UnderOath + Envy On The Coast + Oh Sleeper @ Academy 2 – 8th September 2008

First up tonight on an all American bill are Oh Sleeper from Texas, and although at first it seems few of the crowd know who they are, they quickly convert anyone who’s unsure. With ex Between The Buried and me guitarist Shane Blay on board, anyone would expect some impressive riffs, which the band readily supply. Final song ‘Vices Like Vipers’ sees the band at their best tonight, with more of the fist pumping, heavier moments that they do best and less of the slightly weaker melodic sections.

The eagerly awaited Envy On The Coast don’t quite deliver for many of the crowd tonight, although this may not be entirely their fault. As much more of an alternative rock band than a screamo outfit, they don’t fit into the bill particularly well, still they are entertaining as they throw out ‘Suckerpunch’ and the upbeat, ‘Sugar Skulls’.

The crowd react surprisingly well despite the strange placing on the bill, maybe as Envy On The Coast may appeal to those UnderOath fans who are more into their emo than metal. Whatever the reason, the Long Island guys put up a good fight and provide some fun and a chance to dance before the headliners hit the stage.

With a huge intro to their arrival onstage, UnderOath get the excitement brewing from the very beginning. A good mix of older tracks with the newer songs from the recently released ‘Lost In The Sound Of Speration’ provides something for everyone, from the die hard fans to the new recruits. ‘In Regards To Myself’ sounds great, Spencer Chamberlain’s vocals cutting through jarring guitars as he screams ‘What Are You So Afraid Of?’.

New single ‘Desperate Times, Desperate Measures’ goes down well with the fans, despite having only been released a few days ago, however it doesn’t get near the reaction to ‘Young And Aspiring’, which sees a pit stretching right to the back of the room. Still, the new material sounds great, and could soon be up there with the old favourites.

As the set nears the end with one of the highlights of the night, ‘A Boy Brushed Red Living In Black And White’, the crowd are still more than ready for more. Final song ‘Everyone Looks So Good From Here’ gives one last chance for the fans to go for it, although the sweltering heat in the Academy 2 by this point might explain why the chaos that ensued earlier in the set had died off. Another explanation may be the absence of one of the band’s best known tracks, ‘Reinventing Your Exit’, however it’s good to see a band experimenting with their set and not just playing the hits. Tonight, the band get the opportunity to properly unveil their new album and from the reaction here, the future’s looking good for UnderOath.

Review – Helen Catchpowle
Photography – Keith West

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