First up, we’ve got Defying Decay taking to the stage right after the doors swing open. The crowd's expectedly small at first, but begins to swell as they run through their energetic set. These guys bring the essence of bands like Wage War, Bad Omens and, tonight’s headliners, Ice Nine Kills. In fact, think Spineshank and early Slipknot, that late 90s nu-metal vibe coming across in abundance. But it's Crossfaith that echoes in my mind, only a more organic version. These Thai rockers from Bangkok have that same unashamed glee and energy in their performance, together with the variety of sounds delivered by their Japanese counterparts. Picture the scene: a turntable guy, a girl on the keys (at times dancing like an electric shocked ragdoll), drummer (with a double kick that hits hard throughout), bassist, two guitars (one headless…because of course), and their frontman who commands the stage dressed like Donald Trump but delivering a hurricane of metalcore energy. They’re enthusiastic and enjoyable, but their songs lack that lasting imprint, the structures need some serious backbone. It's like they're tossing ideas at the crowd, hoping something will stick, with no hooks to reel you in.

Next up we’ve got Lansdowne. Hailing from Boston, this crew channel the spirit and sound of Three Days Grace and Skillet. The frontman's a beast, flexing muscles like he's straight out of a bodybuilding magazine, and the band own the stage confidently. The sound balance is a bit off early on, and the vocals come at you like a battering ram almost too damn loud…and then when the singer's in-ear monitor decides to take a nosedive we hit some real pitchiness. But once it’s all sorted they begin to deliver a polished and slick performance. I’ll be honest and say that their music does lean towards being a bit too generic radio-friendly alt hard rock for my taste. It's very much like the WWE PPV themes, which is fair as they do have that heavy Nickelback vibe seeping through. You can't escape the feeling that they're stuck on the one trick. However, it's a fun enough ride, and no doubt they have the appeal for many, it’s just you can’t help but feel they aren't exactly in sync with this bill.

Now, it's time for the main support, SKYND. These Australian horrorcore maestros dive into their twisted realm of true crime, with a blend of avant-garde industrial that really is something to behold. All the songs relate to killers and incidents, and the novel twists on those narratives is part of the interest. Musically, imagine Die Antwoord taking Sleep Token songs and adding their own spin, and you’re halfway to what SKYND deliver. It's part Eurovision fever dream, part performance art installation…and truly all killer (excuse the pun). Vocalist SKYND's ability to switch styles at the drop of a hat, even within a single line, is mind-blowing. Added voice effects – lowering, raising, twisting and creating inhuman elements - fuel the delicious madness. One enigmatic hooded figure, possibly the producer/instrumental genius ‘F’, dominates the keys and bass, with another hooded figure on drums. Both shrouded in mystery and fully feeding the cohesive experience. Meanwhile, SKYND is a focal, fluid, weaving, strutting horror-doll complete with lashing ponytail. It's like a demented sideshow, a jagged blend of nightmares, but a delight to behold. You can’t help but think they would be an amazing support act for Sleep Token, and there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll be seeing plenty of them in the future. 

Finally, we arrive at the headliners, Ice Nine Kills. The crowd's immersed in a horror frenzy, and I think I’m the only one in the venue not either clad in Ice Nine Kills merch or anything related to the genre. Kids, families, and couples aplenty, fill the audience, and for me it’s an unexpected but interesting demographic. Red balloons bounce around the crowd, each one that’s popped earning a chorus of boos, as everyone eagerly awaits the band’s entrance. This is my maiden voyage into the world of Ice Nine Kills, and I’ve got to admit, they don't hold back on putting on a grandiose show. Musically and theatrically they're an unstoppable force, with the kick drum pounding like a sledgehammer, guitars slashing and flaying and vocals shredded and sung on point. There’s no doubting it’s metalcore for the Comic Con crowd, it's like Panic! at the Disco and Fall Out Boy cranking it up to a heavier gear, both musically and visually. Harsh vocals and beatdowns are interweaved with psycho dancers emerging, wielding weapons, teasing the crowd with their menacing moves. It's like a deathcore band tackling the soundtrack for a deranged Disney horror movie. As the songs are smashed out we see severed limbs (fake I’m hoping) and costume changes aplenty, complete with acting out of each song’s theme. The question that lingers for me though - is it the gimmick that defines them or elevates them? The crowd adores them though, and knows every word, belting them out with unbridled passion. People are literally in tears, swept up in a wave of mass hysteria. It’s unique, and if you love it then you love it!

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Ice Nine Kills, SKYND, Lansdowne, Defying Decay