After the release (and relentless touring) of their fourth album The Here and Now, Architects took some time to sit back and look at what they had accomplished. What they would have found is the following – although that album may have stuttered with some critics and some of the disgruntled, heavy-orientated parts of their fan base, who turned their noses at the more melodic and mellow progression the Brighton band had taken, it would have been clear for them to see that they had broadened their horizons in terms of who they appealed to. One year later, and Architects have returned for their first tour since that release, and the wide range of fans that have turned out tonight at the intimate square room of the Underground in Stoke shows that their appeal shows no signs of slowing down. Deciding on playing the smaller venues around the country, this date culminates a short tour of crushing intensity from each band playing, and this night is no different.
Opening the show does not in any way hamper American hardcore bruisers Stray from the Path, as their energetic set serves to rip the crowd in half and really warm them up for tonight’s proceedings. The venue is pretty much full from the off, and the four veterans, (who are currently touring on the back of their sixth album Rising Sun) take command of most of it. Lead vocalist Drew York is a beast on the mic, bellowing from the bottom of his soul with raw passion and grit. Early Every Time I Die come to mind when trying to match this band, and they certainly have the same dark fury within them, but heavier if it’s possible, beating to a pulp heavy. It’s all over an exciting and enticing experience from the Long Island natives, and warrant a return to our soil any time they like if they perform like this again.
Rolo Tomassi are adored in small circles on our fair isles, and it’s no wonder why. They create an altogether incomparable mix of pure unfiltered noise and make it melodic and infectious – seriously infectious in fact. This being their first tour with new members Chris Cayford of No Coast and Nathan Fairweather of math-rockers Brontide, a naïve young on-looker would perhaps expect a nervous, timid performance from the Steel City innovators. Well, that member of the audience would be blown out of the venue, because Rolo Tomassi own the stage tonight. Lead vocalist Eva Spence is a wash of snarling evil and angelic beauty, her vocals matching her movement as she spins uncontrollably one minute and simply sways the next, while her band mates around her take turns in thrashing their instruments before wowing the crowd with a sheer display of intricate musicianship. It’s something that needs to be seen to be believed.
If Architects were worried about the reaction they would receive upon return to Stoke, they needn’t have worried. Playing a set filled with the punishing tracks from their third album Hollow Crown and the aforementioned The Here and Now, the five-piece are a force. Tracks such as Follow The Water send the crowd into pandemonium, from the head-banging legions at the edges of the venue to the middle, where crowd surfing has just become Stoke’s favourite Olympic sport. In the way of new sounds, the raring audience are treated to the recently released single These Colours Don’t Run and set opener Devil’s Island, which is received just as well as anything else played by what is now a sweating tornado of a crowd. Being the last date of the tour, and with the announcement of the departure of guitarist Tim Hillier-Brook after a few more dates, celebrations are had. Polishing off the evening with Early Grave, Stray From The Path return to the stage to join the proceedings as Architects jump into the swathing mass of the audience and James Spence of Rolo Tomassi takes it into his own hands to jump from the near ceiling high speaker stack to end an absolute earthquake of a show. All three bands have proved this evening that they have an exciting future, and this performance sets the tone for what they all set out to achieve – live excellence.
