LIVE FROM THE PIT: Car Bomb and Frontierer

Papillon is a true landmark in Southampton. Its church exterior opposite a theatre sets the tone for something high class, and by day its restaurant is just that. However, by night it’s something altogether different. Home to a music venue by night, it was the turn of CAR BOMB to take control of the sound system and wow a packed audience. 

First up were the self proclaimed transatlantic noise terrors FRONTIERER. A band that connected across two sides of the world, it’s easy to see how they can make some noise. In fact they were making enough sound that the doors and windows shook, questioning whether the theatre across the road could hear the sound as clearly as we could. With sharp vocals from Chad Kapper, alongside the guitars of Pedram Valani and Dan Stevenson, the band creates something raw, hypnotic, and altogether exciting on stage. Opening with Ultraviolet Paradise the band mixed elements from synths and metal to almost replicate a dubstep mix but with a metal feel, it felt like a world away from other genres.

Molten Larva and Lightshow Paralysis brought mosh pits to the venue. The disco ball suspended above the floor shone off the stage lights as bodies spun and moved below it.  Throughout their set, band members stepped into the audience to bring the audience closer, breaking down that barrier of separation. The sharp guitars broke through the noise to bring you back to reality that fused with drums that rattled your bones. Ending with Corrosive Wash and Bleak, their 45 minute set flew by. Kapper shouted “if you don’t know this song, you will do” and the audience cheered. It was easy to see how this band is on playlist after playlist and on the rise.

With just enough time to admire the venue and get a drink, the headliners took to the stage. CAR BOMB have been doing their thing for well over two decades and are masters in the genre of mathcore. Opening with Blindsided, the set starts as it means to go on. Bodies are flying across the room and heads are moving as vocalist Michael Dafferner screams at the crowd. Melding turbo-thrash and experimentalism into songs, the band create a sound similar to that of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN or MESHUGGAH, whilst at the same time creating something that is altogether ferocious and unique. As Greg Kubacki shredded the guitar, Jon Modell perfectly complimented on bass. The pair brought together a fast paced, technical sound whilst Elliot Hoffman played the drums to bring together the sound of CAR BOMB. 

Throughout the set, the band touched upon songs from all their albums. From Constant Sleep and Gratitude from 2016 album Meta to Cielo Drive off their debut album Centralia. Playing a song so old on the set truly set the show alight. The audience’s audible excitement for a song so classic truly ignited the energy and excitement in the middle of their 15 song set. Each track that CAR BOMB creates is one that feels more energetic, time-chopping, and chaotic than the last. The band are true masters at what they do and they do it incredibly well live. With a section of the set dedicated to the album W^W^^W^W with songs Finish It, The Sentinel, and Spirit of Poison, it was easy to see the appreciation and legacy of their 2012 record with pits constantly moving throughout each song. 

Finishing up the set with Lights Out and Secrets Within, the audience seemed exhausted yet elated with CAR BOMB’s set. The perfect mix of old classics and new hits, the energy never seemed to dip from the first chord to the final one showing the audience that CAR BOMB aren’t stopping anytime soon. 

Words and photos: Laura Davies