We manage to grab some quality interviewing time with As Everything Unfolds (here) and Lake Malice (here) before the show. Both interviews are both fantastically fun and interesting, but it does mean we end up missing tonight’s openers Tropic Gold. By all accounts their set went down great with the sold out crowd though, so we’ll be sure to catch them next time. 

Brighton’s Lake Malice have had a whirlwind rise since they formed the band during the pandemic. This summer saw them promoted to The Avalanche Stage at Download Festival, as well as some other awesome festival (RADAR) and support slots. Alice and Blake are a fresh, energetic, and characterful duo who, together with a live drummer, deliver an animated mix of tech-metal, punk, pop and electro-rock. 

Fans of Spiritbox, Dream State and Vukovi will especially love them, but everyone surely can buy into their infectiously enjoyable, brilliantly catchy yet heavy feelgood show. Alice’s vocals are as diverse as they are engaging, switching between hyperpop clean singing, guttural growls, and Atari Teenage Riot style shouty vocals. Meanwhile, Blake leaps around the stage, pogoing and jumping, while lashing out gnashing riffs. There’s no doubting their enthusiasm, but they also demonstrate some smart songwriting and attention to detail in the variety of melodies and techniques they use. The sky’s the limit for Lake Malice and I can’t wait to watch them flourish.

As Everything Unfolds take to the stage with their brand of electro-infused alt metal. After signing with Long Branch Records in 2020, they’ve released two exciting albums, and with April’s “Ultraviolet” they stepped it up a notch with a coherent, defining record. Live they match their latest record with a cohesive, immersive and highly professional performance. 

Charlie Rolfe isn’t well, but she still manages to hit every note and sings in perfect harmony with her layered, tracked vocals. Her voice is a mix of Lynn Gunn and Hayley Williams, with some brutal low-end growling thrown in with gusto. Fans of Future Palace and Red Handed Denial will surely find plenty to enjoy with these talented High Wycombe folk, and anyone who has enjoyed acts like Pendulum will also delight in some of the electro-rock passages.

The whole band are slick and dynamic, clearly enjoying themselves as much as the crowd are. Guitarist Adam Kerr adds some deliciously nuanced counter-melodies to each song, often reminiscent of Don Broco type swagger, while the bass and drums keep everything held together with thunderous yet tight precision. Jon Cassidy provides the final defining element to the sound, laying synth and keys to the mix and while they never overpower, they are apparent and a perfect foil to the rest of the sound. The crowd sing along throughout and there’s a real supportive and devoted feel to the night. There’s certainly plenty more nights like this to come from As Everything Unfolds.

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
As Everything Unfolds, Lake Malice