LIVE FROM THE PIT: Protest The Hero, Pupil Slicer and Obeyer
- Jasmine Longhurst
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
In the centre of London, up a staircase below a neon sign blazing the venue’s name into the sky, is Scala - and for one night only, in the height of summer, it became the home of the most uplifting prog band in music, PROTEST THE HERO. With two bands opening for them, there were mere hours between arriving and the time to finally witness their glorious live show - but first, the supports.
OBEYER took to the stage first - with a sound that landed somewhere in the djent/deathcore sphere, they did a great job warming things up. Clearly a band that knows a thing or two about live performances, their pedigree showed and they were as tight as any band you’d expect to see headlining. A particular highlight was Nothing Exists Beyond Me, bringing in some of their most pulverising live moments whilst still keeping a real groove laid down the entire time.
Up next came Out Of Rage cover alumni PUPIL SLICER, a favourite of the magazine’s and scene’s alike. Their ability to go between multiple vastly differing strains of metalcore beggars belief, and when on good form like they were at this show it’s truly awe-inspiring. With grindy sounds like those on Wounds Upon My Skin - one of the gnarliest riffs there is period - as well as ethereal metalcore, industrial chugs, and incredible technicality to be found across every single instrument and member of the band, they set the stage fantastically for the legendary headline act.
Finally, it was the turn of the Canadians. PROTEST THE HERO kickstarted their set with Mouthpiece, the electric opener off of excellent new album Within, and didn’t let up for one moment from there until finish. The iconic Bloodmeat, in all its mathy glory, was like some hypnotic pendulum, and debut album favourite Blindfolds Aside finished the main set with a brute-force punk feel and a feel-good factor for the whole room. The crowd was, predictably, going wild for the duration - it’s been years since their last performances on British soil, and who knows when the next shows will be? So everyone in attendance made the absolute most of the opportunity to engage most joyously in losing all semblance of sense.
It was only upon leaving that the monumental nature of it truly appeared to hit the majority of the crowd. Seeing a band play such a strong set, and knowing that they may not be back for another decade or so, made the experience feel all the rarer and more special. But - if any of them are reading - please don’t take that long, we would very much like to see you back here again a hell of a lot sooner than the last wait!
Words: Jasmine Longhurst
Photos: Atoosa Salamat
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