Dead By April

WaterRats, London.
21/10/2009
Rating: 4/5

The bar section of the Water Rats in London, inhabits the majority of the audience on this mild night in October. The overwhelming heat radiating from the stage area enough to convince most patrons to hydrate themselves with an abundance of alcohol rather than stand through 2 supporting acts before the main band ( who were scattered around the much cooler bar too!) are even due to play. The wait is an arduous one but after what seems like an eternity in the sensational aroma of body odour, the stage area fills for Dead By April.

As the band open up with an up-tempo and catchy tune with a synth background, the air drops dramatically, making it difficult for the band and crowd to focus and breathe, let alone play – Or so you would think! As Dead By April deliver us into the meaty riffed 'Angels of Clarity' the crowd has built up momentum proving their thrill for the metal newcomers. By the time we're well into the third song, a melodious metal tune infused with the harmonic vocals of two, yes TWO, extremely talented vocalists, the air is truly sucked from every rockers lungs, moistened by the sweat from the humid atmosphere, the band prove that air - - is for wimps! They relentlessly endure the tropical surroundings showing no resistance as they continue to play with impeccable fervour. Even the squashed crowd rock out with as much oompf alongside the band they came to see as if the lack of oxygen is nothing more than a challenging game for them, and not a necessity to keep on surviving. Not this lot!
Dead By April declare their mutual distaste for the rooms atmosphere – bonding with their audience with jokingly apologetic encouragement to continue, which the crowd are all too pleased to bless them with. The tattooed quintet rock hardcore style, having the edge of metal backed by synth, nothing new there, however the all too surprising double vocals at times complimenting each track, is what gives this band their edge. One good vocalist who can range from dark, guttural screeching to a silvery, orchestral voice is blessing enough, and hard to come by nowadays in a metal band; but Dead By April prove their talents as guitarist Pontus Hjelm takes on the rhapsodic backing vocals with a voice to match front man Jimmie Strimell.

The Swedish five-some please the crowd with the obviously loved 'What Can I Say' to which almost every member of the audience sing along to the metallic ballad. Entertaining the crowd with quips of the sauna-like room, Dead By April, who keenly interact with their fans are definite crowd pleaser's. The heavy synthed 'A Promise' echoes through the small venue and shows the band are still highly energized, even by song 7 and under such harsh conditions put their abilities to the test! Never a dull moment at the WaterRats here tonight – Dead By April thrust their magic upon our ears with an effective collaboration of heavy riffage, throaty grunts and tuneful lyrics with a beautiful melodic bridge. The magic truly does lie with their perfect blend of vocals and backing vocals which gives Dead By April a positive boost of the much deserved upper hand over many newcoming bands today. Especially within the metal genre, proving that it's not all about the primal scream, and a tuneful note can go a long way in this business.

The final song 'Losing You' breaks emotion into the venue. Another well-loved single with a hard-to-resist, catchy chorus that'll have you singing along in no time, the song reaching out into your mind, implanting itself there to then replay over and over the moment you leave. You know what they say, 'saving the best 'til last', Dead By April do not disappoint with a flawless ending to the night, for an entire venue (albeit a small venue!) full of raised arms. The bands performance tonight plays out with the message "Who needs air when you're this fucking good!!” Damn right! Their attributes were put to the test as their terrain was boobie-trapped with the cutting off of oxygen, but their determination and raw talent paid off.

As the band peel away from the stage (most likely to throw up), every drenched body piles out of the double doors to attain that very much missed thing; Oxygen, but with only one thing spilling from their lips as they exit; “Dead By April rocked!”.

SET LIST:

Trapped

Angels Of Clarity

Promise Me

In My Arms

Erased

What Can I Say

A Promise

Stronger

Losing You