Gallows – Newcastle Academy 2 October 8th 2012-10-09

The last time I saw Gallows in a non festival environment was in the main room of Newcastle Academy in 2009 on a Saturday night where the fans trailed around the venue waiting to go in. The room was filled to the brim and with support acts including Every Time I Die and Rolo Tomassi no wonder.

This time around they are playing the smaller room on a Monday night and as I pull up outside to park my car there are only two girls outside having a cigarette. I immediately wondered if I had came on the wrong night but as I looked up I was reassured that Gallows were playing after seeing their name in foot high letters about the entrance.

As I walked up the stairs I expected to have to battle to get to the bar but on this occasion I am pleasantly surprised by the lack of people in the venue as this made it rather easy to get my very expensive, watered down beer. I began to worry that this was going to be the turn out for the entire night.

First up on stage are Plymouth based metallers Brotherhood of the Lake who come on stage to a very sparse audience. They go on stage and give it their all, with their down beat metalcore but it just doesn’t seem to hit the mark. This isn’t the bands fault in anyway shape or form, they are just somewhat not suited to the bill, but kudos to these guys for putting it all out there, these guys are future stars.

Next up are Feed The Rhino who have been receiving superb reviews in the rock music media from magazines such as Kerrang and Rock Sound, and after one minute on stage it is apparent why. With a punk rock attitude but a meatier sound along with a hardcore twist (sounds like a rock and roll cocktail) it is obvious that Feed The Rhino will soon be headline these venues on their own tours in the near future.

Finally it’s time for the headliners. Gallows have been together as this current line up for almost eighteen months but they seem to still have to win fans over with their line up change. With their ever apparent cock sure swagger, Gallows come on stage with a ferocious energy as well as a new lease of life.

With a set consisting of a good mixture of old classics and songs from their most recent release it apparent that Gallows are taking no prisoners this evening. Songs such as Mondo Chaos and Odessa turn from recordings into sing a long punk anthems where as classics such as Abandon Ship and closer Orchestra of Wolves sees the entire crowd singing a long and front man Wade Macneil getting in amongst the rowdy northern mob like crowd.

The only hiccups this evening is when a woman in the crowd mistakes Canadian born Macneil for being an American, but she is soon silenced by a chorus of boos.

All in all Gallows have not lost any of their edge live, if not they are sharper than ever and will hopefully be playing bigger stages very soon. 9/10

Chris Storey