Crossfaith - KOKO, London - November 20 2014 (Live Review)

This is it: Crossfaith's debut UK headline tour. Filmed for a subsequent DVD release, this London show was tipped by many to push the band into the upper echelons of metal's league table. And, boy, did they deliver.

While the barrage of superlatives necessary to describe Crossfaith's set is organised, here's the skinny on the support bands. Cytota's metalcore leanings are strong but need polishing when played live, Coldrain are packing all the choruses and Silent Screams' heavier tendencies leave most of the audience a little terrified.

But, all this musical foreplay is forgotten once an agonising 15 minute countdown begins. Dance music plays, dolled-up goths wiggle about like nobody's watching, and then Crossfaith crash into KOKO with all the subtlety of a Boeing 747 on a trampoline.

You’ve got confetti. You’ve got dry ice. Then chuck in some lasers and an entire venue pulsating to the dub-metal groove of We Are The Future.

Crossfaith have Camden in their grasp right from the beginning, and in airing half of 'Apocalyze', the Japanese wrecking crew are clearly keen to indoctrinate those still unconvinced. The LP may not have been as good as the 'Zion' EP,  but you cannot mess with Eclipse and Hounds Of The Apocalypse in the live environment.

Whether it's vocalist Kenta Koie demanding circle-pits by the second, drummer Tatsuya Amano smashing the living piss out of his kit or bassist Hiroki Ikegawa necking booze while doing what appears to be the 'How low can you go?' bit from The Cha-Cha Slide, you're never short-changed for visuals here. The light show is second to none, but it's the five dudes on stage absolutely annihilating their instruments that truly makes it.

And then we come to Terufumi Tamano. Essentially the Chas Smash of heavy metal, his night goes like this: play keyboard, jump on keyboard, dance. And it's amazing. Hilarious, perhaps unnecessary, yet captivating all the same.

Crossfaith have been on the festival circuit for two years solid, so to see them finally toy with their setlist and unleash the swagtacular Gala Hala (Burn Down The Floor) is a winner. Spanking new single Madness goes down an absolute treat, while fans of the 'old' Crossfaith are granted a small pleasure with Stars Faded In Slow Motion.

Capping it all off with Monolith, a cover of the Prodigy's Omen and finally Leviathan, Crossfaith leave with London completely schooled. What has occurred here is no mere gig. This is the start of something much, much bigger. They may lack the mainstream support and buzz of certain bands that came before them, but Crossfaith are the most exciting live phenomenon since Slipknot. You have been warned.

Crossfaith Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:

Fri November 21 2014 - BIRMINGHAM Library, Institute
Sat November 22 2014 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Newcastle University
Sun November 23 2014 - GLASGOW Glasgow Garage
Mon November 24 2014 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy 2

Click here to compare & buy Crossfaith Tickets at Stereoboard.com.

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