KITTIE, IT DIES TODAY, MALEFICE & FOREVER NEVER –
O2 ACADEMY 3, BIRMINGHAM 22/01/10
Public transport – don't you just love it? Tiny roadworks near the Kings Head pub and before you know it, gridlock. Not the best start to the night and then the text message I was dreading arrived - “small venue this...” Gig moved from Academy 2 to 3 then? Still, better to have a packed smaller venue than fans rattling around in a large hall any day of the week.
For one reason or another I didn't catch much of Forever Never's set. What I did see didn't do much to endear them; generic metalcore with a stereotypical first-band-of-the-night sludgy sound. Enough said.
Malefice are a band I've seen a few times over the last year or so and I was looking forward to them, until the sound gremlin botched things even more spectacularly. The bassist and vocalist confirmed this shortly after their stint by stating that the on stage sound was equally shocking. Pity really because when they get a sound to do their mix of brutality and melody justice they're as good as any out there. They did nothing wrong but shame their set was ruined by the sound.
It Dies Today miraculously had a much better sound which added insult to injury to several clearly annoyed members of Malefice (justifiably so). It Dies Today were clearly well drilled, precise, and more than competent musicians however if you've heard or seen Killswitch Engage, 36 Crazyfists or All That Remains, they held few surprises. Formulaic doesn't come close and the band's name seemed more apt as their time on stage progressed.
Friday night in England's second city and headliner's Kittie took to the stage just before 9pm with the task of salvaging the evening, which they did with consummate ease. Their tour manager also turned out to be a good sound engineer and their sound, therefore, was head and shoulders the best of the evening. Kittie played for almost an hour and delivered an entertaining performance. The most recent additions to the band – Tara on lead guitar and Ivy on bass – have fitted in well, and the band form a more than solid unit. The Lander sisters led the show well with some interesting crowd addresses between songs. Mercedes' drumming was spot on – although the cowbell got a bit irritating – and Morgan's vocals were superb, flitting from extreme metal growling to clean melodic sections effortlessly.
Highlights of the set for me were “What I Always Wanted” with its impressive main riff and pounding double bass accompaniment, whilst the song that features in their current video - “Sorrow I Know” - was a much darker song, reflecting the subject matter involved. Kittie collectively possess great stage presence combined with the correct amount of attitude. I've deliberately left the all female issue until last – having seen Girlschool and Hysterica recently, Kittie are in a different league, and along with Severed Heaven, the best I've seen. Hopefully they'll return to these shores again soon.
Chop
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