with Plutø and Chaplain
Reviewed by Imogen Cresswell
Following their epic performance at Glastonbudget, Colchester’s own Beneath the Embers launched their UK Condemned tour, in which they swung by Leicester to deliver their heaviest metal.
Firebug is always an excellent venue to play, particularly with the lineup we had in store.
Metal 2 the Masses (M2M) competitors Chaplain kick-started the gig with absolute fire. They gave exactly the same energy this time round as they did in the M2M competition, which shows not just a passion to share their music, but also a passion to play their music.
Each death-metal scream, each tempo change, and each and every drop was immense, in which I could not help but acknowledge the pure synchronisation this band had with one another. They are truly talented, and I was incredibly grateful to catch their art again.
Following Chaplain was Plutø, a post-metal band that took the baton and ran with it. Keeping it metal, they amped up the melodies whilst still maintaining a harsh vocal which kept the theme of the night continuous but also gave them an opportunity to stand out.
I could really appreciate the variety of pathways their songs take, weaving in and out of breaks, drops in the chorus, and deep meaningful moments seeing their supporters cheer them on. Both Plutø and Chaplain were immaculate supports for our main act- Beneath the Embers.
Beneath the Embers came on with attitude, with passion, and will stamina. To be able to sustain so much power and energy for their set time is a skill that is acquired over time and mastered through practice and resilience. It made their act seem flawless and natural, in which all the members appeared in unison with each other, yet in their own elements.
I found the vocalist charming and could easily tell how much fun he was having- engaging the audience with his theatrics and hyperactive presence. As a band member who did not utilise an instrument, it was incredibly important to add something to the stage presence, in which he did.
Their songs are undoubtedly memorable, in which I found myself reminiscing about Glastonbudget 2022 when I heard them for the first time. Their sounds were vibrant and energetic, with various tones scaling back to classic rock with modern twists. Their interactions with the crowd were humorous, their playing was quality, and overall the support from Plutø and especially Chaplain had me extremely hyped up – yes Chaplain, I saw how much fun you were having!
It was a phenomenal gig; I hope Beneath the Embers are proud of every step they have taken. I want everyone reading this review now to check out this band. They deserve the publicity- they are a world-class metal band, so let’s make them worldwide.
It all starts with a click of the play button.
See Beneath the Embers perform live at the gig:
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