He Is Legend + The Catharsis @ The Hairy Dog, Derby, 24th October 2014
He Is Legend return to UK shores on the back of their fourth album, ‘Heavy Fruit’. An Album, which proved to be another solid chapter in the life of the enigmatic, amorphous North Carolinian metallers. Of course, I use the term ‘metallers’ in the broadest possible sense. He Is Legend being a band that would never truly fit into one genre, originally starting as a Post- Hardcore band, their music has constantly been morphing from one genre to another as their career progressed.
Opening for them this evening were Birmingham boys The Catharsis, a band whose own reputation is gradually rising, thanks to energetic and a well-received debut album ‘Romance’. They do their best at getting the crowd going, a feat that is easier said than done. It’s pretty obvious from the lack of movement throughout the room that people are there just to see He Is Legend. That doesn’t mean that the music they play isn’t worthy of attention and just goes to show that the UK hard-core scene is alive and kicking. They’re set was fun, plain and simple, the music was good but not exactly original, but their on-stage energy made up for any lack of originality. Frontman Morgan’s screams are strong throughout, but it’s his persistence with trying to get the crowd going, even suggesting a bit of ball room dancing at one point, that really impressed me. Personally, I think these guys are going to go far, especially when you take into account the groups average age is about 22.
He Is Legend hit the stage at around quarter to midnight, by which stage I was starting to get a bit drowsy. As soon as the first guitar tones came through the speakers I was miraculously wide awake again, possibly one of the meatiest guitar tones I’ve ever heard. The band kicks straight into ‘The Widow Of Magnolia’ off their second and possibly most beloved album ‘Suck Out The Poison’. Frontman Shuylar Croom immediately shows off the vocal ability that provides the tonic to the heavy as hell music. He’s deep, southern, soulful singing perfectly juxtaposes the music that he is singing over.
One thing that is noticeable tonight is the fact they only play two off their debut ‘I Am Hollywood’, perhaps trying to distance themselves from it. The band’s set is a nice blend of old and new stuff, with an obvious focus on their most recent work ‘Heavy Fruit’, with songs like the undeniably catchy ‘Be Easy’ and the brilliant slow burner ‘Miserable Company’ being some highlights.
Throughout the set, frontman Shuylar is in some sort of self-induced trance, and he is, without doubt, one of the most ‘interesting’ frontman I have ever seen. The crowd’s eyes are fixed on him throughout, as he moves from side to side in such a hypnotic fashion that it is hard not to look away. This really takes the focus away from the rest of the band, but it would seem they are happy to take a back seat and just play on as their singer, in his possessed state, has the entire crowd in his hand. This isn’t to say the rest of the band is boring, in fact far from it. Drummer Sam Huff, who only joined the band before ‘Heavy Fruit’ was released, is a relentless driving force behind everything tonight. Bassist Matt Williams, who was recently included in a list of five bassists that matter on metalsucks.net, shows that the role of the bassist in heavy music isn’t simply a necessity, but more of an instrument that can bring everything together in a nice meaty package. And Guitarists Adam Tanbouz and Denis Deslodge provide everything in between, huge riffs, psychedelic leads and just general tonal mastery.
Ending the set with obvious fan favourite, ‘The Seduction’ which sees Shuylar handing over vocal duties to front row, who gladly scream along. The band leaves the stage, only to be coaxed back out by the crowd’s cries for more. They aptly oblige and kick straight into a cover or Lana Del Ray’s ‘West Coast’ which, at first seems a rather strange choice ends seeming rather inspired, as it perfectly suits the band, who manage to put their own spin on it. It provides more evidence for us that He Is Legend are never going to band that plays it safe. Let’s just hope that there won’t be another five year wait for the next album and that He Is Legend will be back on UK soil soon.
Words: Francis Sebestjanowicz
Press photo: Michael Edwards