Rowan Bruce
Perhaps the most straightforward act of the night, Cork quartet Red Sun Alert mix math rock rhythms into an otherwise fairly accessible post-hardcore sound, gripping the audience’s attention with wild on-stage energy rather than impressive technical skill. Frontwoman Julia Pawlak gives a masterclass in vocal gymnastics, leaping between threatening growls and banshee-like screams.
Although the Cork quartet only have a pair of EPs and a handful of singles available to the public, Red Sun Alert manage to grab the audience by the throat and refuse to let go throughout their half-hour set. While singer and guitarist Julia remains the focal point throughout, the rest of the band, particularly guitarist Cian Mullane (who those in the know will recognise as the bassist of Cork party math rockers God Alone) aren’t slacking off, throwing themselves into the mathcore-tinged post-hardcore with all their might. Closing out on their rip-roaring single ‘I’m Upside Down For That’, Red Sun Alert aren’t a band to miss if they grace your neck of the woods.
Bristol’s finest art-funk meets post-rock and shoegaze superstar, Lawi Anywar should need no introduction to those with their ear to the concrete in the city’s vibrant underground scene. Returning to Strange Brew after his own release party in celebration of his album Centenarian back in October, Lawi Anywar delivers an eccentric mix of danceable Thundercat style bass acrobatics and And So I Watch You From Afar and Delta Sleep inspired math and post-rock riffs.
Through tracks like ‘Centenarian’ and ‘Lordvessel’ Lawi leads his five piece band with lush vocals and deep, driving bass lines, cutting through a trio of battling guitarists swirling effortlessly between math, post-rock and shoegaze riffs. While Lawi is the driving creative force behind his set the three guitarists really elevate the live experience, providing a suitably eclectic bedrock for him to build his bass and vocals on. Closing out on the groove driven single ‘Bad Acting’ Lawi Anywar proves that he and his band have a permanent place in Bristol’s eclectic underground scene.
Attracting huge crowds at Arctangent and building plenty of hype for their debut at this year’s 2000 Trees festival, Sans Froid have been on the radar of every savvy art-rock enthusiast since their first EP back in 2020. While their initial offerings and debut album Hello, Boil Brain relied heavily on dissonant piano stand clashing with feedback-driven guitars, the Bristol quartet’s sound has evolved to focus more on frontwoman Aisling Trafford’s eclectic vocals against a backdrop of alt and post-rock style riffs.
Performing here as a five piece with Ellie Godwin of Peach and No Violet fame on backing vocals and guitar, Sans Froid fly through their sophomore album in full with tracks like ‘Pros And Constants’ and the disorienting, psychedelic title track ‘Back Into The Womb’ standing out as highlights. Trafford’s vocals and piano lines carry the band melodic through line while guitarist Ben Harris builds up clashing layers of distorted riffs. Live their newer material reads as more structured and deliberate than their disorienting early work.
While art-rock may always be associated with acts like Frank Zappa or The Velvet Underground and the genre’s 60s and 70s roots, Sans Froid show that there’s still a place in the modern world for their style of complex, guitar and piano driven rock. Stripping things back for the album closer ‘Thorns’ with just drummer Toby Green on keys and Trafford on vocals Sans Froid end their set with a handful of older hits including the maximalist ‘Planket’ and the complex and jazzy single ‘The Still’ before closing out on their debut EP track ‘Lachrymose’. Celebrating both their new album and their six years together, Sans Froid deliver an enchanting hour of art rock which wavers effortlessly between overwhelming and intimate.
