Live Review: Sleepmakeswaves, The Silent World, Coveleski

First up, Coveleski presented themselves to the crowd, providing a tight, well-rehearsed set of raw, punchy vocals and complex guitar patterns. While the majority band were pretty inactive as far as movement went on stage, lead vocalist Al Rhoades' confidence was brimming and this added positive vibes to the blooming band's performance. Next up was a band much more likened to the headliners in The Silent World, and they changed up the mood of the crowd completely. Their purely instrumental set consisted of guitars layered with delay and chorus, and an artistic delicacy that seemed to create a feeling of utmost vulnerability at softer times, and at moments of crescendo, a freedom that hit to like a bucket of icy water poured over your head. Their slow and steady build-ups towards crashing choruses kept the audience's focus entirely on them, while at the same time leaving them completely lost in thought. The end of the set felt like being awoken from a deep, dreamy slumber, leaving a perfect atmosphere for the headliners.

As a first-timer seeing sleepmakeswaves, I was amazed by how energetic they were. They took the stage completely by storm, engaging the crowd with not only their theatrics, but the sheer loudness that the band is known for with their live shows. They're no strangers to our side of the country, having toured extensively with groups including our own Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving, which gives perspective to their incredibly intense and emotionally washing performances. As with the supports, sleepmakeswaves' atmosphere was built on bullseye technical drumming, and the often-syncopated beats had the crowd eating out of their hand by bar one. The band are truly masters of that oft-referenced post-rock trope of switching between quiet, mellow melodies and intense and crushing canyons of sound with devastating immediacy. They finished off the set with new track Something Like Avalanches, and after generously thanking the crowd for coming down, exited stage right and wrapped up a night of beautiful chaos. Come back soon, guys.