LIVE REVIEW: Tech Fest 2015

Written for Bring The Noise UK

As Tech-Fest enters its second year at Newark Showground it’s clear that the tech bug has quickly spread. Showcasing some of the finest acts in the world of tech, deathcore and alternative it’s fast becoming one of the best small festivals in the country.

THURSDAY

Before the weekend gets underway, Thursday give us the chance to get the party started early. There was much anticipation surrounding the European debut of Australian guitarist, composer and multi-instrumentalist, Plini. Joined by the recognisable faces of Mike Malyan (Monuments, The Algorithm) on drums, Jakub Zytecki (DispersE) on guitar and his fellow Aussie Simon Grove on bass, this would turn out to be the biggest and best jam of the weekend. A purely instrumental set that is performed with a michelin starred quality, as these tech wizards unleash some of the finest grooves on show all weekend. 7.5/10

Who else but tonight’s headliners Hacktivist to really get the party started? Starting off the weekend’s chant with a Rick Flair inspired “Woo”, the quintet mean serious business tonight. Before we’ve even had the chance to settle into the grassy surroundings, the Milton Keynes rap/metal quintet disrupt the calm with False Idols. Unleashing their incredible cover of N****s in Paris on the masses really puts the party into overdrive. Dropping their new track No Way Back on fresh ears came back positive with Hacktivist anthems such as Elevate and Unlike Us tearing Tech Fest to Wreck Fest. After playing the very first Tech Fest back in 2012, this was a return that was long overdue. 8/10

FRIDAY

Got your beer? Good, because it’s 1.30pm and The Colour Line are ready to cause havoc on day one of the weekend. From the word go, front man Sam Rudderforth squanders no time at all as the crowd become his stage. Thrash Bandicoot injects an insanity that’s perfect for smashing your head in to and whilst the crowd screams “I’m burning for my sins” Sam descends into a sweat induced stupor. 7/10

Whilst groove laden riffs fuse with the immense lungs of vocalist Jay Shields, Subversion display everything of a strong band. Coming down to the front for maximum effect, Shields isn’t afraid to get down and dirty with the punters today. Closing track Catalyst shows their full potential as their most techy track but leaving with a taste of wanting more. 6/10

Next up, northern death metallers Nexilva ramp up the heaviness a few notches. A drumming track covers for broken bones but doesn’t take away the technicality that Nexilva exude with every riff. Amongst blinding flashing colours, Gary King is a spectacle of sorts, holding the stage as his own and it’s no surprise the whole festival squeezes itself into the main stage hanger. As they dish out their most well known tracks such as Necromancer, Tech Fest is treated to new track Zenith. 8/10

As Friday draws to a close, French metal stalwarts Betraying The Martyrs close the curtain on the main stage. Adding their own lighting to the stage definitely makes a difference – if you’re not being blinded enough. Old track Man Made Disaster sets the stellar tone for the entire day, leading into Where The World Ends that carries the spine crushing pummelling through. But all that is stopped when every girl and guy lets their guard down to sing their cover of Frozen’s Let It Go. ‘Even if you think it’s really gay’ shouts Aaron Matts as the first wall of death ensues to one of the least likeliest songs of the weekend. Returning for their encore the lads leave on a humble point as Aaron notes that Legends Never Die “goes out to my boy Mitch Lucker from Suicide Silence.” 8/10

SATURDAY

It’s 12pm, the hangovers are at tipping point. However everyone has shaken off impending doom to watch a band who are still very young in their infancy. Clockwork bring some moody but heavy hitting riffery to a stage that is already three quarters of the way full. Frontman Will Young, no not that dude from Pop Idol, but Will Young, the screaming extraordinaire. Spitting venom like an angry rattlesnake, whilst his cleans are still something evolving in a live setting. It would seem everyone has been well and truly woken up. 8/10

“Follow your fucking dreams, it’s a fucked up world,” bellows The Voynich Code’s Nelson Rebelo. These guys are doing exactly that, as they’ve flown in from the sunny Portugal to deliver a round of hallowing technical deathcore. The intimidating presence of Rebelo, sees him order people about like an angry sergeant major, as headbanging is the order of the day. But while the unified hair swinging occurs, we start to notice the ground beneath us start to tremble, no this was not an earthquake, just the sheer brutality of the music being played out before us. 7.5/10

Suns out, bums out. Should be the new saying for the next band, with The Sun Explodes’ Dave Maclachlan get down and dirty. While we are incinerated by the heat, this gives him the perfect opportunity to get fully naked and show us his delightful tucchus. Kim Kardashian, you have nothing on this guy. Bringing a much smoother rock ‘n’ roll vibe to the weekends proceedings, tracks like The Grand Design chime out perfectly against the summer sun. 7/10

If there is one thing we have learnt this weekend, is that we don’t think you’ll find a band as happy as Cyclamen when they perform on stage. Like a child who has just received their first pet dog, these Japanese tech-metallers beam with copious amounts of enthusiasm. If you’re not having fun while doing the thing you love most, then what’s the point? The feeling transcends across the entire festival, as our cheesy grins match those of the guys performing on stage. 8/10

