Employed To Serve @ Rebellion, Manchester

Since the release of their debut album Greyer Than You Remember in 2015, Employed To Serve have risen to the top of the British underground hardcore scene now even at the lofty heights of being featured on Kerrang! covers which, given the nature of the abrasive and aggressive music they produce is no mean feat. […]

Since the release of their debut album Greyer Than You Remember in 2015, Employed To Serve have risen to the top of the British underground hardcore scene now even at the lofty heights of being featured on Kerrang! covers which, given the nature of the abrasive and aggressive music they produce is no mean feat. Tonight, they are midway through their first headline tour since the release of the staggeringly excellent The Warmth Of A Dying Sun.

Taking to the stage in front of their burnt orange backdrop, Employed To Serve smash through the first 20 minutes with 5 choice cuts from their sophomore release.  This is a set with all the fat trimmed off, little or no between song patter except for introducing the next crushing wave of heaviness from their modest back catalogue.

Despite the lean nature of the set (they only play for 45 minutes), there is plenty of variation on display, even just in the one song, as is the case with the title track from TWOADS. This song also showcases the extreme technical nature of this band as it’s twists and turns and start-stop moments are navigated seamlessly. As well as the newer cuts, their older songs like Watching Films To Forget I Exist are as explosive and volatile as the new material is expansive. Throughout the set, which ever album they’re pulling from, Justine Jones is a magnet at the front of the stage, screaming the words like her life depends on it and truly cementing her position as one of the best front people in the UK right now.

This is a band who seem to be truly enjoying themselves up on stage. Be that Richard Jacobs’ fist pumping and sheer enthusiasm, or Robbie Back cheekily throwing in the drum intro from Around The Fur by Deftones. This enjoyment and energy is shared by the crowd who keep a constant mosh pit moving throughout the show.

Having released one of the outstanding alums of the year, Employed To Serve are now cementing that reputation with an unstoppable live show. The only question left to ask is where next and that leaves a world of exciting possibilities for one of Britain’s most exciting bands.

Tom Butterworth

November 13, 2017

Hi, I'm Tom Butterworth. Born and raised in Northampton, resident in Liverpool for six years now. I've been obsessive about music for over ten years. My favourite bands include Nightwish, Death, Letlive, Slipknot,, The Menzingers, Gojira, Opeth and Pink Floyd among others. \m/

@little_tom13

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