A View From The Back Of The Room: Hollywood Undead (Live Review By Liam)

Hollywood Undead & Loathe, Great Hall, Cardiff Students Union

Not the first band I would have chosen to support Hollywood Undead due to the stylistic change in music, but I'm so glad they did. I've seen Loathe (9) three times since I first saw them in 2016, and they keep getting better. This time they nailed it. With their biggest show in Cardiff to date they pulled out all the stops and pulled no punches. Unleashing a fury of metalcore for thirty minutes, it's short, sweet and straight to the point. Starting with the furious It's Yours, it's just a taster of the blistering sounds to hit your eardrums, with sort of a Nu-Metal sound reminiscent to Korn throughout some songs, they mix genre's flawlessly. Playing a new song which they didn't title, it was a heavy barrage of punishing force to show what's to come on their future releases. With singer Kadeem France getting up close and personal with the crowd by getting in the middle and commanding the pit within inches of the flailing bodies. Guitarist & vocalist Erik Bickerstaffe also makes himself known by flinging his body about the stage like a ragdoll and neglecting to use a microphone while screaming the lyrics for his part. If there's a band you should see live, Loathe are on that list. And remember 'The World Is Dust, And Cardiff, So Are You.' This. Is. Loathe.

I don't really listen to Hollywood Undead (9), but this gig has made me want to listen more, and that's what you want from a band when you see them live. First time being in Cardiff for the band and they compensate for this with an intricate et and a small firework show that was VERY close to the speakers for my liking. Starting with Whatever It Takes, the band instantly controls the crowd without even batting an eyelid with their hands waving in unison. California Dreaming also has the crowd come together in an uproar of unanimous singing. From then on the band has us in the palm of their hands. Vocalist Charlie Scene, when aware the gig was taking place in the University, he states 'Class Is In Session By Your Perverted Professor.' With a 'guitar solo' from French friend Glen, we're also treated to a 'vocal solo' by touring drummer Matt Oloffson with an overdubbed section of Livin' On A Prayer. Also a little snippet of Rebel Yell is thrown in for good measure.

Throughout the show there 5 people on stage at the same time, with usually one being the centre point on vocals and the others passing guitar and bass back and forth showing the band can play multiple instruments and not just standing there doing nothing for prolonged periods of time. The highlight comes at the end with an encore of Everywhere I Go & Day Of The Dead. This encore has everyone in the room bouncing, singing and craving for more. This has to be up there with one of the most enjoyable gigs I've been to in a while. Whether or not you're a fan, Hollywood Undead are a must see band.