Adam Vallely
The tour supports are handpicked by the headliners with openers Going Off, part of the Church Road Records roster run by Employed To Serve’s very own Justine and Sammy. The hardcore punks’ vocalist Jake Huxley sets the clear aim of getting the crowd ‘warmed up’. He isn’t wrong as they charge through sixteen 1–2-minute vicious tracks from across this year’s bruising album What Makes You Tick? and beyond. Jake contorting from side to side as he bellows words of pain and misery. “This is a light-hearted song about starving yourself to death” he explains before tearing into ‘Nil By Mouth’. The quartet certainly bring the energy to get the blood racing and even with various stand in members you wouldn’t notice, as they summon old boot-stomping punk spirit dosed with an injection of modern hardcore. Stand in bassist Olie almost ready to tear the crowd’s heads off as he takes lead vocal duties briefly. Going Off are not just a band you should check out for their music or live show, this is a band who you should take in their messages they deliver. An absolutely vital band in our dangerous times.
After a quick changeover an electric buzz fills the air, tension builds as the crowd know what they up against next. London’s own Pupil Slicer are back on home territory and they are here to ‘play rock and roll’ lead slicer Kate Davies declares as they burst into fan favourite ‘No Temple’. The quartet are not messing about with a short set of four tracks all off this year’s Blossom. The title track showing as ever the talent flowing through this group, bassist Luke Fabian pinging bass lines about for fun and guitarist Alex Brown is cooking up noodles for dinner served up on his wooden block. Closing out with ‘The Song at Creation’s End’, a winding intro, Kate screams into the crowd expelling every bit of energy in their soul. The crowd duly follow suit bursting into action as a pit finally opens up. Pupil Slicer have continued their journey to present that heavy music does not need to follow a certain formula or look and performances like this show that they are willing to use every ounce of effort to do that.
When seeing one of the heaviest, riff filled back catalogues in the country, there’s a real danger of whiplash. Tonight is no exception as Employed To Serve are relentless in their pursuit of damaged spinal cords. Opening their set with deep cut ‘Void Ambition’ a fire is lit that will eventually engulf this grand looking room. The fire does need stoking somewhat towards the front end of their set due to a brief technical issue and another interruption. However, this does not deter band nor audience as guitarist and co-vocalist Sammy Urwin asks for all the energy the room can bring during ‘Owed Zero’ which has the people jumping by the end. Bodies start to crawl on and dive offstage soon after during ‘The Mistake’ while Sammy and Justine Jones’ vocal trade off as venomous as ever. Shredding through bangers like ‘Sun Up to Sun Down’ and ‘We Don’t Need You’, it’s clear to see why metal monsters Gojira pulled Employed To Serve on tour earlier in the year. The latter track is so tight and drilled, while its lyrics ‘respect where respect is due’ couldn’t be truer. The band not only demand, but deserve every ounce of praise. ‘Are you still with us London?’ Justine asks, not that she needs to as the crowd roar in response as ‘Harsh Truth’ kicks in with its guttural bassline and a snare that cuts through the room like a hot knife through butter. This all sounds like serious metal business but everyone from wall to wall is having a Friday night of fun. As the bodies hit the floor in some spills from stage diving, a wry smile emanates from Justine. People scooped off the floor by their fellow limb swingers ready to go again. Adding to the family values of the tour, guest spots by Kate Davies and Jake Huxley are an added hot slice of pie in amongst an already gluttonous set. Showing this is not just an Employed To Serve tour, this is a celebration of all things heavy in the UK. Closing out with ‘Mark of the Grave’ the aforementioned bodies might as well climb into their caskets as everything is left in the room tonight.
