It still feels weird seeing Holding Absence (7/10) playing rooms as big as this one, but at this point, it really shouldn’t – they’re at the top of their game, and judging by the roar as they come onstage, a good portion of the crowd are here just for them. The Welsh quartet take to the challenge of an arena stage with serious aplomb, and the searing hooks on Like A Shadow, Gravity and Afterlife show their assuredness is by no means unwarranted – though more tracks from their excellent latest album The Noble Art Of Self Destruction would have made the set even stronger.
The fact that Dayseeker (9/10) manage to sound incredible in a venue known for poor sound is an achievement of itself. They’ve come a long way since playing a half empty Boston Music Rooms seven years ago, and given the quality of their material, their rise is thoroughly deserved. The stability of frontman Rory Rodriguez’s vocals is seriously impressive – he belts out the high notes on Dreamstate and Burial Plot with staggering ease. Ally Pally regulars will know how the vast hall has a tendency to swallow sound – but the euphoric synths of Without Me and the dreamy production of Crying While You’re Dancing reverberate to stunning effect.
The Pierce The Veil (7/10) revival is well and truly upon us – and it’s interesting (and encouraging) to see that amongst the 30 somethings still clinging onto their emo youth, there’s a considerable number of fans here who appear too young to remember the release of the band’s magnum opus Collide With The Sky. Combine that with the fact Vic Fuentes doesn’t appear to have aged since 2012 and the deafening cheers as the band launch into old hit Caraphernelia, and it’s hard to believe this show is taking place in 2024.
The new material from The Jaws Of Life struggles to get the same reaction as the classics – although the grungy grit of Pass The Nirvana is a refreshing departure from their usual sound, it’s the likes of A Match Into Water and an acoustic rendition of iconic emo ballad Bulletproof Love that coax out the biggest singalongs. The most heartwarming moment of the show comes during Hold On Till May when Vic brings a tearful fan in a wedding dress on stage before serenading her and then presenting her with his guitar. What a dream.
Pierce The Veil have still got it – Vic’s voice sounds great, Jaime Preciado has lost none of his trademark energy, and they’ve evidently gained a whole new generation of fans thanks to their recent success on TikTok. Ending their set with the frantic riff of Besitos and the modern anthem that is King For A Day, they prove they’re not just still in the game; they’re bigger than ever.
