Taste Of Chaos Review: Killswitch Engage, In Flames, Every Time I Die, Maylene ATSOD
Taste Of Chaos is a brand that has become synonymous with both value and being the keystone tour between the extreme and the mainstream. Here’s how it went down…
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here at London’s Hammersmith Apollo to witness one of the best bills of the year…
Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster
A Hammer favourite we were dismayed to learn that charismatic frontman Dallas Taylor would not be performing with the band (already a band with a line-up as stable as depleted uranium) but luckily the shoes would be filled by He Is Legend frontman Schuylar Croom. Maylene has gone from a six-piece to a quintet and apparently back again, with the three guitar attack just managing to stay away from sounding like sonic mush – each member knowing when to hold back and when to come in. Schuylar [pronounced, ‘sky-ler’] is less the angry yet charming farm-hand and more the hard rock Jim Morrison but it still suits the southern-tinged heavy rock. The set seems strangely chosen and it seems that there are no original members on stage. While being slightly surreal and a little disappointing the guys still all rock out and Schuylar holds the eye like campers watching a campfire.
Every Time I Die
Almost the highlight of this stellar bill, Every Time I Die have an aspirational appeal that has seen checked shirts proliferate like swine flu. The band are ultimately confident, eccentric enough to be interesting, but never disappearing up their own far left arsehole. Frontman Keith Buckley is always just that little bit cooler than he thinks he is, and charms man, woman and beast from the stage as he screams and croons into the mic. Around him the rest of the band – including his brother – play with the vigour, energy and excitement of a young band: Jordan Buckley more than once launching himself with his guitar into the crowd after a backstage run-up. Guitarist Andy Williams stands like a mighty bearded oak making his guitar look Les Paul Guitar Hero. Drummer, Josh Newton seems not to be trying to make noises from his drums, simply destroying them – standing up and landing massive strikes on wood, skin and brass. Meanwhile Jordan stands in the warrior pose – legs akimbo – moshing to and fro – his forehead almost touching the stage. Songs from every era are rendered with awesome power and the crowd react accordingly: circle pits opening up like typhoons and imploding again. An absolutely storming performance from a band who seem still to be at the apex of an unending upward trajectory.
In Flames
In Flames did what In Flames do best, with formulaic fanfare and a cocky Swedish leer they plunder their back catalogue to mass applause. It’s still baffling that frontman Anders still won’t admit that he sounds like Korn’s Jonathan Davis.
Killswitch Engage
The amazingly dresses stage complete with ramps and dazzling light show illuminates the returning heroes of metalcore. Killswitch Engage stand (save drummer Justin Foley who sits bald and bearded behind his kit) onstage in matching tuxedo-design t-shirts and the crowd welcome them with a love that paints wide smiles on every face. And for tonight’s performance, the ever wacky guitarist Adam D, is wearing a pink tutu and shuffles speedily round the stage like a recently lobotomised basketball player. Their new album may not be their finest work, but the crowd know all the words, and by the time such anthems from The End Of Heartache and My Last Serenade ring out over the Hammersmith Apollo the crowd sing every note – verse, chorus and middle eight. Frontman Howard Jones stands, arms crossed, with a massive shit-eating grin on his face. Few bands could do this, gather four thousand metal heads in one place and have every single mouth singing along with smiles wide. Howard had traded his rugby player physique for bantamweight boxer and bounds around the stage, leading his adoring audience in song. Adam’s antics at times feel at odds with the emotional catharsis of the music, but his inter-song banter would be particularly missed as he runs through a repertoire of ‘your mum’ suggestions. Killswitch may have yet to repeat the recorded perfection of their 2004 opus, but live they still slay like few other bands on stages today – we should all be proud.
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I went to the Birmingham show and it was one of the best nights of my life, second only to Sonisphere. Great review!
Howard is a tool
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the sound at the apollo, particularly from KSE was unbelievably crystal clear, truly fantastic. everyone i was with were blown away by KSE – best I’ve seen them, superb
in flames and ETID were class, killswitch on the other were oh so poor, major anti-climax, would warn any fan not to expect a good show. what a let down
I was there at the london show KSE were awesome!
Another great show put together and displayed by the almighty Killswitch Engage!
i thought the KSE album was pretty good. it gave me the same buzz that AoJB does. i thought EoH was their worst as far as production and sound goes. i only like a few songs off that album. but the albums since have been pretty sweet as far as sound and production go.
I just loved every single minute of it, especially In Motherf***ing Flames made me really happy…^^
ETID were easily the best for me in Bristol (im sure you meant bassist Josh Newton). Good gig!
Exactly why ETID need to be here for their own tour. Pronto.
I went last minute to the Apollo gig, got a call at 3.15 that day to go. Biggest rush ever. I was ill as well. But I didn’t care. Someone had a spare ticket, I went and wasn’t disappointed. Killswitch were amazing. One of the greatest shows I’ve seen. Benny Hill theme and then My Curse..does it get better!? No.
Come back soon.
And 4000 metalheads? Apollo is about 9000! That’s seating and standing. Get with it Gill!
Found ETID a major disappointment, was right down the front and a lot of us were just looking around. In Flames and KSE on the other hand were great, although I’d like to see Adam D shut the hell up and some older songs on the set list.
P.S. Michael… it’s actually just over 5,000 but Thursday didn’t sell out so 4,000 isn’t a terribly inaccurate figure.
that is a load of bullshit every time i die were as bad a mcr. alot of people at manchester agreed with me, screemo shite!
anders sounds like johnthan davis? stfu
I swear they sold out the Apollo on the night?
If they didn’t, then it was close enough!
It was rammed beyond Jesus Christ when they came on.
I thought every band (bar Maylene who I missed) but in a great effort, but I gotta say KSE stole it. Just.
Loving the new record. I genuinely think it’s some of their strongest work.
@COBHCJQ he actually does on their more melodic moments, i.e most if not all of Soundtrack To Your Escape, and some fo the lighter moments on their last two albums.
Apart from his gingerness and his beard, his hair’s not far from JD’s either
Manchester Academy – In Flames stole it by a mile, quality performance from a quality band. V disappointed by your review (or lack of).
KSE were fun, but a bit iffy – Holy Diver an obvious high point.
ETID were typical shouty student fair.
Missed Maylene… ‘cus of wrong door opening time on ticket
i agree with cheif ady, whats with the in flames review?? they were the best fucking band by miles, etid gave a good performance, shame their music is bland, and as for kse, i just cant get passed the prick in the skirt trying to be funny. In Flames fuckin owned!
I was there and had the privilege to meet and get autographs from pete, daniel and bjorn from in flames very nice chaps, Maylene atsod were brilliant though I only caught the last 2 songs
ETID I thought were impressive seeing as I hadn’t really heard any of there stuff in flames really did kick a lot of arse and as they were the main band I wanted to see that night I was very happy KSE did tear the house down I havn’t seen a band with that much power over the audience since I saw system of a down way back in 2005 they trulley are one of the best bands anyone can see live hands down! hope we can see more strong line ups like these at TOC in the future
Yeah whats with the lack of depth into the inflames review? and why didnt you mention the fact that silk witch came on to the benny hill theme? ledge
id also like to say that my friend and i smoked a jay and do sey do’ed to maylene and the sons of disaster, it just felt right
Killswitch Engage owned the tour when I was, played the shite out of in flames and the horrible horrible emo ETID.
you think howard a tool?
youre the tool – howard’s awesome
me and my friends went to the birmingham performance, it was stunningly good. absolutley breath taking
in flames were pretty awesome too