aaamusic | On 08, Oct 2011

London, 5th October

To be perfectly honest, this review is a slightly redundant block of text: any review of mine concerning Exit_International would paint them as the best rock band in the world, albeit one that often finds themselves swimming in a sea of lamentable bands lumped together “cuz they’re loud”. Case in point, the support slot for LaFaro at The Garage.

Opening were Battleships, an entirely serviceable if misplaced alt-rock band who played a loud and enthusiastic set to a reasonably sized crowd considering it was an opening slot on a Wednesday night. They were energetic and wholly enthusiastic about their set, and you could tell that they genuinely enjoyed being there. As for the music, it was definitely tight and rather catchy, and most relievingly, they came to play it, despite the fact that their slightly familiar “indie” style punk was a slightly incongruous sound. Still, respect to them, coming to London, and playing their set assured and smooth as if they had their own headline show that night.

 

As for Exit_International, what could I possibly say? Every show I have seen them play has amped up the showmanship and musicianship to a new and exciting degree. Blasting the crowd with a decimating rendition of ‘Glory Horn’, the Cardiff trio were on fine, fearsome form. Consisting of two bassists and a drummer, they’re an intimidating prospect, and with songs like ‘Chainsaw Song’ and ‘Sex W/ Strangers’ as regulars on their setlist, to call their music not for the faint-hearted may well be an understatement, but for anyone who dares to venture into their twisted, noisy world, there is a treasure trove of dark and surreal humour that is backed up by what is some genuinely good musicianship. The aforementioned ‘Chainsaw Song’ is possibly the most terrifying metallic disco number in existence, with an obscenely catchy chorus, and the utterly bewildering yet entirely enjoyable ‘Sherman Fang’ delivers a hit of stop-start dynamics, some creepy drum sounds and a loud, frenetic finish that really needs to be heard to be believed. Chaotic yet no doubt in control of the sonic monstrosity they conjure up, E_I are the kind of band whose stage presence seems to divide a crowd into those who are enjoying the unique experience, and those who look like small animals caught in headlights, pints clasped in little furry paws like talismans of protection. As ever, the abject terror of ‘Hey Disciple’ closed the set, as the band pushed the song to its limits and back again, truly a sight to behold and something else to hear, a hybrid of Jesus Lizard noise and Nirvana set-closure antics.

 

I suppose that set up a high bar for LaFaro to hit, and in all honesty, I did quite like their thundering heavy metal, part NWOBHM and part nu-metal, and the first few songs were heavy and heated enough to tide me over and I was sold on their sound for the next hour. Then the standup started, and I was left under the impression that they didn’t have enough material, and needed to pad out the 45-minute slot with slightly lacklustre anecdotes. Puerile humour has its place and indeed that night was the place, but there’s only so long “sperm” with an Irish accent can remain funny. They had some great riffs and could easily have held up their set as a solid beast of its own kind, but instead it dragged on with the sense of having its tail between its legs, as up to five minutes at a time was filled with dead air. New single ‘Fresh Meat’ closed with the kind of temper and thunder that they had opened with, and all I can say is that if they had only kept up the momentum, I would have enjoyed them a lot more.

 

Author: Katie H-Halinski