EASTPAK ANTIDOTE TOUR Live @ The Pyramids, 21/10/2009

Ghost Of A Thousand

The queue still stretches far outside when Ghost of a Thousand take the stage. Strangely the room full from sell-out gig, the last of the tour. Nevertheless they really want to incite carnage. Tom Lacy, the lead singer, leaps over the barrier and disappears into the crowd and a huge mosh pit forms. Given the diversity in their first two albums, their set is solid and truly sets the bar high in terms of energy, enthusiasm and crowd participation. It culminates with firstly with ‘Running on Empty’ where the room is split and then collides. The venue nicely filled at this point. Finally Tom’s into the crowd again to build a human pyramid with their final song ‘Black Art Number One’. A much hyped band and rightly so.

Four Years Strong was up next. They play out their set without much trouble. Unfortunately due to the poor sound of the Pyramids it all blends to one block of noise. Ghost defiantly set the bar high and FYS just lacked the passion previously seen.

Anti Flag bring a much different tone to the stage. Easily the most physically polished of the bunch, it’s a very much more user friendly set. The energy was back in abundance and the crowd pretty much ecstatic. Again a pit swelled up that encompassed the entire floor. Initially I was sceptical, it looked and sounded like a band built for commercial success. But in the end they won me over, it was fun, it was genuinely enjoyable. Even the cover of The Clash went down well and didn’t feel sacrilegious. With everything back on track, Alexionfire took to the stage.

They’ve been at this for a while now and their maturing and connection on a band really shows. Its solid and the music sounds epic that rises way above the support. But for all the professionalism, the crowd connection was lost. Though they may still love the band and the music, but it was a set to listen to and not to be a part of.

THE GHOST OF A THOUSAND – New Hopes, New Demonstrations

When Brighton’s Ghost Of A Thousand released their debut album in 2007 they picked up plaudits left and right, appearing in Kerrang’s top albums of that year, as well as being labelled Best British Newcomer. They were touted by the likes of Rock Sound and Q too. Understandably then, the weight of expectation for this, their second release must be heavy indeed. Thankfully then, for this young hardcore band, the reviews thus far have been good. But we didn’t hear the first album and we haven’t been listening to they hype, so what do we think? Well, I was expecting some hard and heavy punk and these guys don’t disappoint, but they’re smart enough to add a few softer moments, all the better to knock you backwards when the volume is jacked back up. Admittedly, the band could well become repetitive, but they take a leaf out of the AC/DC rulebook and keep the album short and sweet. Check out the opening of ‘Neptune’, it’s the aural equivalent of being jumped on your way home at 3am, vicious, concussive and over before you realise quite what’s going on. Of course they’re going to be compared to Gallows, they both plough much the same furrow but you’re likely to fall into one camp or the other and the decision may well be made by your choice of front man. TGOAT’s vocalist Tom Lacey clearly grew up listening to a lot of metal albums whereas Frank Carter of Gallows may well be the second coming of John Lydon. Personally, I can’t stand the gurning idiot who stars in adverts for butter, so I’ll stick with these guys thanks all the same. I’d urge you to as well, you won’t be disappointed.