Christopher Nosnibor
The last time I caught Spear of Destiny was in York last October. Kirk had been unwell not long before, and while they delivered a first-rate performance, his voice perhaps wasn’t at its strongest. But online reports from recent dates on this tour suggested that they were on fire on every level this time around. Since fans of bands of a certain heritage can be quite critical, when they effuse, it’s a very good sign indeed.
But before the main act, we get Dollface Reunion, a late addition to the bill. I’d done no research into either support act before the show, because there’s something to be said for allowing first impressions to form during a first live encounter over forming a prejudice from scouring streaming services. It so happens that they’re a SoD / ToH offshoot, fronted by guitarist Adrian Portas, who has also played with New Model Army and Sex Gang Children, and that back in 1995, Dollface released the album Giant. This is their reunion, and all of the aforementioned explains their sound. The second song sounds reminiscent of Skeletal Family’s ‘Promised Land’ with vocals reminiscent of NMA. ‘Spaceship’ starts with something of a reggae-tinged vibe, and the sound is big on reverb and deep echo. Between the chunky chords, there’s considerable room, and the songs are well-considered in terms of composition. With strong choruses and something of an anthemic feel, they land somewhere between alt rock circa 1987 and mid-80s Bruce Springsteen. There are far worse things.
Dollface Reunion
The lineup keeps things in the family with main support act Cheeks, with their being a project of current Mission drummer Alex Baum, launched last year while The Mish were taking a break. Woah. They’re conspicuously younger than the rest of the lineup. They’re also anything but a load of arse, that’s for sure. The bassist is wearing a Sumac T-shirt. There’s a lot going on here, and it’s all noisy and abrasive, starting out like a mathy noise rock version of She Wants Revenge (‘Butchery Summer’). Across the course of the set, they’re a bit Forward Russia, a bit Thank, a fair bit Pissed Jeans… they’re a stylistic surprise in context of the lineup, but a good fit here in Leeds. They feel like a Brudenell band, and serve up a throbbing, muscular beast of a set which is nothing short of phenomenal, even with the dad dancing. They’re so good that Spear are going to have to play their socks off to even come close… and that’s what they do.
Cheeks
With the theme from The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly by way of an intro tape, the mood is set. Adrian Portas is back on stage, and the rest of the band arrive, too, looking keen. They sound even keener. They’re (still) ostensibly touring Janus, released just over a year ago, but ultimately promoting the rerecorded back catalogue. Kirk’s been at pains to retell history in recent years, dissatisfied with his legacy after extraordinary levels of label interference and meddling, some of which even saw the band themselves locked out of the studios while the albums were moulded to meet their vision.
Spear of Destiny
And so it is that the songs sound meatier, more fierce than before, and while this current leg draws songs from the full span of their career, there’s considerable emphasis on One Eyed Jacks and World Service, while skipping Outlands completely. And fair play. It takes a strong band and an understanding audience to be comfortable with a set which shuns a good number of the hits in favour of songs from classic albums reworked as intended. But Spear of Destiny are a strong band, and one with a particularly loyal fanbase who are here for the deep cuts over the hits.
They open with ‘Young Men’, and ‘Rainmaker’ lands as the third song, and from hereon in, while singles are sparse, the energy level is electric, and time simply evaporates. In no time we’re eight songs in, and ‘These Days Are Gone’ is rapturously received.
Spear of Destiny
Some groups and forums had seen some moans about lighting and the mix – too much drum, not enough vocal – but this being The Brudenell, there are no such issues tonight. It’s not just the reverb (and there’s a lot of it): they sound immense. And they rock hard. Something seems to have happened for this tour: they look, and sound… Revitalised isn’t the word as it would suggest they were in some way lacking previously, but it’s as if they’ve been boosted somehow. A band not just firing on all cylinders, but supercharged. Having seen them a good half-dozen times in the last twenty years or so – and they’ve never once disappointed – something about tonight was special. A triumphant end to the tour.
Aural Aggravation 