IDLES
London Alexandra Palace
Bleak but at times joyous display from Bristol’s finest.
★ IDLES are not known for front-loading their shows with fiery crowd pleasing bangers, and tonight is no exception. If anything the set-list shows just how visceral and dark the Bristol band can go. They open with the deceptively slow Idea 01 before frontman Joe Talbot whips up the audience for Colossus and the stomping Gift Horse. But the middle section veers into territory so gnarly at times, you’re half expecting a chainsaw to rip through the middle of the stage. The screeching, stabbing guitar riffs Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan throttle through on the likes of Car Crash and Divide & Conquer could soundtrack a horror film, they’re that brutal. Even the saxophonist, Colin Webster, sounds like he’s blowing nails into the walls, such is the noise coming from his instrument.