Live review: Born Of Osiris, Monuments, After The Burial, The HAARP Machine, Brighton

Born Of Osiris + Monuments + After The Burial + The HAARP Machine

Audio, Brighton

It’s a freezing night in Brighton, and The HAARP Machine are having a bad day at the office. In the headlines recently for the collapse of their album line-up their new incarnation doesn’t seem all that harmonious tonight, mastermind Al Mu’min downing his guitar and aborting the set after a couple of songs. Not one to remember for anyone concerned.

After The Burial suffer no such drama; tight as you like and with the packed Audio firmly on side they give a masterclass in technically astounding heaviness, despite a few electrical issues. They’ve built up quite a fanbase on these shores and judging by the fervour that greets closer ‘Your Troubles Will Cease And Fortune Will Smile Upon You’, they’ll be back this way before too long.

Monuments have been around for a while now, but they’re still relative newcomers to the live world, not that you’d know it from tonight. The sound’s not perfect but the energy and sheer impact of their compositions more than makes up for it, making this a treat for fans.

Of course the biggest reception is reserved for Born Of Osiris, who gamely press on through technical difficulties (yep, them again) to melt more than their fair share of faces. Though their route here’s hardly been without incident the Chicago outfit seem in a comfortable place right now, perfectly in sync onstage and tight-knit off of it. Drawing on 2011’s searing ‘The Discovery’ opus they deliver a fine balance of instrumental tech-wankery and memorable songcraft, working the crowd with ease. It’s a great end to the night, and with a new album purportedly not far off, an exciting sign of things to come.

Words: Rob Sayce