Headstone Down, In The Absence Of Light, Nervous Endings and Spytfyre at The Firehouse 8/3/14

Southampton-based progressive rock band Spytfyre were the first band on, and they certainly did not disappoint. Instantly grabbing the crowd’s attention with their mellow yet powerful music, they were able to set a high standard of music for the other bands to compete with. Spytfyre’s live performance proved that they are an extremely versatile band: singer Peter Aubrey’s vocals worked well with both fast-paced and slower songs. Their performance of ‘Cry of the Innocent’ worked well with the tone of the concert as it related well with the charity message of the evening. Despite stepping in at the last minute, they managed to keep the crowd entertained and happy.

Hardcore/metal band Nervous Endings made a huge impact with the audience the second that they burst onto stage: their bass-heavy and fast-paced songs instantly made the crowd go crazy. Their energetic and intense performance demonstrated that metal music is still alive and kicking in the South Coast.  Performing songs such as ‘Larcenists in Authority’ and ‘No Lesser Evil’ from their recently released EP, ‘Heavyweight’, it’s easy to see why they are quickly gaining fans across the UK. They certainly made a huge impression on everyone who attended The Firehouse and it’s highly unlikely that this will be the last you hear of them.

The penultimate band, In The Absence Of Light, provided the crowd with incredibly catchy songs and heavy screaming vocals. They interacted with the crowd well, taking full advantage of the intimate venue. Forming in 2007, the Swindon-based metal band have previously toured with Malefice, Exit Ten and Trigger The Bloodshed. The fast-paced thrash-like riffs and impressive guitar solos had the crowd hanging off their every move. The amount of energy put into their live performance was easy to see, and their sound matched their efforts.

Headstone Down are one of the most exciting metal bands in the South, and their performance definitely proved this. The crowd instantly took a shine to them, starting to mosh the exact second that the heavy guitar riffs started. Lead singer Robin Evans impressed Southampton with his aggressive and hard-hitting vocals, putting pure energy into every scream and growl. Keeping with the charity vibe of the evening, they offered
to donate money to charity if a member of the audience came up on stage and head-banged with them, which they did. Headstone Down also proved their professionalism: before the last song there were some technical difficulties, and instead of an awkward silence bassist Joss played a funky bass-line to keep the crowd entertained. Despite their wild and frenzied playing style, they managed to sound both tight and well-rehearsed, proving exactly why they were chosen to headline this impressive metal-filled show.

As well as it being a fantastic evening showcasing musical talent, it was also a successful night for charity. With a staggering £305 being raised for Warchild, the proceeds of this concert will go towards transforming the lives of tens of thousands of children. Tonight was proof that metal music and concert-goers can help to change the world.

Check out Spytfyre here: https://www.facebook.com/spytfyreband 
Check out Nervous Endings here: https://www.facebook.com/NERVOUSENDINGSUK 
Check out In The Absence Of Light here: https://www.facebook.com/ITAOL 
Check out Headstone Down here: https://www.facebook.com/Headstonedown