The Mission | The Chameleons | Theatre Of Hate
Jersey Metropolis, USA
Oct 2023

Some are calling 2023 the yr of goth and it definitely appears that since my The Artwork Of Darkness – The Historical past Of Goth e book got here out in February all method of darker motion has been occurring. The controversy over what really constitutes goth nonetheless rages but when there may be house for excursions like this then that may solely be a superb factor.

Theatre Of Hate have been, after all, by no means goth per se, however their songs have been fashionable within the these Goff golf equipment again within the trad goth period. The band have been dance ground fillers for the bleached flattops to pound and hen dance to, and had the fantastic highlight on their good follicles for a number of months once they have been have been on the verge of the massive breakthrough earlier than crash touchdown simply on the sting of the highest 30. A long time later, they’ve grew to become a properly honed street machine that by no means relents celebrating their a lot liked oeuvre regardless of coronary heart tremors or different illnesses. Tonight’s present in New Jersey in direction of the top of a six week jaunt sees them as intense as ever as they ship their extremely authentic sound at full tilt.

At the moment a 4 piece they make the most of the house offered by one much less guitar that enables Stan Stammers masterclass bass traces to return to the fore, propelling the songs with their dive bombing melodies and excessive neck motion that was so influential again within the day. Clive Osbourne’s sax can be freed up and hints on the Roxy Music gene that the band have added to their innate authentic cool and punk rock depth. Added to this, Kirk Brandon is one hell of a trump card together with his charismatic presence and vocals that also owe extra to opera than rock and are filtered via a John Lydon howl. No-one sings like this, and with such ardour. His smouldering soul energy sees his face swollen purple and about to blow up in righteous emotional eruption. He appears to emit a palpable emotive vitality alongside together with his band members – a beacon of righteous mild within the dying Empire embers.

Westworld is the massive hit, the Prime Of The Pops shoe-in second that noticed them getting ready to the toppermost of the poppermost, however it’s not even finest music on the set – Legion, with its theatrical body and thudding beats, may win that mini brawl.

The sheer misplaced oddity of the band is their compelling trump card, and their depth is all consuming. That compulsive mixture of pounding neo tribal drums, Sergio Leone atmospherics and that skyline voice are distinctive, and the band’s dance macabre is stuffed with poetic revolt and romantic sonic vistas. They might by no means have toured the States a lot again within the day however are making up for misplaced time within the pleasure-dome. The tour has honed the band to a brand new perfection and so they stay as uncateogrisable as ever.

The Chameleons appear to have some form of standing right here within the USA, and as their set unfurls there’s a new degree of depth within the room. Maybe the most important band it is best to have heard of however stay within the shadows, they have been as soon as on the U2 trajectory earlier than falling foul of the pitfalls off the biz and imploding earlier than justice was served. Lastly they’re again on that upward trajectory once more, and have by no means sounded so pressing and so crystal clear. The band, which incorporates authentic members, Reg Smithies on guitar interaction weaving in his components within the twin guitar foreplay entwined round vocalist Mark Burgess’s bass, are machine tight.

The singer means each syllable of each music as he delivers the time honed classics to the viewers, who’re riveted and sing alongside. The band appear to imply one thing right here within the USA. as a result of remarkably it looks like the band could lastly get the viewers they deserve after The Killers and plenty of others within the darker echelons of stadium indie have referenced them with out ever getting the pay again.

Headliners The Mission have been topping out this lengthy American tour and have the best profile right here of all three bands. It’s an ideal invoice – three UK legends of the darker corners of put up punk who’ve refused to compromise their artwork of darkness enjoying in 1000 capability halls, and there’s a household environment between the teams that goes again a long time. A long time of getting criss crossed at festivals and varied different phases. The Mission have the hits and the precision powered stay present but maybe, although, it’s finest to maneuver a number of days into the long run after we meet up with bands once more in London on what should really feel like a non cease world tour to unleash one other LTW reviewer onto the Mission.

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All phrases by John Robb.