Messed!Up
Sheffield’s metalcore giants While She Sleeps haven’t been on my radar for long. In fact, it’s one of many great bands I discovered while being in lockdown during the pandemic when there was nothing else to do but listen to music. It all started with the You Are We and Sleeps Society albums, and when Self Hell was released earlier this year I bought all three on vinyl. It’s never too late to discover bands, right?
Four gigs in the last two years and I understand why they’re known for their knock-out shows, and tonight wasn’t any different. While She Sleeps take to the stage to “Peace of Mind” accompanied by a thunderous attack of strobe lights, and the Sleeps Society – their patrons – abruptly go apeshit with that first hefty riff, before the band members have even got to their positions. The anthemic chorus is amplified tenfold by the voices of the fans with a furious passion. It was a long time ago I was at a show with such passionate fans!
On they charge with a furious intensity backing up this epic starter with ”Leave Me Alone” and, my favorite “Anti-Social”. Frontman Loz Taylor can’t keep away from the energy of the crowd, getting up close and personal every chance he gets, and encouraging surfers to cycle through crashing towards the barrier. Where I was standing the heat had turned up to a sauna-like level with no cooling air at all and every movement led to an outburst of sweat.
As the frenzy continued through “You Are All You Need” and “The Guilty Party”, dozens of half-full beer cups were thrown into the air and a vicious circle pit appeared. While She Sleeps tear through hit after hit, showcasing their incredible talent for combining raw vocal intensity, intricate technical guitar melodies, and crushing metalcore riffs and rhythms. And Taylor is outstanding. Many are eagerly greeted with a high-five or fist pump here and there, including the hands of fans reaching for him when he gets out into the crowd.
After a break they return with “Four Walls” which has the whole room united as a screaming choir – simply amazing! Support band and fellow Sheffielders Malevolence’s frontman Alex Taylor joins the band for a screamo duet in “Down” before we head off in the direction of ending the set. The last songs are nothing but bangers. “Enlightenment”, “Silence Speaks”, and “To The Flowers” are amazing metalcore songs that put the bar high for any band. Closing with what I believe to be the best metalcore banger out there at the moment, “Sleeps Society”, while Taylor demanded people to get up on their shoulders is probably one of the best moments at a venue this year.
While I smell a mix of sweat and beer-soaked shirts from people around me – yes, some days I wish smoking at venues was allowed to hide other smells – I can feel the infectious high that fans will float home on. Every single thing was done to perfection, lights, pyro, stage set up, set list, everything was absolutely bang on. For anyone seeking a live show that’s equal parts chaos and catharsis, this band is a must-see.
Anything on the minus side? Well, our photographer pointed out that Taylor wanted their fans to do it all at the same time – sit on the shoulders, crowdsurf, turn on the lights on their mobile phones, run in the moshpit, etc. Maybe just cool down a bit, ok?
But we wanted chaos and they goddam delivered.
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Photos: Sophie Dobschall
