Four bands from different UK cities came here tonight for our enjoyment and hopefully theirs. Now here’s a random thought: why is it that so many modern metal bands based in the UK have names with three words? We have three tonight, hot on the heels of Far from Refuge who headlined the last time I came to a concert in Cambridge. This isn’t a statement about the quality of the bands. In fact, one of my favourite bands is Temples on Mars, and although I didn’t really know the music of the three bands in question here tonight very well, what I had heard from them all sounded promising.  I don’t perceive that this triumvirate of words happens in other countries, or maybe it’s the genre. One or two words is usually enough although I suppose for every Malapetaka or Dark Fortress there’s a Swallow the Sun or a Spheric Universe Experience. The name has to have a certain edge so probably Collapsed Lavatory Seat wouldn’t make the cut. There you are. It’s the Three Word Rule.

First on in the convivial environment of the Portland Arms was Drip Fed Empire. I looked forward to finding out what they were going to drip feed to us. The answer was plenty of energy and vibrancy. This is an interesting band comprising high powered punkish metalcore with a sampling desk and dystopian messages. After a little bit of introductory hypnosis, the band welcomed us to The Hole. Deep heavy metal, electronic diction, three guys jumping like cats on hot bricks and a drummer setting a furious beat. The sound of a video game followed. Twice actually due to a false start when the computer froze. The overworked vocalist, who combined his cheerleader role with that of the operator of the mixing desk and IT department, shut it down, rebooted and found the place to restart. All the band apologized profusely but there was no need. This is live performance. This is normal except that when I reboot my computer, I don’t have 50 expectant people watching me do it. Sounds like an inspiration for the band’s next single. They do a song about viruses after all. The band restarted “3301”. The singer kept smashing himself in the head and showed he could make a career out of being a mime artist. The drumming was hard.

The guitarist and bassist leapt and hopped and bounced and twirled, but it was the bassist who won the energy prize, easily getting his 20,000 steps in and auditioning for Strictly with his footwork at the same time. Thump thump whoompf … Drip Fed Empire went into marching mode. Now so much was the level of intensity that I lost the thread of what they were playing in spite of the vocalist telling us through the slightly muddy sound, but thanks to Jack the bassist, who incredibly didn’t need oxygen to recover from his performance let alone answer questions about set lists, I found out that we were listening to the dark electro of “virus.exe”, a Rammstein / Prodigy creation and “No More Lies”. All credit to the drummer for keeping up with the pace. There’s a world of Disinformation, we established from the Drip Fed Empire message board.  Gloop gloop. Once more we entered cyber space. Here the metal element took centre stage above the dark techno base. The band of course went mental, the crowd around me less so. “The Word of God”, a new song, was announced. After what had gone before, I sensed that the band hadn’t quite worked how to get the best out of it, but that will come no doubt. I was still in the world of Disinformation in any case. Unfortunately, the set had to end at this point with one song unplayed because of the earlier technical delay. I don’t know what they would have played. That remains a mystery. I can’t wait to see Drip Fed Empire again, and then I’ll find out. I loved the energy and invention of this band.

Beyond Your Design from the East Midlands, which I established meant Derby, started with much metal promise. The three band members, in spite of lacking a drummer, looked and sounded the part. This was classic metal with a melodic element. But then came a clean chorus. It sounded out of place. But this is seemingly what they do and I had to get used to it. There were moments of magic in the heavy fare but it struck me that there was too much chopping and changing as if they were doing a medley. My clean vocal reservation never went away as it just seemed to water down the band’s talent for heavy progressions but from “Violence Breeds Violence” the set picked up. I even managed to overlook the Soilwork type chorus. The guitarist, who I’d put on the spot earlier when asking him what to expect, quoted Trivium as a reference point. I totally got that. The fast and thrashy “No Mercy” was even better and showcased the band’s abilities. Make no mistake, they were at their best when pumping out this stuff. Technically they are well co-ordinated and now we were able to appreciate the head banging offering that “No Mercy” provides. Now there was a real flow and affirmation of great skill from the guitarists. I know I was not alone in warming to Beyond Your Design. Fronted amicably by a metal archetype with weighty looking earrings, these guys have oceans of personality. To finish, Beyond Your Design or BYD as they brand themselves, pulled us along with “From Apathy to Waste “. The riff was pulsating. After the customary clean chorus, the set ended suitably with a heavy melodic section. Cambridge’s now favourite band from Derby pulled this performance off with great technique and personality.

