Photos by Phil Hewitt Photography - Part of Method Promotion

'Architects'
Waterfront, Norwich
Review by jim Suffolk


Well, where to start! With such a strong line-up tonight I really couldn’t wait to get inside the venue and listen to some awesome metal.
Lower Than Atlantis started just as the crowd were walking in, playing a really quick and brutal set which included many bass booms nearly blowing up the PA speakers the crowd were left really impressed. Definitely a band I’ll be looking to see again. It would be nicer to see them playing a slightly longer set but then again there are 3 other bands on the bill waiting to play!

And so we rolled over to Devil Sold His Soul. I didn’t know what to expect from DSHS but as soon as they hit the stage I was gob smacked, they are a really heavy band with a really heavy stage presence. It was a good mix from the gig as they played some slightly slower more chuggy songs compared to the thrash fast songs from the other band. The venue was really filling up at this point and again, the entire crowd seemed to pretty impressed, and the gigantic queue over by the merch stand would also prove that they must be doing something right.

Up next was Norma Jean. I personally had not heard of NJ but I’d been told by friends that they were a shit hot band from the other side of the pond. They were right.! Opening up with “Leaderless and self enlisted” the band really did grab the crowd’s attention and from what I understand, NJ haven’t played in the UK or done a headliner tour over here for quite some time. There were a lot of people going absolutely mental for NJ, with Crowd surfing galore; I can’t say I’ve seen that many crowd surfers in the Norwich waterfront before. It was a truly chaotic set. Throwing in a few really brutal beat downs and getting the crowd moving throughout the entire set I’m surprised that they have such a short set. I suppose the phrase short and sweet comes to mind. Playing only their best material NJ definitely won me over. I for one will be buying some of their music in the future and will be keeping a look out to see when they next come over here.

Norma Jean set list:
Leaderless and Self Enlisted
Dilemmachine
Vipers, Snakes and Actors
The Anthem of the Angry Brides
Bayonetwork
Creating Something Out of Nothing, Only to Destroy It
Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste


So finally, it was time for Architects and with being a very big fan of their latest release “Hollow Crown” I was really looking forward to finally seeing them live. In such a small and intimate venue as well, I knew this would be a show to remember.
Playing the epic intro tape and launching straight into one of the heaviest hardcore songs I’ve heard in a while the chaos instantly began. Circle pits, crowd surfers, mosh pits you name it. The crowd was obviously all here to see Architects tonight. The crowd were singing and shouting to every word with vocalist Sam Carter, he really had the crowd in the palm of his hand.
Playing a fair bit of material from Hollow Crown as well as a couple of older songs and a brand new song from the upcoming new album, the set list seemed to flow really well. I wondered when they’d play my favourite song, “Early Grave” and then it started. This was easily one of the tightest live performances I’ve seen and heard, you could hardly tell that it wasn’t the CD. Architects have obviously worked their arses off to get where they are now and it shows. Finishing with the epic “Hollow Crown” the crowd are almost in tears, a really emotional song and the perfect show stopper. Running back on for one more song we get treated to “Follow the Water” which again, ridiculously tight and heavy.
I was really impressed with Architects tonight and can’t wait for the new album. The song they played from it sounded really promising and I hope the rest of the album sounds the same.
Well done Architects, an awesome gig bought to an end, until next time.

Architects Set List:

Day in Day out
Dethroned
In Elegance
Buried At Sea
Left with a Last Minute
To The Death
Borrowed Time
We're All Alone
New Song
Early Grave
Hollow Crown
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Follow The Water