Reviewed by Kenny Cassells
Eryx London, are a 4 piece post-punk band hailing from……. Newark??? They made their Leicester debut tonight at a reasonably well-attended show (considering it was bonfire night) at Duffy’s alongside the fantastic Hex Poseur and Brighton based punk rockers The Blunders.
The band have been busy of late playing shows all over England including sets at Glastonbudget and at the renowned Rebellion Festival in Blackpool. Their star is on the rise, so it was time to see what all the fuss is about.
From set opener Broken it’s clear to see that the band is a well-rehearsed machine and Eryx has a command of the stage gained from years of experience. Eryx’s ‘Maria Brink’ style vocals blend perfectly with the post punk/new wave groove laid down by the rest of the band. The song sounds like what the 1975’s album Notes on a Conditional Form would have sounded like if they had continued in the direction set by the blistering track People, however, Eryx London have a better grasp of their own style.
The band played through an energetic set which was perfectly interspersed by some slower more introspective tracks and it was clear there was more depth to them.
To say Eryx London are post-punk would be doing them a disservice, their sound is made up of a wide array of influences, there are touches of PJ Harvey and Björk, alternative college rock and elements of electronica. The softer moments in the set remind this reviewer of Skunk Anansie meets Radiohead, with the use of the quiet to-loud dynamic song structure, a-tonal chords and bittersweet lyrics. These tracks really allow singer Eryx Ward to showcase her vocal.
By the end of their set, Eryx London had certainly proven their worth, local lad and bassist Ali Findlay was able to walk off stage head held high in the knowledge that this hometown show in front of an audience of his peers had been a blinder.
Standout tracks on the night were Parasite, Last Song for a Mate, Black Snow, Cult and set closer Blagger.
You can find Eryx London on Facebook and if you get the chance, I would definitely recommend you check them out. The band also have a 4 track EP available recorded at the legendary Maida Vale Studio 4.
Reviewed by Kenny Cassells
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