STONE SOUR
ROUNDHOUSE, LONDON
Corey Taylor and co bring rock manna to the masses
Corey Taylor is a hero to everyone packed into this prestigious venue – a point made raucously clear when the crowd erupt into a spontaneous chant of his name just two songs into the set. Corey himself bathes in the adulation, but whereas some frontman would have used this an excuse to coast for the rest of the night, the orator from Iowa digs ever deeper into his personality and vast arena experience to take the show to another level. He even has the confidence in himself and the fans to perform Bother as a solo acoustic song.
But Stone Sour are no mere vanity vehicle, they’re a genuine band. Their intensity, power and energy is truly overwhelming. At times, the guitar combination of Josh Rand and Christian Martucci is reminiscent of Thin Lizzy, as on the sophisticated Tired. Meanwhile, drummer Roy Mayorga’s balance between thunder and deft touches brings an extra dimension to songs like 30/30-150.
Tonight is a visual spectacle, too. Multiple columns of sparks punctuate the presentation, while Corey occasionally brings out a confetti howitzer to launch spectacular volleys of coloured paper into the air. But ultimately, it’s the sheer strength of the songs that impresses, and the majority of people here tonight know every word. Stone Sour also have a tremendous feel for groove, and this enhances the rapport between band and fans. For 90 minutes, this feels like the best gig on the planet – a measure of just how formidable Stone Sour are live.