LIVE REVIEW: FEED THE RHINO @ THE BRISTOL EXCHANGE - 20TH FEBRUARY 2018
Kent based Feed The Rhino Tour their first album in 4 years.
Background:
Following in the footsteps of Gallows, Feed The Rhino were one of the most exciting contemporary bands in British hardcore. In the four years between 2010-14 they released three incredible records to high critical acclaim. Unfortunately, they never seemed to reach the peaks of some of their contemporaries and announced a hiatus in 2015 after cancelling a supporting slot on tour for Sikth. Over the next few years they would play sporadic shows but it seemed as though the sun had set on Feed The Rhino just before things had truly taken off.
Much to everyones joy and surprise, at the end of 2017 Feed The Rhino announced that they were back with new single 'Heedless' and a new record in the works. In February 2018 they released their latest record 'The Silence'. A much slicker and more melodic outing than their previous discography, but still a record that could easily stand head and shoulders alongside their back catalogue.
The Exchange - 20th February 2018
Bristol’s The Exchange is a small, dingy punk venue in the outskirts of the City Centre. You could be forgiven for not noticing the building at all as you walk along the street. Tonight however, the venue is full to the brim as Hardcore fans congregate in anticipation to welcome back Feed The Rhino to their city. Unfortunately we were not able to make it in time to see the opening band COPE, however we will be reviewing their new single shortly. Next up on stage are punk rock duo Haggard Cat. Made up of singer/guitarist Matt Reynolds and Tom Marsh from the sorely missed HECK; the duo waste no time in getting the party started with an energetic set that teased what is coming from their forthcoming debut release 'Challenger'. The set is over far too quickly, but they are definitely a band to keep an eye on over the next few months.
Croydon based three piece Bad Sign are the main support tonight and after a slight delay whilst they wait for the end of Kirk Hammett’s solo from Nothing Else Matters playing through the PA, they kick into a set of non-stop riffage. For those who like hard rock, but are often put off by harsh vocals, Bad Sign are a brilliant mid-way as they provide the riffs and heaviness of the best contemporary punk bands whilst sticking to clean vocals throughout. It is clear that Bad Sign are having the time of their lives on stage and the mood is clearly infectious as there isn’t a single person not dancing by the end of their set.
In the end though it is clear that there is only one band that the crowd are really here to see. The band have barely played a note of new track 'Featherweight' before vocalist Lee Tobin is being held aloft by the large swarm of ecstatic fans at the front of the stage. What follows is a twelve song set of white hot fury. The majority of the set is dedicated to the new record 'The Silence', however, the band don’t hesitate to delve into their back catalogue with 'Caller Of The Town', 'The Burning Sons' and 'Diary Of Cards'. Tonight is also the live debut for three tracks off of the new album ‘Fences’, ‘Losing Ground’ and ‘Timewave Zero’.
Feed The Rhino are obviously keen to make up for the time they have been away and the band are in their element. Guitarists Sam and James Colley stomp and lurch around the stage alongside bassist Oz Craggs whilst Chris Kybert hammers away at his drum kit, it is a surprise there is anything left by the end of the show. Frontman Lee Tobin spends half of his show diving into the pit, either being held up by fans or spinning around on the shoulders of his faithful roadies. By the end of the set, Tobin invites the crowd to join the band on the stage whilst he sings back at everyone from the pit, looking up. It is a marvellously unique trick that epitomises the energy felt throughout the room as fans mosh alongside the band and scream along in the various mics left strewn across the stage. With the last few dates of the tour being postponed due to weather and health conditions, the future is still unclear for Feed The Rhino, but if they continue with the same level of energy as they had at Bristol, then this may finally be the moment that everyone has been waiting for for so long where Feed The Rhino can finally reach the greener pastures that they deserve.
