Up-Load UK, Gigs News & reviews Speed Theory Review

Young metallers give masterclass in stagecraft

Saturday night found us in The Royal Park Cellar in Leeds to see the much talked about Speed Theory, our friends Allerjen and Black River Project who I have been waiting to see for a while. The ‘Cellar’ is the basement of the Royal Park Pub with a capacity of about 100 but it does sport its own bar and a good size stage for the size of the venue. Before we got to experience Wes of Speed Theory and his own brand of mayhem we saw 3 great bands.

First to the stage are Your Fatal Error, a local 4 piece from the Leeds/Harrogate area. They are a notch above your present pub metal bands that are shooting up the local circuit. Your Fatal Error gave a healthy enthusiastic set with Matt Marshall on vocals working hard to get the crowd going. His work did not go unnoticed and he got the start of a pit at the front with some dangerous looking windmill arms! His vocal range is excellent and he can move between the growls of death vocals to the sometimes-melodic harmonies of rock- an oxymoron if ever I heard it! I enjoyed their energetic set even though it wasn’t totally my shot of Jaeger. A good performance if you like your metal falling a little on the Emo side.

Next up were Black River Project, a band I’ve been waiting to see them for a while and I was totally psyched to have them play at a local venue. Black River Project, a four piece from Leicester whose brand of Death/Doom/Thrash Metal is more at home on the London circuit than with the flat caps of the Yorkshire dales. They graced us with no mercy and launched onto stage with some heavy groove laden riffs and weighty hooks. ‘Leeds, hear my cry? Fuck ya! ‘Growled vocaliat Paul McGlennon . His stage presence is somewhat demonic, complete with eyes rolling back in his head as if possessed by Old Nick himself. The hammering metal groove runs relentlessly throughout the set and merged well with the infectious rhythm section. This was a delicious meaty slab of metal for the more carnivorous amongst us. A tasty delight not to be missed.

After the blazing assault of BRP, Allerjen hit the stage with as much humour as metal. ‘Are you here for a night of Jazz with Allerjen – HA!’ Smirks front man John Dower. Since when did Manchester steal the humour out of Liverpool? Allerjen are not only great lads but are incredibly talented. Deep rutted bass lines and stunning riffs resonate around the small room to the point you can almost feel necks straining under the breakneck speed of the guitars. It’s very obvious you’re not watching your average everyday support; you’re watching a band that are noticeably better than the chasing pack. They deliver what they say on the tin. Hard furious metal delivered with fierce vengeance. Excellent set.

While warming up it becomes evident that Wolverhamptons Speed Theory are going to demand some serious attention. This is a band that have barely cut their teeth on the live circuit but still ooze the confidence and stagecraft of a seasoned band. Do not be fooled in thinking that they are young and arrogant, I doubt guitarist and lead vocalist Wes and the young 16 old drummer Alex realize just how talented they are. Wes is an amazingly self-assured front man who has a natural born talent to perform. Playing left handed and demonstrating a degree of showmanship that is often lacking in this day and age he throws himself round the stage like an extreme version of Jimi Hendrix, with a smidgen of Trivium frontman Matt Heafy thrown in for good measure. Making his guitar sing with complex fret work and a stage persona come like a stroll in the park for this fresh faced 19yr old and ‘his’ band - fuse this with the super tight rhythm, pounding drum and bass drenched sound and you have the start of something very special. Yes, this band have a lot to learn and some changes to make but for the veterans in the crowd we can almost see and feel that they will be gracing larger stages for a long time to come and as for Wes and Alex, they are destined for greater things given the right focus and direction. Superb set.