On a very cold February day we had a slight change of plan travelling to tonight’s gig. Normally we’d “let the train take the strain” but this time we decided to try something different and drive part of the way. It would only really work because it was a Sunday and the traffic in London wouldn’t be as busy as usual. The journey down was uneventful except for the dark brooding clouds that threatened to dump snow at any moment. In fact, it looked like we were driving towards Armageddon in a scene like that one in Terminator2 but fortunately Judgement Day didn’t arrive despite the Doomsday Clock being at 2 minutes to midnight. We arrived at our destination and caught the tube to Euston from there we headed to the British Library to keep warm for a few hours.

When we were eventually kicked out of the British Library, after seeing the Magna Carta, we walked up to Camden looking for a restaurant that catered for a gluten free diet, something my doctor has recommended. In the end a chicken salad in the golden arches sufficed before we adjourned to the pub. The queue outside Koko was the largest we’d seen for a gig here reflecting the fact it was sold out. Obviously, there were a few die hard fans as they waited in t-shirts alone despite the below zero wind chill which kept most of the touts away as well. The pub by contrast was lovely and warm! It was here I admitted to my partner that I hadn’t been looking forward to the gig as much as normal and was feeling somewhat subdued. We talked about it and after a while made our way to the show.

There was no queue now and strangely no body scanner’s or searches carried out except a cursory glance in my partners bag, even then they missed the bottle of water!!! What’s going on? Too cold for terrorists or security? Or did they feel the Enemy Legions would suffice 😊

We made our way to the third tier (I think) which gives a good view of the stage and meant we’d be away from any pit that developed. This wold be the heaviest gig my partner had been too, so I thought it best to let her witness the carnage rather than be enveloped by it 😊 I thought the running order was different to that published on the website and we just caught the end of Tribulation.

Wintersun

They were a little squeezed by the setup for Arch Enemy in particular the massive drum set which was covered for now. Out came four guys all in black who struck up a beat and I thought that was it however several bars in the lead singer appears also in black and to rapturous applause from the crowd on the floor. Clearly quite a few fans were in as fists were thrust into the air and the crowd seethed.  I’m ashamed to say I’d never heard of Wintersun and at first thought “yet another black clad metal band” which really reflected my mood at the time. Also I’m confused because there were 5 guys out there but their Wikipedia page lists only 4. Anyway, they delivered a set that appealed to the crowd and began a change in mood for me. Musically adept their best came when the singer sang and by that I mean he wasn’t shredding/growling but singing because he had a great voice. Towards the end the pit started in earnest and watching it my partner asked why? Is there an answer to that? I suggested it was a different kind of dancing and a way of releasing some pent-up aggression but also an expression of enjoyment and no one is intentionally hurt, if you fall someone will help you up and by the end you’ve made new friends. She asked if I wanted to be down there and whilst I’d like to I reminded her of my specialists “no contact sports” rule 😊 It was a good set and if they settled more into the “melodic metal” genre they’d be ones to watch out for.

My Review Score: 7

In the interlude I grabbed some more refreshments from the rather empty bar area. We had managed to get to the front of the rail which was just as well because it had filled up. The vast majority of people we could see were in black apart from 2 chaps with white t-shirts and the lady standing next to me in a green dress who looked like she’d come expecting a disco.

Arch Enemy

The stage had been transformed with a large clear area in front of that massive drum kit. All of a sudden the opening bars of “Ace of Spades” rings out and all hell breaks loose!! Lemmy would be smiling down on us. I was there when Slipknot played David Bowie and now Arch Enemy open with Motorhead and that got rid of most of my blues. The lady in the green dress opened up as well and I was almost whipped by her hair and the blokes behind her. The lights go crazy, the music gets faster and “Set Flame to the Night” heralds the arrival of the band on stage. As they launch into “The World Is Yours” Alissa appears and immediately the 4 of them are whirling their hair around with even the drummer joining in with his extremely energetic drumming. This is pretty much the tone of the set; Arch Enemy are a force of nature all their own and are relentless which catches you up in the maelstrom of their own making.

Song after song with barely a breath between Alissa is throwing herself around the stage like a whirling dervish, blue hair flashing like lightening strikes. The light show is intense and matches the music perfectly. Despite all this you can hear the expert musicianship of all the members coming through, each song crafted to perfection, each growl catching the tempo and each drum beat flinging it all forth to wash over us. When they get to “War Eternal” a full on mosh pit has developed encompassing most of the ground floor. Security had been briefed because they were on hand to catch the crowd surfers and propel them safely back into the melee! It was, as several t-shirts screamed, “Pure Fucking Metal”.

The backdrop and various stage items had a logo which consisted of a pentagram in a circle with 4 towers on the outside. The towers could be tanks, but they reminded me of the circular writing of the mysterious aliens in Arrival. From where we were standing Koko, red decoration throughout with ornate gold Romanesque detailing and pillars, reminded me of an amphitheatre and the pit on the floor the gladiators wrestling before their emperors.

By now we’d reached “The Eagle Flies Alone” and is a track I believe shows them at their musical best. The harmonies created by the guitar, enjoined by Alissa’s more melodic vocals together with sublime drumming has crafted a glorious anthemic single. One which was sung loudly by the crowd including those in the pit who briefly stood still with raised fist amidst the raging chaos before being bumped, good naturedly, back into action. The pit calmed further with the next song “Reason to Believe” and as the lyrics washed over me my mood lifted, it was as though Alissa sang it to me personally.

This was perhaps almost the calmest moment of the entire gig but as soon as “As the Pages Burn” ripped forth the pit exploded again! You could feel the power in the feelings being expressed by that maelstrom as it drew more people into its embrace. Arch Enemy knew how much that would’ve taken out of everyone and so they played “Intermezzo Liberte” next and this really showcases their technical musical abilities to the full. This was followed by “Dead bury their Dead” allowing the drummer to show his mastery before they launched into their final song “We Will Rise”.

It didn’t take long for them to return for the encore, they kicked off with “Avalanche” which heralded the resumption of the pit before slowing it down considerably with the beautiful “Snow Bound” which had quite a few people hugging and swaying along. They finished off with a blistering version of “Nemesis” that had the huge glitter ball that hangs from the ceiling gently swaying casting fractured light over the once again seething pit. They played out with some instrumentals from tapes as they showed their appreciation to us and us to them before capturing the moment with a selfie.

My Review Score: 9

Once home my partner remarked that her head was ringing a bit even though she uses professional ear protection. Interestingly I had taken a sound level reading at various points and it only peaked at 100Db throughout. In contrast our tube journey had a loud screeching spot which also registered 100Db!! However the AE gig pumped out 90-100Db relentlessly.