Live Review

Senses Fail – ABC, Glasgow

• 24th Feb 2011

American rockers Senses Fail headed up a strong four band bill in Glasgow with a fine display of powerful music, entertaining a near capacity, and very young, crowd.

Glasgow hardcore band Wolves at Heart played first. Their two guitar, bass and drums line up depended largely on power chords and while there were some interesting instrumental flourishes, overall there was little variety in their music.

The Gap Year Riot, another local band, put in a much more dynamic performance. The guitars still dominated, but subtle keyboard parts brought a more melodic quality. And with a lead singer who displayed both confidence in his performance and a decent vocal range they had a strong focus for their work. Definitely a band with potential.

The main support was Man Overboard, who came over with the headliners from New Jersey. With a solid hard rock style built on some excellent frenetic drumming, their meaty guitar riffs flourished. Their two main singers traded vocals seamlessly giving an edge to their music. Man Overboard started fast and if anything got even faster as the set progressed. And very entertaining it was too.

Senses Fail clearly have a large UK fan base, although this show was part of the first full UK tour for the post hardcore band from Ridgewood, New Jersey. After several line up changes the band seems to have settled and their fourth album, 2010s The Fire received some very good press.

But the set started with tracks from previous albums in Rum is For Drinking and Wolves At The Door. And right from the off the sheer energy of the performance was obvious to all. Lead singer Buddy Nielsen was in perpetual motion, running and jumping across the stage as he snarled and screamed his lyrics.

Musically, the sound was solid and heavy. The twin guitars of Zack Roach and Matt Smith provided trademark guitar riffs that shook the stage, while Dan Trapp on drums and Jason Black on bass laid down a fast beat.

The set continued at the same breakneck pace, Neilson’s guttural style giving a raw and potent edge. The crowd seemed to know every word, a forest of fists raised high and pumping in time as they sang along.

Gradually the tracks from the new album appeared. The title track was excellent, with the vocals in a slightly higher pitch, and both Lifeboats and New Year’s Eve showcased the aggressive style and musical abilities of the band very nicely.

The set lasted just over an hour and was closed with crowd favourite 187, a track for which there had been shouts all night. There was no encore, Nielsen saying that they are not big enough to do encores; a statement with which many of the crowd would doubtless disagree.

Senses Fail bring a heavy rock style that is both forceful and entertaining. The lyrical style may be something of an acquired taste, but it fits nicely with the sheer strength and muscle of their music. And their many fans were sent home happy after an excellent performance.