Sonic Syndicate
Sonic Syndicate have been rather busy recently. Despite touring pretty much nonstop for the past couple of years (a time which has seen 2 replacement singers) they have managed to release a new album as well as several high budget videos involving boobs, blood, fire and explosions. Nice!
Today, they were again crammed on the small second stage of the Bristol Academy.
They jumped straight in with 'Rule the Night', followed by some more tracks from the new album, and that's how it continued for most the night, interspersed with an older classic song or 2 to keep
the older fans happy.
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It's pretty clear they're keen to push the new material out there, though not to everybody's taste as former harsh vocalist with the band, Richard Sjunnesson made clear when suddenly he left back in October, stating the change in musical direction to be his reason. This change was especially evident in the middle of the set with the slow ballad 'My Own Life', a new and different style for
what is traditionally a heavy metalcore band. But the crowd appreciated it still, swaying to Nathan's direction, before jumping once more to 'Plans Are For People'
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To cover Richard's absence, Christoffer Andersson was drafted in at the last minute, and although he did a great job (especially at such short notice) he didn't quite live up to the harsh roughness I felt the music needed that Richard brought to the band. But that said, as the band changes direction,
who knows what sound will be required in the future? Personally, I'm not sure about the new album and seem stuck halfway between the two. Coming from an industrial background, I like a song to be upbeat and danceable, while retaining the harshness, so songs like 'Burn This City' and 'Beauty And The Freak' appeal to me. Ballads though? Doesn't really work for me when you expect to be jumping.
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That said, I'm here to review the gig, and all in all, it was a great set – the lighter, more upbeat songs from the new material, contrasting well with the heavier classics such as 'Denied' and 'Jack of Diamonds'. The fans loved it that's the important thing.
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To view all photos taken during this set click here. There are 8 available.