Cancer Bats Save Gallows In Toronto

The Mod Club

Toronto, ON

on Feb 5 2008

Shehzaad Jiwani (CHARTattack)

02/06/2008 9:00am

Though most Canadians probably aren't familiar with Gallows, it's quite a different story in their native Britain. On that side of the pond, the quintet are being touted as the most important punk band since the Sex Pistols. We're all familiar with the hyperbolic nature of the British press, but there are moments on Gallows' Orchestra Of Wolves debut LP that hint at greatness.

Unfortunately, as is so often the case, the boys didn't exactly live up to the hype, nor did they deliver the brutal live show their YouTube videos may have led some to expect. Nevertheless, with Toronto's Cancer Bats in tow, they certainly made sure the audience left suitably rocked out, if not with their faces melted.

Cancer Bats vocalist Liam Cormier says he his band's upcoming Hail Destroyer album would be significantly heavier than their 2006 debut, Birthing The Giant. After hearing them blow through a few of the new songs, I'd have to agree.

The title track, which was unveiled online earlier this month, is a typical Bats rocker, with a riff like fan favourite "100 Grand Canyon." Its most notable element is Cormier's roar, which replaces his usual rallying call delivery, but the song doesn't immediately stand out otherwise. "Lucifer's Armchair," however, is a serious bulldozer of a track that rocks harder than anything else I've heard this band play. It brings to mind groups like Kyuss or Clouds in its stoner riffage, and was easily the highlight of the new songs.

Aside from the new songs, the hometown boys blew through old favourites like "Pneumonia Hawk" and "Shillelagh" to thunderous applause. It's been a while since the guys have played a hometown show, and their fans came out in full force to show support. It appears the time off has hardly quelled the band's energy, and with the new material evidently tailored for a live setting, it doesn't look like the Bats will be slowing down any time soon.

All the while, the five men from Gallows stood on the Mod Club's balcony staring down at the proceedings below them. Looking decidedly villainous, it was hard to tell whether they were sizing up the Cancer Bats, their audience, or both. Perhaps they had conceded defeat early, because they never quite matched the previous band's level of intensity.

Opening with Orchestra Of Wolves' most intense track, "Just Because You Sleep Next To Me Doesn't Mean You're Safe," Gallows came on with an air of fatigue that never quite lifted from the stage. Fortunately, vocalist Frank Carter is an incredibly entertaining stage presence, and his banter was equally as entertaining as his band's songs.

The singer announced early in the set that he was suffering from back pains due to some shenanigans at a recent Los Angeles gig. However, there seemed to be some awkward tension between Carter and his bandmates, particularly bassist Stu Gili-Ross. The musicians appeared fed up with their vocalist when he marched across the club's bar, and rarely communicated with each other during their performance.

Add to this the fact that Carter let the audience do more than half of his vocals for him, and you'd be left with very little to appreciate. Still, the Brits were a formidable live act even at half-mast. They also displayed a sense of camaraderie with the Cancer Bats which the audience ate up. Bats axeman Scott Middleton joined the band on stage for the end of "Rolling With The Punches," bassist Jaye Schwarzer accompanied Carter on their cover of Black Flag's "Nervous Breakdown," and Cormier retook the stage for a rousing rendition of "Orchestra Of Wolves."

It's unfortunate that Gallows weren't operating at full throttle, and many were left scratching their heads when Carter exited the stage before the conclusion of the set's closer, while Gili-Ross was slamming his bass into the floor. Luckily, Cancer Bats were there to save the day, but hopefully Gallows will return in top form for a show that lives up to their reputation.