Antlered Man // OPEN - 04.04.2013
'Surrounded By The White Men' demonstrates the strength of AM’s mix of brutal, crunching hardcore
A freezing cold night in Norwich and it is down to a cold and depressingly sparsely populated empty OPEN for London-based four piece Antlered Man. It is a mixed evening.
First up, the support band fails to show up, so we are treated to some extended sets from the deejay(s). Secondly, Antlered Man only play for 35 minutes with no encore. However, it is a brilliant and intense performance.
'Platoono of Uno' was a brave but well executed opening move, being possibly the most complicated and difficult song in an evening of complicated and difficult songs. Running through 'Buddhist Soup', 'Outages 1 Ta 3' and 'Surrounded By The White Men' demonstrates the strength of AM’s mix of brutal, crunching hardcore and lighter, REMesque altpop.
Damo Ezekiel Holmes provides lead vocals, tin whistle and slide guitar, played in an eye catching lapsteel style. Danny Fury whip up a storm on guitar and backing-bordering-on-co-lead vocals. Oliver Parker may be one of the best drummers I’ve seen for a while. The fuzzed up and distorted bass of Sam Ray may just be what makes Antlered Man standout out from the crowd.
8/10 Pavlis