Past the Fall were on next. I’ll cut to the chase here and say that from what I heard from them before tonight, I wouldn’t be racing out to buy all their albums. Another trio but this one comprising a guitarist, bassist and a drummer, the two front men looked seriously studious. The opening song started intensely and in a death metal direction. Then, horror of horrors, came clean moaning from the guitarist. The death vocals from the bassist were pure. There was a thumping bass line. The song was heavy and complex. It quickly became clear as “Epitaph” was played that Past the Fall compose and play strong songs. The guitar work was sublime. “Poison Mirror”, about “the toxicity of social media”, was next. As if there was a turn of the switch, I suddenly got the clean vocals. The instrumentals provided an impressive wall. Those vocals provide context and explanation. I was however more mesmerized by the intriguing and deliberate structural patterns and the mind-blowing guitar work. Tight, heavy, thoughtful and moody – that’s “Poison Mirror” and indeed is a summary of this band on the strength of this evening. “Beholden” was heavier than the more sombre “Full Circle” and provided a headbanging opportunity, but for this wasn’t for me about the style of the songs. Past the Fall’s music is death-metal orientated, but there’s a clarity and thoughtfulness about their output which raises them several notches above the average. Past the Fall is a trio of intense and gifted musicians. They may be only three but they have big statements to make, and they do so with great accomplishment.

It seems to be the law that tonight’s main band Akkadian play at every concert I go to. This is certainly true since lockdown ended. If they rock up in the autumn in the Netherlands at ProgPower Europe, I’ll know something weird is going on. You will have observed that Akkadian have avoided the Three Word Rule. This doesn’t surprise me. This is not a conventional band. I was sorry to read that their guitarist Florian is leaving. Losing 50% of the guitar powerhouse is not good but I’ve no doubt the band will find a creative way. It is but one element of this multi-talented band. In any case Florian was here this evening for his swansong so directional discussions are for another time and place. A familiar rumble came forth. Akkadian burst out with the familiar “Prisoners”. I’ve seen them play this a few times now, and it’s their way of establishing the wall. The line-up, which I guess won’t be familiar next time, is Florian and the bassist, while the bespectacled guitarist stands on his own on the other side making minimal movements and looking like he’d rather be at home reading a good book. But the sound and dexterity are immense, so much so that singer Danny has to work to get through it. I just heard “I know your name, I know your fucking name” – impressive as there were 50 or so here and at the same time raising questions about the application of the General Data Protection Regulations.

“Prisoners” is about defiance. Meanwhile the wall of sound had been created, heads banged and we enjoyed ourselves. The music pumped, thunder erupted, the guitarist looked bored, Danny fell into the crowd. In fact Danny spent a lot of time lying down and dropping into the crowd, more so than usual if I’m not mistaken. The mystical tone of bass-heavy “Serpentine” began. The crowd went wild. This was sheer pungent heaviness. Danny, in his avowed capacity as a representative of a snake on acid, died on stage. The band played a lush and moody tune, giving everyone a break and a dream or two. From progressive death energy we moved to “Agenda”, a song that was written during Covid – “what a bastard that was”, as Danny so eloquently explained, while inviting us to travel through time and space. There followed the usual litany of pounding heaviness, accompanied by Danny screaming to the heavens when he wasn’t prostrate, apparently weighed down by his abundant mop of hair. The set finished with “Depraver”, marked by its faintly eastern tone – well they are from Cambridge after all – but once again a frantic forward-driving piece driving people into raptures. It wasn’t actually the end because after a little bit of negotiation Akkadian played “Black Sand” but I didn’t sense there was much enthusiasm on anyone’s part or perhaps better said, we’d already reached the heights and it was impossible to go higher. Akkadian has a limited portfolio, but the fact is that they never fail to delight. Their performances are powerful and full of tight progressive and sometimes psychedelic metal intrigue. Crowd-pleasing to the extreme, Akkadian provide a masterclass in technical control and dynamic energy. And sheer entertainment.

So the next time it will be The New Akkadian. For now it’s Akkadian, Akkadian, Akkadian – so good that it has to be said three times. But let’s give credit to the trinity of bands before them, who each demonstrated great attributes and provided mesmerizing entertainment. If I were to single out one band for special praise, it’s Drip Fed Empire. Quite apart from their electrifying performance, they have managed to create a loop in my head where I’m yelling that there’s a world of Disinformation and am wanting to shout this at everyone I see in the street. I guess this is known as a lasting memory. Thanks guys, all of you, for a great evening. End of report.

(Andrew Doherty)