The Verdict Is Vengenace

Plus: Counting Down To Yesterday
Brixton Academy, London
09.01.10
8/10
Words: Pete Newton

Bristish alternative rockers prove that they aren't all talk.

The Verdict Is Vengeance's methods of gaining a fan base with a huge age range is not clear, but over the past year their unique style of powerful vocals and heavy, with soft music, has made them one of the next big bands of the English music scene, and this is shown by the way that there is not a spare seat in sight around the venue.

Shortly after the doors have opened, deathcore band Counting Down To Yesterday begin their short, yet agressive set. Although the audience doesn't respond well to the style that the small five piece from Essex are performing, it does nothing to stop vocalist Brad Smith from putting all his effort into get the crowd motivated. The low death growls with screeching guitars adds to Smith's attempts, but not making much of a difference until the final song This Is The End Get A Room is played. With the fast drum beat, the crowd begin jumping to the song chanting the chorus back to band.

Aware of the crowds energy The Verdict Is Vengeance go straight into the hit song Heartbeat which sends the crowd screaming back the lyrics at front man Kieran Marks. As the set progresses the band show why the fans should be at the gig, playing covers of The Blackout's hit song Children Of The Night, in which bassit Connor James shows his vocal ability, and Snake Devil by Scary Kids Scaring Kids, and then playing the unreleased song Face It Baby Nothing Last Forever. With heavy guitar effects and fast drums the mosh pits going on to the new songs are bigger than any that the band have ever seen before, and as the song comes to a close Marks takes off his t-shirt and throws it into the crowd, causing more energy around the crowd. The band play one last song, and ask Brad Smith from Counting Down To Yesterday to come on stage and assit with the vocals for the track Egocentric, the song that the fans can all sing along to, with Smith's screaming vocals being used instead of the pop punk vocals, the crowd begin one last mosh pit before the band leave the stage.

Backstage the first thing said by Marks is "That was the best gig ever, could we top that again?", and everyone who attended is most likely thinking the same thing.


Marks gets close with the crowd