Akercocke Has Risen
Akercocke Live at the Underworld – Camden – London
Excitement has swept the underground ever since Akercocke posted the cryptic message on their Facebook page about “The Monkey “ being let out of the cage and the announcement that the band had reformed and the brand new track “Inner Sanctum” that accompanied the announcement.
Tonight is the first night of the bands reunion tour. Although the band marked their return with a set on the main stage at Bloodstock 6 or so weeks earlier which was awesome but tonight has a real sense of a real event is about to be witnessed. The show is sold out and the band is playing their Stamping ground London Town. Bloodstock was all well and good but tonight is what will truly mark that Akercocke are back.
The Rock Show with Gully and Joe’s favorite band The King is Blind start the proceedings with a storming set. Kicking off with “Devoured” which was a bit off an oddball as an opener it’s when the more familiar “Genesis Refracted” is played the crowd start to wake up. We are treated to a new track and selections from their fantastic debut “Our Father”. Throughout the year the band have built their reputation with a series of high profile support slots. Hopefully their second album will propel them to the headliner leagues as they are consistently getting stronger as a band.
The buzz throughout the room is massive as Satan’s sons take to the stage. As they kick into “Hell” the opening track from their first album “Rape the Bastard Nazarene” it’s immediately clear the boys are not fucking around. With a more traditionally Metal look since they dropped the suits for some reason the music does seem a bit more at the forefront now and the songs which are cherry picked from 5 fantastic albums have aged wonderfully the set plays like a greatest hits. “A skin for Dancing in” gets the first crowd sing along of the night. The band is tight and brilliantly on form, Frontman Jason Mondonca is lapping it up and you can tell he is overwhelmed with the response and can’t thank the crowd enough. Playing arguably their “Hit” The Dark inside the band show perfectly how they can seamlessly drift from all out brutality to melodic and anthemic. “Leviathan” and “Son of the morning” were just euphoric. The band finishes abruptly with Jason screaming “Akercocke!!!” Before the band exit the stage. I can’t remember a time where I was at a gig were I was actually gutted when it was finished.
It’s been said tonight that people flew in from Greece and America for tonight’s show. Their first show in (approx) 5 years in London and it’s sold out. This tells you that people care about this band. Akercocke matter to people and they have been missed. Granted, David Gray and various members have kept the flame burning in bands like Voices and The Antichrist Imperium and Voices really raised the bar with their second album “London”. Akercocke have shown tonight they are better than ever. Their songs have aged wonderfully and make more sense now than ever. We await the new album with baited breath.
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