Music / Review
Review: Metz, Thekla – ‘They return to Bristol for a noisy show that felt like a furious electroshock’
Thekla welcomed for the first time the Canadian post-punk band METZ for the 7th date of their European Tour.
Psychic Graveyard were supporting as they had been during the entire tour. Good friends of METZ, the four-piece American band coming from Rhode Island have been meticulously chosen and described by vocalist Alex Edkins as “very inspiring”. Featuring members of Arab On Radar, Some Girls, All Leather, Chinese Stars and Doomsday Student, Psychic Graveyard is one of a kind. Acclaimed as nothing less than one of the finest noise rock bands in the States, they lived up to their reputation and comfortably set up an electric mood among the crowd, ready for METZ.
The power trio is guitarist/vocalist Alex Edkins, bassist Chris Slorach and drummer Hayden Menzies, currently based in Toronto. They finally returned to Bristol after a few years for a noisy show that felt like a furious electroshock. The crowd, already overly excited, got even more involved creating a rageous atmosphere on the boat.
is needed now More than ever
That night, Bristol discovered live for the first time their mesmerizing album Atlas Vending released in late 2020. Hard to believe that METZ could return with even more powerful tracks but yet they made it happen.
They offered some majestical noise, a perfectly mastered mess and wild at the same time photo: Alice Boeglin
They hit hard. Really hard. Edkins’ distant vocals and vibrant guitar combined with the energy of Menzies’ drums and Slorach’s roaring bass, METZ offered some majestical noise, a perfectly mastered mess and completely wild at the same time. They brutally ignited the stage and spread the shock wave all over the room, giving no choice for the audience but to jump harder.
Edkins offered me a few minutes to chat before the show and he defined their music the best possible way: “We know each other so well, our music comes naturally, it’s undefinable. We are thankful for that”. And I am thankful for such an honest and dynamic show! The DC Hardcore scene, SST Records and Meat Puppets were mentioned by Edkins as inspiration, but no references can be quoted legetimitely as METZ’s music comes from a very personal place. The trio will be recording very soon and Bristol already can’t wait for them to return.
Main photo: Alice Boeglin
Read more: Review: Metz, The Fleece
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