Oliver GrabowskiIf I was totally honest, I am not really super keen on pop punk hardcore, I was therefore interested to see how I would fare going down to see The Fear play a pre-album launch show at The Duchess. Having heard from various folk about town that they were one of May’s highlights in York, I thought I may as well run the risk and see what all the fuss was about.
Seeing as they just got back from a two week tour across Europe, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the band, whether they would be all washed out from the tour or completely the oposite. However, when the band started playing you are presented with such a raw energy, it really knocks you back for a second or two before the sheer power of it all punches you back into place. Incredibly intricate and impeccably performed the band is as tight as I have ever seen anyone play. Considering the tapped math-like melody against backdrop of hardcore, and the drummer throwing in crazy accents here there and everythwere, it should be a complete mess of sounds but somehow it really isn’t.
With the guitars and drums working so well together, it is clear to see this is a well seasoned and well rehearsed band, the relationship on stage between them is seemingly second nature, and you really get the sense that they absolutely love playing their music, that they genuinely get a buzz from it and that really bursts out into the crowd, because the more the band got into it, the more the crowd did too and with the front man impressivley and successfully being the main body for the audience to get their fix, it all just falls into place.
Throughout the set, songs slightly remenisciant of Belvedere and suprprisingly At The Drive In crept through showing their fairly diverse influences, the thing is with some bands you hear these influences and they can sound like a one size fits all glove… completely generic and bland, however some bands (including this one) take away different aspects of the music, the not so obvious aspects of what actually makes their music good in the first place, as well as the feeling behind it. The first song they played had the order in chaos of say ‘Cosmonaut’ mixed with the brutal impact and almost desperation of Strung Out, it instantly gripped the audience and they went nuts for it. The set continued in this fashion, playing with the same energy and intensity from start to finish, with a few other stand-out songs and jaw-dropping displays of ability and talent. It was an awesome show to open my mind to the world of melodic harcore punk.
Signed to Lockjaw records, The Fear have their new album coming out on 26 May, they recorded and mastered the album themselves and it sounds amazing. They have the punk ethos down to a tee, just get out there and do it your self, organising their own tours and making a success of it, they are a great example for other local bands to follow.
You can check out the Fear here
