Hell Is For Heroes @ Cockpit
By Luke RamsdenYou have to feel sorry for Hell Is For Heroes. In 2003 British rock's great white hopes released the excellent 'The Neon Handshake' but for some peculiar reason it just didn't happen for them. Overlooked in favour of their American counterparts justice was not served. Add to that the head honchos at EMI making a very ruthless business decision in unceremoniously dumping them last Summer. Then compound that with vocalist Justin Schlosberg's numerous and serious ailments and you've got a literal disaster site of a band. Despite these problems that would stop a lesser band in their tracks, HIFH created a genuinely progressive and challenging record in 'Transmit Disrupt' earlier this year that once again has been met by a criminally mute response.
A criminally mute response is not what's afforded to the band tonight however. HIFH still have a very intelligent and passionate audience even if the masses think otherwise. Despite yet another injury worry for Schlosberg that has seen a few legs unfortunately cancelled, tonight is well and truly on and Hell Is For Heroes, as expected, don't fail to deliver the goods.
Never trust a musician in a woollen jumper. Words to live by. Hence Jacobs Stories didn't fill me with optimism. Their brand of mellow occasionally big sounding Aerogramme-esque post rock is competent but not at all enjoyable to listen to. Conversely America Is Waiting are an exciting prospect. The vocalist seems to have Cobain aspirations, both in his appearance and mannerisms. Every time the guitars spike, he whirls around or throws himself to the floor in the throws of musical passion. It's a passion that can get a little out of hand as signified by the most ill advised stage dive the world has ever witnessed, as he falls back first to the Cockpit floor. Call the chiropractor. For all their youthful exuberance the songs are lacking though and maybe it would be a good idea to attempt to tackle the UK before pondering about whether America is waiting or not.
Hell is for Heroes then, back in Leeds once again to promote their reputation as one of the best and hardest working bands in the UK. You'd be forgiven for thinking this tour would be all about pushing the new material in the audience's faces but always the crowd pleases it's as much about the 'classics' as it is the more recent numbers. 'I Can Climb Mountains' is unleashed early on and the big hitters are pebbledashed throughout in amongst the more complex and sonic new songs like the title track and 'Quiet Riot'. Bodies bounce, voices sing, Schlosberg tries his best to remain mobile despite injured neck. All in all it's a textbook Hell Is For Heroes performance, but as everyone knows a textbook HIFH performance blows your average rock contender clean out of the water. Hell Is For Heroes deserve a bit of luck for a change, on CD and in the live format you cannot fault them but there's still a crippling feeling they may just not make it to the other side.
