Counterparts @ The Mill, Birmingham, 2nd May 2023
Acting as their first ever trip to these fine shores, Dying Wish were clearly a big draw for people to turn up early to Digbeth’s The Mill ahead of Counterparts headline show. Backed by a giant LED visual backdrop that was used for each band of the evening, the group blasted through a range of tracks from their debut record ‘Fragments Of A Bitter Memory’. Ferocious, melodic and engaging led by the fantastic Emma Boster, the band also performed brand new single ‘Torn From Your Silhouette’ that has been gaining airplay on BBC Radio 1. I will personally be anticipating the band’s return to play shows here in the future.
Next up were Paleface Swiss, who provided a different tone to the evening that incorporated more modern and rap led elements that proved highly entertaining and lively. Opening the show with a intro of someone suffering a schizophrenic episode did very well to set the mood, and changed the atmosphere of the room ahead of the band taking to the stage. Once again a large proportion of the crowd were familiar with their material and as the evening developed it certainly felt like a four-band bill rather than three support acts.
Acting as main support for the evening were Kublai Khan TX, who absolutely blew the venue apart and provided one of the best sets I have seen for a very long time. Slow and heavy breakdowns, raspy vocals and political based theming shows why they are constantly getting picked for high profile tour slots.
Touring in support of their 2022 release ‘A Eulogy for Those Still Here’, Counterparts found themselves at The Mill towards the end of an extensive EU/UK run that has seen many of the dates sold out.
There is clearly an appetite to see Counterparts in the live environment as they seem to consistently be touring and playing shows, but following the show it’s clear to see why.
Opening with ‘Whispers of Your Death’ and ‘Bound To The Burn’, the band took the packed audience on a lengthy run through various tracks from seven different releases. ‘No Servant of Mine’, ‘Love Me’ and ‘A Mass Grave of Saints’ prompted wide singalongs and crowd surfing from the passionate crowd and this energy was certainly replicated by the band.
Setlist:
07/26/2020
Whispers of Your Death
Bound to the Burn
Wings of Nightmares
Monument
No Servant of Mine
Witness
Stranger
Flesh to Fill Your Wounds
Love Me
Unwavering Vow
Your Own Knife
Paradise and Plague
A Mass Grave of Saints
The Disconnect
Review: Dan Earl
Photographs: Andy Shaw
Check out our other reviews , album reviews, news and interviews