Asking Alexandria + The Ghost Inside + Crown The Empire + Secrets @ O2 Academy Birmingham – 7th November 2014
Tonight was the last but one date of Asking Alexandria’s headline tour to promote their most recent release From Death To Destiny and judging by the queue that stretched round the block, their dedicated fans had been waiting a while. Although with a line up like there is tonight, I don’t blame them.
As I walked into a quickly filling O2 Academy, sporting a blue tie-dye shirt, it dawned on me that I must have missed the ‘all black’ memo. However, with the first band, Secrets, walking on pretty much instantaneously, there was no time to dwell on my apparently brash fashion sense. Being my first time seeing the post-hardcore quintet, I did not know what to expect, I was however pleasantly surprised. The crowd appeared to lap up their Rise Record engineered tracks like a dog on a hot day. A short set from Secrets, but an enjoyable one nonetheless.
Second up were another act on the Rise Records roster, Electronic Post-Hardcore sextet, Crown The Empire. In terms of sound, it was like Secrets had walked back on but with a synthesiser; that being said, what they lacked in originality, they made up for in stage presence and performance. Not a bad set all things considered; the crowd seemed to enjoy it, participation levels were high and the band seemed get into it too even if, at least to my ears, it did sound like they played the same song six times.
Penultimately, my favourite band on the bill, Los Angeles Hardcore mob The Ghost Inside. Smashing through the first few tracks, including new one Avalanche and The Great Unknown from their 2012 release, Get What You Give. Frontman Jonathan Vigil does the obligatory mid-set marketing for their new album Dear Youth before continuing with their final two songs. Finishing with their most well known track Engine 45, The Ghost Inside completed the final warming up of the crowd, exiting the stage to leave us in the more than capable hands of headliner, Asking Alexandria.
Asking Alexandria are a band with a massive following; its range encompasses, screaming teenage girls, ageing men who can’t let go of their 1987 self and people that won’t openly admit they like them, but sing along to every word. Eclectic, to say the least. Opening with Don’t Pray For Me, track one from their latest album, we knew what was going down, heavy, fast paced and full of energy they remain one of the quintessential rock/metalcore crossover bands of our time, and tonight they’re out to prove nothing but that. “You’re good people” says vocalist Danny Worsnop in his first ramble of the night. Maybe it’s a pet peeve on my part, but I’m here to see a rock show, not a really bad stand up act, play the songs Worsnop!
Someone, Somewhere is the first of two songs, followed by Moving On, that are a refreshing change of pace and allow the crowd to regain composure before the onslaught of the 2009 breakdown ridden, sample plenty, A Prophecy. Tracks nine, ten and eleven are all from their first album Stand Up And Scream. Loathing for the tracks? Probably. Being grateful for making them who they are today? Definitely. Not The American Average and The Final Episode (Let’s Change The Channel) are the last in the set; in my opinion a sensible place to call it a day, but no.
Chants for more are heard loud and clear which sees the band take to the stage once more to knock out three encore tracks. All three come from their latest album, From Death To Destiny and get a surprisingly good reaction from the crowd; clearly everyone is devoted to the band even after their slight move away from Metalcore, maybe that’s why they keep coming back whenever Worsnop and co. are in town? “Thank you so much” yells the frontman as the house lights come up. It is always good to see a band that enjoy what they do and with sweat pouring from every member, Asking Alexandria are certainly one of them.
Through impromptu, albeit briefly jammed, covers of Pantera and Linkin Park, seemingly drunken banter between Danny Worsnop and lead guitarist Ben Bruce, pummelling drum solos from James Cassells and even covering every inch of the stage, risers and all; Asking Alexandria have proved they’re top of the game, and that they’re not planning on letting anyone take their place soon.
Asking Alexandria Set List:
Don’t Pray for Me
Run Free
A Lesson Never Learned
Breathless
To the Stage
Break Down the Walls
Dedication
Someone, Somewhere
Moving On
A Prophecy
Not the American Average
The Final Episode (Let’s Change the Channel)
Encore:
Killing You
The Death of Me
Poison
Photographs: Steve Kilmister
Review: Dan Wilson