Pryma, Circus 66, Wicca, Jehenna

The B2, Norwich, Saturday, July 12

It’s back to Norwich’s B2 for yer girl for a night of metal mixed with moving melodies, nu gothic goodness, some of the most haunting and heavy vocals around and, erm, giant inflatable footballs. Hurrah!

Jehenna

Band from down the road but sounding like they’ve travelled across a soundscape of pastel colours which they’ve then woven into catchy choruses to get here, Jehenna are (fever) dreamy. Ranging from atmospheric and angelic to dark with a touch of demonic, lead singer Emily’s voice is sweet with a bite. Backed by keyboard player Emma’s vox and their almost sisterly bond which comes across on stage, Jehenna’s vocals make you mouth, ‘Wow.’ This band blends light and shade with ease and class. ‘Animal’ does indeed start all cute and sweet and fluffy, before a heartfelt, headbanging feral slab of heft and feeling claws its way through. The band’s cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ crackles with haunting, suspenseful drums which break with more of those trademark hypnotic vocals. It’s a chance for the band to shine as a unit and as individuals. Midway through the set Emily tells the audience there’s a high chance she’ll fall over. You don’t stack it tonight kiddo – you and your band smash it.

Wicca

Impossible to look away from, but impossible to completely take in, 12-legged alt goth rockers with a hint of pop, Wicca squeeze themselves onto the stage before lead singer Jack bursts forward, into the crowd. Striking image, all-encompassing sound, unforgettable experience, jaw-droppingly good; each of the six Wicca boys brings something different – and something special – to this show. Back on stage Jack moves his hands like he’s conjuring something magical and mystical, which, going by the variation of songs and styles in Wicca’s set, he kind of is to be fair. He conducts his orchestra of the damned through their intense, enthralling set. If you’re looking for a new obsession Wicca could well be it…

Circus 66

It should be so easy to write a review of this band. Just think of all the circusy words and imagery waiting to be used. Oh the possibilities! But no. This will not do. Because Circus 66 are a band of seasoned rockers and skilled musicians who deserve more than yer girl banging on about shit that goes down in the big top. Fronted by the soulful sting of Annabelle Zaychenko’s sultry to slashing in less than a second voice, their songs are classic rock done right. Heavier ‘Replace the Pain’ and ‘Save the Damn World’ open up the throttle musically, fronted by the velvety venom of Annabelle’s vox. So at home on this stage, Annabelle sings as though there are a bazillion different voices locked within, and tonight they’re breaking free.

Pryma

‘If your neck doesn’t hurt tomorrow we’ve not done a good job,’ smiles Pryma’s lead singer/screamer Gabi ominously. And her band kill it. Kill what exactly? Everything. Tonight Pryma kill everything. Eveeeerrythiiiiiiiing. Their darkness, their depth, their heavy rock and metal which blends intricate melodies with murderous intent. It all makes for an absolutely killer set. The warning flares went up during soundcheck when it became apparent the band wanted the low end to rattle the bones of both the living and the long dead. Gabi was even out front making sure the sound was gonna be spot on for the audience. Mission accomplished. As soon as set opener ‘My Cold Shadow’ drops she starts death growling like a broken-necked banshee. Switching with ease from clean singing to cut throat snarling, her range is ruthless. Gabi commands the stage with menace. Her sharp movements and fierce facial expressions combine in a way that means she doesn’t just have swagger. She is doing more than strutting across the stage. She is owing the flippin’ thing. You’d be rooted to the spot, utterly transfixed, if it wasn’t for guitarist Max who doesn’t encourage us to the front – he demands it. So we shift towards him, scared of the consequences should we not comply. Shout-out to drummer Dom, who, along with being a skin smashing flurry of arms, legs, hair and smiles, also manages to thrash out brutal beats despite a giant inflatable football landing on his hi-hat. ‘Are you ready for our songs to get slightly heavier?’ Gabi asks before detonating  ‘1:23:45’. New track colossal ‘John Doe’ uncoils like tightly a bound spring, becoming a tail spin of bass, beats and guitar. Tonight, as always, Pryma are pure power.