Review: Sound of Guns at Cargo (19th April 2012)
Published on April 23rd, 2012 | Jonny Abrams
In our recent review of Sound of Guns’ second album Angels and Enemies, Rocksucker confessed that the its anthemic stadium rock wasn’t our usual bag of tea while also acknowledging that “you have to admire the sheer chutzpah and lofty ambition” of it. Well, it must also be acknowledged that these grandiose tendencies sure see the Liverpool five-piece whip up a storm in a live setting, as they did at trendy Shoreditch nightspot Cargo on Thursday night.
Exploding into the set with album opener “Sometimes” swiftly followed by a couple of numbers from 2010 debut What Came from Fire, Sound of Guns mixed things up consummately while maintaining the kind of enthusiastic stage presence (with the odd yelled expletive thrown in for good measure) that is sure to keep audiences captivated on this summer’s festival circuit, not to mention those album sales ticking over nicely among those seeking a good old-fashioned adrenaline rush in these increasingly alt-folky times.
An acoustic version of “Backs of Butterflies” broke the pace up nicely, a rip-roaring rendition of “Architects” nearly broke a roomful of eardrums, and finally “Alcatraz” brought the curtain down on a blistering performance from a tight band with an explosive sound (no pun intended). If you’re looking for a hair-raising yet melodic summer soundtrack, Sound of Guns could be music to your ears.
Rocksucker says: Four Quails out of Five!
Click here to read Rocksucker’s review with Sound of Guns guitarist Lee Glynn!
Angels and Enemies is out now on Distiller Records. For more information, including a list of live dates, please visit soundofguns.com or the band’s Facebook page.