Live Review: Electric Callboy, As Everything Unfolds and Monuments | Great Hall, Cardiff | 27/10/2023
Whether you view them as metals goofiest band, admire how much they don't take anything seriously or if you think they're the biggest trolls in the genre, you have to admit that selling out an entire UK tour on the back of a name change is a pretty impressive feat. It's time for the rave of your life.
Monuments
Hitting the stage at a slightly later time than advertised are London based djent crew, Monuments. Backed by a huge LED screen with the artwork from their most recent studio output, In Stasis. As they stroll on stage vocalist Andy Cizek greets the nearly quarter full room, but treats it as if he’s playing a sold out Wembley Stadium. As they charge head first into ‘A.W.O.L’ as their djent breakdowns and Cizek’s vocals soar on his highs and hit rock bottom with his vicious growls and screams as there is a small circle pit formed. While they do suffer with a muddy sound for the few two songs, they soon pick back up when the first note of ‘Leviathan’ is played.
The band aren’t blessed with much space on stage as drummer Mike Malyan is on the right hand of the stage, almost being cut off by the lighting set up from Electric Callboy, but they make it work perfectly. Interacting with one another as well as the crowd. Bassist Werner Erkelens has moments of his own as he gets behind and in front of guitarist John Browne in a playful manner as they both share a laugh. While there are backing tracks being played for some of Browne’s parts they’re more for added texture to the songs. And as quick as the first note was played, the final note of “Degenerate” is played as the band give the crowd a smile, wave and a bow, before taking their leave. Short and sweet is how they roll. Monuments show in even a short amount of time how much they have to give as not just an opener, but indeed as a headliner.
As Everything Unfolds
Buckinghamshire’s very own As Everything Unfolds take the second and direct support slot for tonight. With only two albums on their back, they’ve risen through the depths of the UK underground since their first EP dropped in 2017. As luck would have it they have slightly more space than previous band Monuments, but synth operator Jon Cassidy takes the spot of Malyan’s kit. Stage space issues aside, As Everything Unfolds have dropped their critically acclaimed album but the name of Ultraviolet earlier this year. And the title track to that album so happens to be their opening song. And what a way to open their slot. The samples from Cassidy scratch through the thick guitar tone of Adam Kerr and Jamie Gowers‘ kit pounds through the speakers. The soothing vocals of Charlie Rolfe then lulls you into a false sense of security as her screams cut through the Great Hall with venom with bassist George Hunt calling for a wall of death half way through ‘Ultraviolet’ & “Slow Down”. ‘Felt Like Home’ provides the crowd with more circle pits and jumping as Rolfe joins in between her spins and kicks.
While they only have one more song than Monuments, as they had seven, it feels like a much shorter set because of how much energy is being cast upon the crowd from the band. They’re having the time of their life as Rolfe reminisces about the last time they played Cardiff supporting the capitals own Holding Absence before they launch into ‘All I’ve Ever Known’ which shows their poppier side while they still retain their thick sound. But the time ‘On The Inside’ closes the set off, we’re told about their upcoming UK tour in smaller venues. And with a set like tonight, one would be very surprised if it’s not a sell out.
Electric Callboy
The room is bursting with people. You can feel it getting warmer and people are clambering to get to the front before the light go down to a raucous sound. The LED screen then flickers on as the conductor of the Tekkno Train gives us our rules for this evening. Make sure your best dance moves are available at all times. Standing still is strictly prohibited. Clap when instructed and look after each other. Techno music blares as drummer David-Karl Fredrich appears in front of the thumping Tekkno logo behind him. As their announced they’re ready to enter the stage, lights flash before ‘Tekkno Train’ is their first song welcomed by duel vocalists Kevin Ratajczak & Nico Sallach jump into place as confetti cannons explode into the crowd. Visuals and lyrics of songs are strewn across the LED screen behind as the band jump straight into ‘MC Thunder II (Dancing Like A Ninja)’ as the crowd is louder than the entire band on times.
The cover of Cascada’s ‘Everytime We Touch’ ignites a fire into the already seething crowd who are singing every single word. Opening circle pits at the band requests and raving like their life depends on it. ‘Arrow Of Love’ shoots the crowd with heart shaped confetti before Fredrich gets a drum solo of his own before the band reappear in costume for ‘Hypa Hypa’. Ratajczak then tells us that the room is much too hot and sweaty for his liking so he needs to cool us down with the help of Sallach & guitarist Daniel Haniß for short renditions of ‘Let It Go’ & ‘I Want It That Way’, in which the crowd overpower the acoustic and keyboards. Charlie Rolfe makes another appearance singing the backing vocals for ‘Fuckboi’ before embracing Ratajczack & Sallach before leaving once more.
The encore opens with ‘Pump It’ with the band once again in costume and wigs as the band ‘Pump It’ with us. ‘Mindreader’ on the other hand feels like a filler song that was added last second as it’s the only song without as much energy as the rest of the set, but the crowd make up for that themselves as crowd surfers galore are launched at security. The thumps on ‘We Got The Moves’ echo out as the band once again appear in fancy dress. White body warmers, wigs & glasses are equipped by the band as they peck their heads in unison before Sallach’s vocals cut through and the band shower us in more confetti as they end their set and leave the stage after they take a picture with the sweaty Welsh capital.
If you had any doubts about Electric Callboy then they’ve been well and truly demolished by tonight’s show. The energy emitted by the band is electric, if you excuse the pun. The next time they come to the UK on a headline tour, there’s no doubt that they’ll be headlining arenas.