EVEN at the top of their game, Nowhere to Go but up
by Yevgeniya Chernykh on 10/30/24Rating: 5 out of 5Someone asking "who's this band again?"could be interpreted many ways, but I got to hear this exchange at Mayhem Fest: a New Fan™ asking as clarification, because they wanted to check out more songs. Consider it an anecdote of how - ubiquitous as they may seem - "this band"still finds new audiences to captivate and more stages to conquer.
Only a year after their sold-out-before-it-even-started Concrete Jungle tour, their ongoing growth seems inevitable, because their consistent commitment to quality - in their ever-evolving performances, production and music - is far from a fluke, let alone unearned.
What may appear as "suddenly"headlining large festivals and playing arenas & stadiums makes me think success can only look easy *after* the hard work it takes to make it look that easy. A slick ~90-minute show is not crafted in 90 minutes, but rather forged from cumulative years playing the small stages, building up the skills and team, and cultivating the atmosphere and sound - and subsequent recognition.
Pushing creative limits can be admired, but pursuing creativity with seemingly no limits? I'd say it's a more impressive feat. Giving so many people (myself included) an opportunity to step away from the world's expectations and enjoy a borderline cinematic show may be a greater feat still.
If this review from an impressed stranger means anything, my recommendation from a year ago remains the same: go experience them live to see exactly why their continued success is so well-deserved.