We headed to The Dome in London to catch metal rockers Novelists on their last show UK show in their EU run. They brought Ashen, Elwood Stray and The Word Alive to warm up the crowd.
First to take the stage, and on their first European tour, are French metalcore band Ashen. For a Saturday night, you’d expect nothing less than the crowd getting into the heavy riffs, breakdowns and guttural screams almost instantly. The stage lighting was having a show on its own, and was definitely intense in places, but made for a dramatic viewing. Those wanting to mosh made themselves known and created a space in the centre of the room for when those heavier moments came. A half an hour set of originals that deliver a nu-metal sound with a ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ by Nirvana cover slipped in, the bands instant energy was contagious, and made for the ideal warm up for the night ahead.
Elwood Stray – Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Next up are German hardcore band Elwood Stray. The combination of clean vocals and viscous screams made for a pure hardcore/metalcore show, and this was when the mosh pit really opened up. A challenge to the crowd on how many crowd surfers they can have is immediately accepted, as they are carried towards the stage and launching themselves back into the crowd. Elwood Stray are full of catchy melodies and groovy riffs you are forced to move to, they took the evening up a notch ready for the rest of the night.
The Word Alive – Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
The front of the crowd is getting increasingly full as the evening continues. Vocalist Tyler Smith making a point that this is their seventeenth show in a row, you wouldn’t know at all with the amount of energy the band have, with no sign of vocal fatigue in the slightest.
Opening their set with a fan favourite ‘Strange Love’, the crowd are all in and it’s clear a lot are here to see them, and the crowd surfing hasn’t stopped. We’re treated with ‘Slow Burn’ in a last minute change of the set list, much to everyone’s delight as phone torches are held up high and arms swaying to the ballad. ‘New Reality’ and ‘One Of Us’ are also stand outs, we hope they don’t wait as long to come back to the UK after that set.
Novelists – Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Headliners Novelists take to the stage with a burst of energy and infectious smiles, it’s evident they’re delighted to be here. New vocalist Camille Contreras dances through the songs, and delivers harsh screams and delicate clean vocals, and is a joy to watch. Considering the length of this tour without a day off, they are giving everything they have to this set.
With a full-on set including ‘Prisoners’, ‘Heretic’ and ‘Mourning The Dawn’, Novelists leave the crowd wanting more, and we can’t wait to see what 2024 brings for them.
Photos by Jasmine Marceau – Instagram
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