Live Review : Dub War + Bad Earth + Fly-52 @ The Live Rooms, Chester on April 28th 2022

“You’re not on the list. There is no list. Oh you might be on the list. Wait here” is never a good start to the night, but a bit of negotiating and flashing of screen shots later, we’re in on this pleasant spring evening. 

First up tonight is Melodic Alt Punk Welsh rockers Fly- 52. A reasonably new project riding the waves of the recent pop punk revival, Fly-52 play like a band who have been at it for years, as opposed to forming in 2021. Whilst crediting the likes of Blink 182, New Found Glory, and Sum41 as their influences, it’s an entirely different band I pick out whilst listening. 

Stood listening with my eyes closed and vocally frontman Chris goes into the realms of Brian Molko from Placebo at times. The band have recently released an EP called “Misspent Youth” and I feel my favourite track of the set would have to be ‘Anxiety Girl’. This works particular well live, with its faced paced verses and its big catchy hook chorus, it made it a stand out moment. The bands youth and enthusiasm will hopefully carry them a long way in their career and I wish nothing but good things for them in their future. 

Second on the bill tonight bringing an altogether different vibe to the former band is the incredibly loud Bad Earth . This North Wales trio packs a massive punch with their fast grooves and hard rock edge. They are visually fun to watch thanks to a enigmatic bouncy bass player, and the audience respond really well to their performance. 

There are few Bad Earth songs in the set which stand out wonderfully. First a track called ‘Bastard Ancestry’ peaks my interest, it’s instantly ferocious and fun, and next is a sludgy anthem with lashings of attitude called ‘120 on the 55’. Honestly, Bad Earth are a little rough around the edges, but I think that actually adds to the overall appeal of the band. I would be delighted to see them again soon. 

But the night truly belongs to Dub War. 

Formed in Wales in the early 90s, the band were ground breaking at the time, with a truly unique sound that fused metal, rap and reggae. However the band split later in the decade after releasing two albums, and frontman Benji Webb  eventually went on to other projects… no names mentioned. 

Dub War have been elusive for some time, making one off appearances here and there (anyone else catch them at Download? That was a blinder!) but suddenly announced there will be a new album coming later in 2022. With new material to look forward to, it seems Dub War have burst back onto the scene with a fiery enthusiasm, and the die hards are out in force tonight to see them in Chester. 

Bursting onto the stage with an almost lovely awkwardness, their intro music has finished playing before they get in place. 

“PLAY IT AGAIN” yells Benji over to the desk, and surely enough we’re treated to Dub War’s intro music again, but this time Benji starts winding up one of them Air Raid Sirens, the noise echoing out throughout the room as the band kick off with ‘Psycho System’. 

I am reminded heavily of a quote from Daniel Pugsley where he’d sung Benjis praises as a front man, and honestly, it is true that he is the main event in all his bands and all his shows. His larger than life character bursts off the stage, carried forward by his completely unmistakeable voice. I’ve always been such a huge fan of his versatility and the fact that I fell over in front of him once at a Rob Zombie gig and he was so nice about it. 

There is a certain joyful playfulness in tonight’s Dub War performance, and there are a number of die hards in the crowd, skanking away and lapping up the vibe. The new tracks go down with a lot of enthusiasm, and it’s just an all round wonderful fun bouncy experience. I particularly liked ‘Nar Say A Ting’, which made the audience go absolutely mental. 

What an amazing band Dub War are. Britain should be ashamed we had a band like this back in the 90s and they were criminally underrated and overlooked. Thank the powers that be that they are playing again. This is a band that were ahead of their time and it seems that they still are. 12 out of 10. OMG Dub War Rule.