Forever Cult at the Barfly

Situated within the vibrant and eclectic cultural life of Camden, the Barfly played host to Leeds-based grunge-pop trio Forever Cult. With blistering guitar-heavy tunes (every now and then echoing the grooves of bands like Arctic Monkeys) filled with unashamedly catchy riffs, the North London borough was the perfect setting for the last chapter of the band’s October mini tour.

The opening numbers of the night included Yasmin and Tunnel Vision, the latter being one of two tracks for their upcoming single in November (alongside Something In The Water). Both tracks displayed Forever Cult’s fiery personality, spewing out heavily amplified waves of noise and raspy vocal timbres. The momentum both songs generated was well received by a packed crowd in the Barfly.

Perhaps sensing the need to unwind from the high-octane opening, the trio took it down a notch with Suntrap, a leisurely indie rock ballad that particularly stood out from their set as it showcased the band’s gifted songwriting skills and their delicate character. The nostalgic melody from the Northern-charmed vocal personality of Kieran Clarke with the twangy guitar in unison set a melancholic tone. Simple bass and drum lines provided some rhythmic substance but, unfortunately, didn’t give enough space for Clarke’s stirring vocal performance as the vocal melody and falsetto chorus riff was rather overwhelmed by the antics from the rhythm section.

It was clear that contrast was a significant element of Forever Cult’s signature musical quality, something that was explicitly marked in tracks like Distant and Winter’s Glow. Winter’s Glow saw frontman Kieran Clarke engage in a tug of war between a rugged saw-toothed character emphasised with bristling heavy drums and distorted guitars against a much more coolheaded vocal affair. But, again, the contrast they tried to convey was slightly lost in translation from surges of amplified noise engulfing the musical interest.

The wealthy turnout encouraged the grunge-pop threesome’s hearty, vigorous performance and dynamic stage presence, as they were able to stir up great energy from the crowd. With great recognition from some major names in the music industry and as long as their fan base grows steadily, Forever Cult are an exciting prospect in the British music scene.

                                                                                                                Isaku Takahashi

For further information about Forever Cult and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Suntrap here: