Gallows, Leeds Met University

As the opening strings to ‘The Vulture’ flood through the speakers of Leeds Met Union, the tension in the crowd cranks up several notches. Almost everyone dressed in black, the throngs prepare themselves. In the middle, the formations of a circle begin. These people know what is to come.

The band come onstage, lead singer Frank Carter dressed simply, a white vest covering the mass of tattoos that have become as significant a part of Gallows as the music itself. ‘The Vulture (Part II)’ opens the set and the entire place goes apeshit. Skinheads, Mohicans and long black fringes alike run into each other, punch each other, push each other in a physical representation of what Gallows music is about. Gallows are pissed off. So are the crowd. Tonight is about letting that all go.

As the (sadly inevitable) ‘YORKSHA!’ chants reach critical mass, Frank addresses the crowd, specially renaming new single ‘London Is The Reason’ as ‘Yorkshire Is The Reason’ “cos you fucking love it here so much”. The crowd scream their approval, seemingly oblivious the entire point of the song is how shit London is. Judging by Franks massive grin, at least one person here appreciates the irony.

A significant portion of the new album is played in favour of ‘Orchestra Of Wolves’ material, (to be expected after Frank stated in interviews that the band were ‘sick of playing the old songs’). Whilst the new material is greeted favourably, as well it should, the crowd show allegiance to the first album when Frank asks “whether you want a new song or an old song?”. On overwhelming “OLD!” shouts, the band play ‘Just Because You Sleep Next To Me’ with such aggression, you think the speakers are going to jump in the moshpit. Frank panders to the crowd, spurring them on, pushing them to reach greater extremes. “We got a fucking human pyramid inside a circle pit in Glasgow, prove you’re not a bunch of fucking pussies!”. Leeds duly obliges, the pyramid reaching 4 levels before the circle turn on them and send it crashing down. ‘Abandon Ship’ closely followed by ‘In The Belly Of A Shark’ is the set highlight, though the encore of album closers ‘Orchestra Of Wolves’ and ‘Crucifucks’ is a wonderful contrast, the rawness of the first album highlighted by the progression shown in the second.

As the set ends, the orchestration on ‘Crucifucks’ the calm after one hell of a storm, the crowd ambles out, an amalgamation of bruised limbs, smiling faces and soaring souls. Fuck Britain. Fuck the credit crunch. Fuck bills. Fuck unemployment. Gallows realise how shit life is right now, yet realise they can, for an hour at least, be the antidote.