In modern parlance tonight’s opening band would be described as “vanilla”. Life is rarely easy for a band first on the bill (especially with strong headliners), yet Siamese don’t make things easy for themselves. They’re a quintet from Denmark who play a brand of metal that sounds exactly like the brand of metal you’d expect a quintet from Denmark to play. They don’t bring anything new to the table, and if it wasn’t for the gaps between songs then their set would blend into one long tune. Sure, they have the foot-on-the-monitor stage moves and faux aggression, but doesn’t every band? The introduction of some viola could spark some interest, yet it tends to get lost beneath the thundering drums which makes it seem a tad superfluous, and that’s the Siamese experience in a nut shell.

Hailing from the Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan, SiM (that’s Silence iz Mine) are now celebrating their twentieth anniversary, and what better way to commemorate that milestone than with a jaunt across Europe? After winning hearts and minds at last year’s Download festival they make a welcome return, and you can almost feel the excitement as it crackles and electrifies the air. In fact, even the roadies get cheers as they prep the stage and means that when SiM finally appear, it is with a huge release of tension. Like a tornado passing through the venue the band make their presence felt, with each member vying for the crowd’s attention, and this makes their set a dizzying affair…and it’s still only the first song! Vocalist MAH in particular takes things off the scale, inciting the crowd into ever more insanity, but truth be told the audience require little goading to follow his every move, and it doesn’t take long for a pit to erupt; it promises to be that kind of set. SiM are a hard band to categorise and are often tarred with the “reggae punk” brush, but the truth is they’re about so much more and weave a rich musical tapestry that’s the perfect accompaniment to their frenetic stage show. There’s no discernible drop in energy as the band barrel through a “best of” type set. It’s a silly question but when MAH asks the crowd if they should return, the answer is a resounding “yes”. Future headliners, methinks.

Nothing More’s twenty year history has be defined by adversity and hard struggle, and that makes their rise to bill-toppers all the more satisfying. It’s a journey which means the band take nothing for granted, and this ensures that their live performances never drop below a certain level. The band have become renowned for their live prowess and have set the bar to an almost unobtainable height, yet it’s a challenge they take on every night, and with great gusto. Nothing More are ripped and torn, and come out swinging with a hard-hitting, powerful sound. Drummer Ben Anderson seems intent on pulverising his kit to dust and he ensures every beat hits like a punch to the solar plexus. The bass guitar is an instrument too often hidden away in metal, yet Nothing More bring it to the fore and Daniel Oliver’s busy style gives the band a perpetual motion (not unlike a car veering towards a cliff edge). However, it’s singer Jonny Hawkins who steals the show, bouncing around the stage and riling up the crowd yet, despite the energy expended, his vocals convey an emotion that seeps through every word he sings. They display a similar type of power to SiM, yet Nothing More are built for the long haul as they twist and turn through an enjoyable set. A series of interconnected cogs, tonight evidences why Nothing More are leaders in their field and worthy headliners, and long may that continue.

Nothing More Set List:

1. Let ‘em Burn
2. Do You Really want It?
3. Don’t Stop
4. If It Doesn’t Hurt
5. Go To War
6. Jenny
7. Angel Song
8. If I Were
9. Tired Of Winning
10. FACE IT
11. I’ll Be OK
12. SPIRITS
13. Fadein/Fadeout
14. Ocean Floor
15. This Is The Time (Ballast)

SiM Set List:

1. KiSS OF DEATH
2. HiDE and SEEK
3. DO THE DANCE
4. The Rumbling
5. GUNSHOTS
6. Devil in Your Heart
7. RED
8. KiLLING ME
9. f.a.i.t.h