BOSS KELOID TELEPATHY/TUSKAR/HWDU
CLWB IFOR BACH, CARDIFF
Wigan prog-stoners spread the good vibes to the Welsh capital
FOR A SUNDAY NIGHT post-game day in a very hungover Cardiff, props go to Swansea boys HWDU for kicking off the evening by smashing out their Clutch-infused grunge to only a handful of punters. Packing a respectable punch and swagger, the fourpiece aren’t bringing anything particularly new to the table but still manage to get things off on the right note.
TUSKAR take things to a grimmer, darker place. Taking the venue by complete surprise in a power move that commands the attention of the room instantaneously, the duo plunge into the thickest riffs these parts have seen for a while, all before anyone has a chance to get back from the bar. Using a whole spectrum of influences and sounds from jazz to straight-up death metal, they are an unpredictable force of nature that leaves the crowd breathless.
Though not as heavy, TELEPATHY’S
instrumental showcase is one small step for the band but one giant leap for riff-kind. Mixing actual Apollo 11 soundbites into their polyrhythmic sludge adds a prolific and cinematic touch to their set, as the foursome manage to pull off a genuinely organic escapist experience that feels like a dark, melancholic daydream.
Headliners BOSS KELOID do everyone’s brains a massive favour by directing the tone towards a mellower direction. Laying down thick meadows of fuzzy ambrosia, the Wigan outfit waste no time in plunging into their incredibly crafted progressive stoner metal. Taking a big chunk of their setlist from latest album Family The Smiling Thrush, a cavalcade of dense and juicy grooves easily fills the room with nothing but good tasty vibrations that build up and dive down much to our satisfaction. Feeding off the energy reflecting back from the audience and vice versa, their down-to-earth character and charm isn’t lost in the aether of their otherworldly sounds. Considering the intimate nature of the venue and modest crowd size, tonight feels all the more special, which frontman Alex Hurst embraces, stepping into the arms of his fans while playing out the final riffs of what has been a stellar performance.
HYWEL DAVIES