up about his sexuality, changed his image, dealt with online hatred, released a confessional new record… and emerged stronger for it. Maybe the Academy’s more empty tonight than it deserves to be, but that’s just the separation between those willing to embrace the new Beartooth and those who’ve been left behind in its wake.
Those camped at the front for the best proximity to Shomo zealously guard their spots for Silverstein. Provocative and resolute, the Canadians spark their own gunpowder with ‘Smashed Into Pieces’, packed with laser focused optimism amid the crashing distortion. ‘The Altar’, their “heaviest song” casts as much of a pit as we can manage without leaving our spots and booms between vocalist swaps and screamed out fists up glory, and ‘The Afterglow’ bounces with zest for life before they tap into their grunge depths for ‘My Heroine’. ‘Stress’ is the real emotional connector as we’re pitting though the wait for the mighty Beartooth.
With resounding chug from the bass and a ripped crop top, Shomo delivers a visceral unburdening on opener ‘Pure Ecstasy’. Beartooth are in their rage-pop era now, vicious and subversive with their sweetness and bile. “We’re gonna play a lot of old stuff tonight, is that cool?’ He asks rhetorically as darkness descends for ‘Hated’. We’re here for the fiery depths of the Beartooth back catalogue and the outsider songs that held us when we needed them, and it’s the return visit to this chapter in their career that really grips us.
When they shift gear to the more optimistic new material, the risk pays off. Yes, of course we love the miserable numbers about self-loathing, but ‘Beautiful Again’ releases a certain intoxicating magic. They might have changed the packaging but it’s still them, and they’ve still got us under their thumb. Crowd surfers gaze up, euphoric, at the frontman’s a Capella treat. As we cheer, he clasps his hand over his mouth, overwhelmed by our support. “My favourite thing is to write songs that helps me navigate this life and figure out who the fuck I actually am,” he says, his voice cracking. ‘Free’ is harsher and gentler all at once, rich in anguish and joy and release, and we experience his new vocal style to its fullest.
From ‘Eyes Closed’ onwards, it’s continuous anthem moments tonight. ‘Riptides’ has become our song, not the bands, and each chorus blossoms. ‘The Lines’, “for the old school Beartooth fans” proves their fire is still there, burning as strong through the grit and passion they salt each line with. The biggest revelation of the night is the closer, ‘Might Love Myself’. For the first time, Shomo sings it like he really believes the words he’s written, grinning and making the whole room brighter, and that’s the kind of infectious joy that etches itself into our collective memories.
It’s a privilege to see the vocalist this genuinely happy, and now he’s able to share in our glee at seeing Beartooth return to the capital.
KATE ALLVEY