News

Love ’em or Hate ’em: Asking Alexandria

• 17th Dec 2014

As part our new Love ‘Em or Hate ‘Em feature, we’ll be taking a look at high profile bands who’ve proved so divisive that they ultimately only elicit one of two emotions – love or hate. Who better for the first episode than the marmite metal heads in Asking Alexandria, as Iqra Choudhry examines the phenomenon of their latest live release…

Following a riotous and rare UK headline tour, British metallers Asking Alexandria have released a ‘Live From Brixton and Beyond’ – a DVD that showcases a live show from their London and Los Angeles shows, giving their fans a unique look at the band’s life on tour on both sides of the pond, and an insight to the band’s downtime shenanigans too.

Shot at The Wiltern and Brixton Academy (both prestigious venues for a band to play, let alone sell out and half-destroy in typical Asking Alexandria fashion), the live set is a display of both old and new – songs like ‘Not The American Average’ evoke the same impassioned response as newer tracks like ‘Moving On’. The Yorkshire quintet’s rise to fame (or is that infamy?) has been meteoric, selling out shows on both sides of the Atlantic. ‘This has been a long journey,’ cries a triumphant Danny Worsnop, looking out at the American crowd ‘3 years ago we came to this country with nothing; we were living in a Wal-Mart parking lot, and now we’re HERE!’He has the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand – ‘I need you to let go of your morals and do whatever you think is craziest!’ – they comply with every request, and it’s something to behold.

‘IT’S MY 10TH TIME SEEING YOU LIVE!’ yells a fan to guitarist Ben Bruce as he walks into Brixton before the show. From meeting band families to seeing the band’s backstage rituals before their Brixton show, the behind the scenes footage is a treat for any die-hard fan. However, backstage and behind the scenes footage is less than ten minutes long, so it’s hardly an in-depth insight into band life, unlike, say Parkway Drive’s ‘Home Is For The Heartless’. It’ the only real downfall of the DVD – whereas it’s always great to see live footage, DVDs are also a chance for fans to get to see another side to touring life, and there isn’t much scope for that.

‘Live From Brixton and Beyond’ is an interesting, entertaining (ever wanted to see what it looks like from the stage when everyone sits down and jumps up in unison?) and insightful piece of cinema, allowing the viewer a great insight into the band and their successes. It’s enough to hear the crowd yelling, screaming in unison for ‘ONE MORE SONG!’ to understand that whether you like them or not; whether you approve or not; whether you care or not, Asking Alexandria have made a lasting mark in places across the world, and they’re here to stay.

– Iqra Choudhry