METZ
– SOUND CONTROL, MANCHESTER –
I think I might have written this in a review recently, but as I get older I seem to want to listen to more noisier, discordant music. I’ve always been a fan of loud music but lately all I want is to get my head caved in by pummeling drums, earth shaking bass and horrible, spiky guitar tones. Lucky for me these are the three main components that make up the sound of tonight’s headline band, Metz. I’ve been into this band for a few years now, their first LP was my introduction and is just a wonderful racket full of sweet, angular riffs and just threw everything right in your face. I finally get to see them live for the first time tonight at Sound Control in Manchester as part of a UK tour with post-punk mavericks Protomartyr. They’re both here to support newly released albums; Metz with their second LP, appropriately titled II which came out earlier this year and punched everyone square in the jaw, while Protomartyr are finally getting some hype behind them on their third LP The Agent Intellect which has been turning heads since its release early last month.
I arrive just a few tracks in Protomartyr‘s set and the fairly sizable space on the top floor of Sound Control is nicely full as the Detroit based quartet blast through their noisy yet melodic brand of post-punk. The first thing that strike about this band is their look. Each member looks like they’re in a different band; a hardcore looking drummer, a metal-head bassist, a curly headed indie-pop guitarist and the lead singer is described brilliantly by my friend as looking like a dejected David Cameron.
Of course, front man Joe is a million times cooler and slicker as he rocks back and forth in a loose fitted grey suit with a vocal style that fits somewhere between Mark E. Smith from The Fall and Matt Berninger from The National. Musically, they also have elements of those bands mixed with strong beats that Interpol’s Greg Drudy would be proud of and guitar sounds reminiscent of early Joy Division. The set is intense, the band hardly stop and the crowd seem hungry for their gloom, the front row singing and dancing in awe. Although there is one dude that has clearly had too much and is trying to jump over the barrier whilst throwing devil horns. Wrong show, man. But all in all, Protomartyr have a lot of good ideas and put on a engaging performance that starts the night well.
As Metz set up, my friend tells me how we saw the Toronto based three piece just at the weekend in Leeds and is back for more due to how mind blowingly loud and exciting they were. Everyone I have spoken to have said how loud this band are and I am starting to worry as I reach in my pockets to discover that I left my ear plugs at home. I don’t seem to feel a wall of sound hitting me straight away, I think the venue has a certain volume they can go to so my ears don’t take too much of a beating but that doesn’t mean to say that these guys aren’t loud! Their set is totally relentless, playing hard hitter after hard hitter with squealing guitars, pounding drums, fuzzed up bass tones complete with throat shredding vocals.
Metz truly one of the most exhilarating punk rock bands I’ve ever witnessed live. They play quite a lot from the new album as expected, tracks like the furious ‘Nervous System’ and infectious hook on ‘Wait In Line’, get me all excited as I head bang uncontrollably. Of course, the tracks off the first record go down a storm. ‘The Mule’ gets a massive cheer while ‘Wasted’ gets a pretty energetic mosh pit started down the front. The band do take a moment to thank everyone for coming out before closing on a extended version of first album track ‘Wet Blanket’ which has a totally hypnotic break down tonight, keeping the crowd on their toes and they ready to all jump back into the pit for one last time. Tonight I came to get my head kicked in musically and Metz certainty delivered with a furiously noisy set with loads of great riffs and mosh till you puke beats that was a whole heap of fun!
METZ Official | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp
I joined the Silent Radio family near the very start of my move to Manchester in 2012 and I'm still having the best time! During my stay here I've been in two noisy bands, had a not so noisy solo project, made a zine, started a blog and started a radio show. It's been productive to say the least and it's all been intersperse with a shit load of gig going and beer drinking. I would love it if you followed me on twitter @dr_brainless for excitable tweets about playing, watching and living new music.
