LIVE REVIEW: Silverstein, Comeback Kid, Senses Fail, KOYO, Electric Ballroom, London, 11/12/2022
Photo Credit: Wyatt Clough
The last time Canadian post-hardcore rockers Silverstein were seen over on UK shores the band where bulldozing through their set on the Jägermeister Stage at this year’s Slam Dunk Festival, shortly after releasing their eleventh studio album Misery Made Me. A record that comes twenty-two years into their career, Misery Made Me captures the guts, grit and bite Silverstein have showcased on every single studio album up until 2020’s poppier turn A Beautiful Place To Drown.
Whilst A Beautiful Place To Drown delivered catchy hit after hit with injections of pop serotonin that takes you back to your first heartbreak in a St. Louis parking lot, Misery Made Me makes up for where that album lacked in mature emotional weight, Silverstein make you realise you’re not alone in your personal miseries with a little help from their friends including Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid, Mike Hranica of The Devil Wears Prada, nothing, nowhere. and Trevor Daniel.
Speaking of a little help from their friends, Silverstein brought along some support acts to get the fifty thousand volts of pure electronic charge surging through the Electric Ballroom before coming on to blitz through their biggest UK headline sold-out show to date. New Yorkers KOYO put on a display of punk-rock enthusiasm, whilst they have single only material to fill their short setlist with being newcomers to the scene, KOYO proved that time flies when you’re having fun. 8.5/10
Having released their eighth effort Hell Is In Your Head earlier this year, Senses Fail have done nothing but fail in 2022. Topping off their jam-packed year hitting the road with Silverstein, the post-hardcore five piece dabble in dark subject matters surrounding death and grappling with the concept of mortality and live the bands brand of hard hitting hardcore and emotional intensity exhibits the fictional and non-fictional work of Hell Is In Your Head to vivid life. 9/10
Hardcore legends and fellow Canadians Comeback Kid need no introduction and neither does their live show. Leaving their footprint forever embedded in the stage of the Electric Ballroom, CBK have the back catalogue to fill a headline slot ten times over, crashing in and out of recent record Heavy Steps to surging into songs from 2005’s Wake The Dead in the blink of an eyelid. 9.5/10
“It’s so nice to be back in England thanks for having us. It’s been far too long since we played a show in Camden Town,” greets Silverstein singer Shane Told shortly after saying hello to London Town with a singalong ready opener in the form of Infinite and victoriously fist pumping the air at the win of being back for a sold-out show in the heart of Camden during It’s Over.
Whilst Told’s jacket adorned with the worlds ‘Misery Made Me’ made it clear this band meant business getting the new stuff out there with tracks like Ultraviolet going off like an electric shock and Die Alone taking the opportunity for a live onstage collab with Comeback Kid’s Andrew Neufeld. The post hardcore brutality generating some pits that should come with a danger warning, Silverstein’s set was saturated heavily full of the old stuff. “Is it okay if we play some old shit?,” Told asks, no seal of approval needed as the band launch into songs such as Smile In Your Sleep and Stand Amid The Roar, the crowd lapping out every inch of Silverstein pre-2015 that they can get.
Momentarily taking time to recognise the familiarity of the snow storm that was sweeping across the UK as Silverstein stand on stage, “You’re looking snow far so good,” jokes Told. Silverstein couldn’t leave the stage without having a dance party, closer The Afterglow making the Electric Ballroom pop off like the festival vibes of a sunny day at Slam Dunk filled the room rather than the freezing temperatures that await outside the moment Silverstein step off stage. 9.5/10
Written By: Katie Conway-Flood
