Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Flying shoes and huge circle pit took over London: Live Report of Power Trip at the Electric Ballroom
Power Trip burst onto the music scene around 2010, and it was like a whirlwind! They brought this fresh energy and a tonne of exciting new ideas, giving us everything we were looking for in the metal world.
Getting the opportunity to support Pantera on their tour again was amazing! Back then, we only had a 40-minute set, sharing the stage with King Parrot. So, we were really looking forward to seeing a full hour show at the welcoming Electric Ballroom. I really love this venue! It holds some of my best memories from shows in London, and it’s just the kind of place you want to be in to enjoy a band of this calibre. It’s a nice size that accommodates both standing and seated guests without feeling too formal like a theatre. Plus, the view is great from just about anywhere, so even when it’s packed, you can still see the band without having to strain yourself. But, unfortunately, the seated area was closed this time. Maybe it was because of the size of the event or just that it wasn’t sold out.
Despite everything the turnout was actually pretty good, especially given the hot weather in London. Power Trip is bringing Inhuman Nature along as a guest for their UK dates, which included also Download Festival, Glasgow, Manchester.
Big thanks to Matt for having us!
Inhuman Nature
Doesn’t playing in-house just feel so natural? Even so, Inhuman Nature took at least one song to get the London crowd moving, encouraging them to circle pit while folks were still working through their first few beers of the night. Their riffs are straightforward but powerful, and those intense yells really give off a hardcore vibe, even if that’s not how they’re officially categorised.
Picture this: Power Trip, but cranked up to an even more intense level. The heavy hooks in the tracks are just right for getting a moshpit going, and by the time the second song hits, the crowd is totally amped and ready to jump. I guess the beers were already in the bloodstream at that point. The rhythm section totally grabs your attention, and those buzzsaw riffs are just waiting to unleash some serious energy. The singer totally nails that harsh, raspy, and commanding vibe with his straightforward metal voice. The drums and guitars blend together really well, and with the powerful bass tunes, it all adds up to an amazing live presence.
So, if I was already concerned about my neck after Power Trip, I guess I’m not going to be feeling too great tomorrow since these guys are definitely a must for headbanging!
Photo: Peterson Marti
Power Trip
- Soul Sacrifice
- Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe)
- Firing Squad
- Hornet’s Nest
- Nightmare Logic
- Crucifixation
- Drown (partial)
- Divine Apprehension
- Suffer No Fool
- Drown (dedicated to Riley)
- Heretic’s Fork
- Waiting Around to Die
- Manifest Decimation
- Crossbreaker
Power Trip really knows how to throw a party! Oh, and guess what? Thursday is the new Friday! It was crazy to see everyone just go for it, crashing into each other to release all that built-up energy from a long week, all for the sake of having a good time.
Everyone went absolutely wild when the first few notes of “Soul Sacrifice” and “Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe)” kicked in. If the crowd was already buzzing from Inhuman Nature, then the circle pit really kicked into high gear with these song choices. I had to take a step back to avoid getting caught up in it, but honestly, the urge to jump in was really strong. So much energy! I was so out of breath from these folks that I had to grab a drink of water just to keep up with everything happening around me. You won’t believe it, but at one point, I actually saw a shoe just flying around and someone wandering around the pit looking for its owner. Isn’t this just the kind of thing you want to experience at an exciting show?
Chris Ulsh’s intense drumming really drove Blake and Nick’s guitars to a point where they were almost perfectly in sync. Seth’s voice and charm have definitely brought a unique vibe to the band, and I’m really interested to see where this journey leads them next. His enthusiasm was totally infectious, and as the performance continued, he kept encouraging the audience to jump into the mosh pit even more. In the last few songs, he got the London crowd to create this massive circular pit, which had most of the audience stepping back from the centre to make room for people to run around. I’ve never come across a massive circular pit in the Electric Ballroom before.
So, to wrap things up, the setlist they played was quite similar to what we heard on the Pantera tour, but this time it was definitely a bit longer. We just couldn’t say goodbye until we heard “Crossbreaker.”
Photo: Peterson Marti