Coming in last minute to replace Destiny Potato, Martyr Defiled are handed the duty of headlining the Hands On Printing Stage. These brutes smash their way through a set that is as tight as a nun’s fun tunnel. The bass that drops on No Morality, makes you think “phwooarr, fucking hell, where did that come from?” Moving swiftly onto a track they’ve never played live before, Never Ending gets it’s debut at the hallowed grounds of Newark. They play it as if it’s been in their set for years. Crowd participation is a huge part of their set, with a collective “fuck you” and middle fingers raised, MD really have come to fuck things up. 8/10

As the entire festivals pours into the mainstage, for what, has been dubbed the set of the weekend, we can’t help but feel that something special is about to happen. Making their UK debut, Agent Fresco bring full grown men to their knees in pure admiration. Their breed of rock, is powered by the emotional endeavours of frontman Arnor, who as the focal point of the band, wears his heart on his sleeve. From the passing of his father, to the struggles with depression, these Icelandic rockers have created music so beautifully executed that it gets every emotion in your body doing over time. Eyes begin to tear up, hairs stand on end and your mood becomes reflective. The chilled nature of Wait For Me, shows the impressive vocal range of Arnor with the backing of elegant guitar tones. Arguably a future headliner of this festival, Agent Fresco leave nothing behind. 9/10

What a journey tonight’s headliners have been on. From played Tech Fest 2013 in a smaller capacity, to completely destroying the mainstage at Download this year, it’s only justice that Heart Of A Coward are Saturday’s headliners. There is no time for messing about, this lot get down to business immediately, proving that their booking is thoroughly deserved. Mixing their beefy grooves with almost metalcore breakdowns really does widen their appeal, creating a dynamic that those tech geeks can admire and those moshers can throwdown to. Hailing from Milton Keynes, this lot bring their knowledge of roundabouts to Newark, with Jamie Graham demanding the weekend’s biggest circle pit. Give these guys any stage and they will absolutely slay it. Colossal riffs reign over us as the certified bangers of Deadweight and Distance are a solid triumph. Brand new single Hollow from their upcoming Deliverance is a sign of things to come. If this an indication of their new material, then we are all in for a very heavy treat. 10/10

SUNDAY

Sunday rolls around, but there is no rest for the wicked. Kicking into action are a trio who know how to bring a big dirty fucking riff to a stage. All signs point to a successful future for this lot, as Croydon rockers Bad Sign bring a welcomed changed to the festival. Their Biffy-meets-Every-Time-I-Die choruses are backed by a rough around the edges tone from frontman Joe Appleford. His rasp adds more bite to their headbanging friendly stonker Cuba (de l’amour). It’s short but ever so sweet. 8.5/10

Mainstage sees Press To MECO bring their brand of alternative rock to a festival dominated by heavy technicality, however what they lack in straight out metal they make up for in technical ability. On the surface it’s very much about the melody with a mainstream feel. Tracks like Honesty and Autopsy are made to resonate, but as their set comes to a close we soon get to see their djent side. Infinity rolls out and slaps us around the chops with its meaty groove tinge that brings a much sludgier side to their sound. 8/10

This next lot have become the Tech Fest house band, having played every single year since the festivals inception, but it wouldn’t be the same without them. No Consequence have slowly worked their way up the bill each year and with new album Vimana in tow, deservedly so. While their older material like Coerce Conform concentrates on the groove, new tracks like Speechless hone in on the bounce with nu-metal elements shining through. Still, though the mix is something these guys pull off with so much ease and precision. So same again next year guys? It would be rude not to really. 7/10

Dazzling and destructive in the same sentence can only describe one band on this years bill, and that’s Rolo Tomassi. Fronted by the force of nature that is the pint-sized Eva Spence, Rolo give us everything we would expect. Technical noise, bizarre interludes and misplaced guitar tones, the weird nature of this band is wonderful to watch but terrifying if you’re down in the pit. Opalescent from their latest album Grievances really puts into the question the foundations of the building we are standing in. Still, 10 years into their career, they still know how to redefine who they are and what they want to sound like. Possibly the most unique band to grace the festival this weekend, in fact, they are probably Britain’s most extraordinary band. 9/10

Last year’s headliners return as Sunday’s special guests. To say this band haven’t been through a lot is an understatement. Since headlining 2014’s triumphant Tech Fest it’s been non-stopping touring for the guys in Monuments, to the point it has led to frontman Chris Barretto developing nodes on his vocal chords, a singer’s nightmare. Before their set can even begin, a worried Barretto explains to the crowd that he is unable to sing, but instead of jeers, he is met by cheers and loving support from the tech-metal community. We are treated to a special instrumental set, as the musical beauty of these musicians shines brighter than the northern lights. Proving yet again that they have charisma by the bucket load and huge jazzy grooves from the top drawer. 9/10

Making this there only UK festival appearance of the summer, the buzz around Decapitated’s closing headline set is that of pure electric. The polish technical-death metallers are in the mood to live up to their name and strike heads from necks. After their glorious return with 2014’s Blood Mantra, this band are now entering their 20th year together and what a way to kick start celebrations, than by galloping in with the six horseman of hell. Squeezing the very last bit of juice, energy and beery sweat out of everyone, this would go down as one of Tech Fest’s defining moments. Brutally brilliant and savagely heavy, these Polish legends waste no time in levelling the place. The riff being fired from Vogg’s guitar feel like we’ve walked onto a battlefield, as the likes of Spheres Of Madness ring out like a battle cry. Nothing short of magnificent, stepping up to headline a festival is something they should have done years ago. 9.5/10

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