Roxofff Christmas Party, The Brickmakers, Norwich, December 19
A'priori, White Tyger, Aethoria, Bright Black
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Bright Black
Luring the willingly submissive crowd towards the stage with their soaring slabs of emotive metal and raw classic rock, Bright Black have the Brickies in a chokehold that no one wants to break free from. Fiercely hurling around heft about the fucked up elements of life, with a (Molotov) cocktail of crunchy riffs and savage yet sultry vocals, it feels like these songs weren’t written – they were forged. Bright Black bring mind-healing headbanging which doesn’t exactly open up Roxoff’s Christmas Party – more like blows the whole damn thing wide open and leaves blood and brain matter dripping down the walls.
Aethoria
If anyone can follow this ferocity, you’d put yer money on Mecia and her finest men. Her cut glass vocals come crashing in note perfect with a swagger that takes no prisoners. A cross between angelic and acidic, Mecia’s crisp vox brings to life their songs, which have a fantasy, ethereal edge while sending out colossal metal shockwaves. She bathes them in light while the heavy riffs and pummelling drums set about demolishing the Brickmakers tonight. Aethoria fill the stage not just physically as a five-piece, but with their presence. They chuck out confidence with as much power as they kick out their huge hooks. And you know they’re opening Stonedead 2026 don’t you… Have we mentioned this before????
White Tyger
With possibly the widest stance ever seen in the Brickmakers (or possibly in Norfolk to be fair) lead singer, hair rock howler and scream demon Nip fronts this monster of a muscle rock band with off the scale eighties guitar band energy. Grinding out the glam, slinging around the solos (drum and guitar) and topping the whole damn lot of with jaw-breaking harmonies, White Tyger have a helluva lot of firepower which they are not afraid to use. Consistently sleazy, with hardly any time to take a breath nevermind a break, the boys’ set is relentlessly full-throttle. ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ is a hurricane of power guitars and thundering beats, ‘Midnight Lovers’ is an old school rock ballad exploding with a gritty groove, slowing down the pace slightly and taking its own sweet time. ‘No Fucks Given’ sounds exactly as you want it to tonight – fast and filthy. The glory days of this kinda rock aint dead – White Tyger are bringing it bang up to date. And keeping the faith.
A’priori
Three northern boys that sound as good as they look.
That’s the review.
Oh fine. I’ll compose myself and tell you what an absolute stunner of a set A’priori gave us. Tony, Mouse and Mark make music that has that exact right amount of danger, rebellion, fuck the system, forget the outside world with rock god irresistibility and uncompromising uniqueness (oh hello Mark Wilson on keys). Showing rather than telling, the boys rattle through their set without saying a great deal – they are here to play. Their audience are here to party. It’s a perfectly balanced relationship. Everyone’s getting what they need tonight. It’s intense. It’s full on rock. It's A’priori. They make you dance and make you gasp. While playing dirty love songs (zero subtle lyrics maximum impact music ‘Dirt’ obviously and storming beat driven, insane guitar solo giving, euphoric singalong inducing ‘Voodoo Love’). With feel good solid rock (‘Making Love to the Devil’, ‘Turn It Up), quickfire beat bangers to make you smile and shake your head (‘Come For Me’) and anthemic musically and lyrically tracks along the lines of ‘Live Today’ and‘Fear’). Closing on their take on Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Killing In The Name’, which is one of the most insane covers you’ll ever hear btw, the A’priori boys consistently play explosive sets, and tonight they bring their absolute best to the Brickmakers.
And they smell amazing too btw….
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