Artists: Architects, Norma Jean, Devil Sold His Soul, Lower Than Atlantis
Venue: Cockpit
Review by: Andy Duckworth
LEEDS has a reputation for having one of the most active Hardcore scenes in the UK, so it is perhaps no surprise that Brighton metallers Architects decided to kick off their biggest headline tour to date at The Cockpit.
In such an intimate venue, packed to capacity with an eager mix of angst-filled adolescents and hairy 30-somethings, the room already felt like a sauna by the time the first support act, Lower Than Atlantis, had finished their set.
Next onstage were Devil Sold His Soul, who played with conviction but failed to whip the audience into much of a frenzy.
Norma Jean followed, bringing a touch of American grit to the proceedings with their own blend of southern, riff-laden metalcore, leaving the stage set for the headline act.
After a brief pause, Architects exploded onto the stage with scant regard for the frothing mass of people who stood before them.
For such a young band to command the stage as effortlessly as Architects do requires real presence and time spent honing your craft. Vocalist Sam Carter exemplified these elements perfectly, inviting the crowd to join them on stage and leading the fans in vitriolic call and response sing-alongs.
The band blasted through a crowd-pleasing set including favourites like Early Grave and Borrowed Time before closing out with their own anthem, Follow The Water, to rapturous applause, proving why they are fast becoming one of the acts to watch in the future.
