Gig review: Slaves at O2 Academy Leeds

'We have been and toured all over the world, and do you know something? No one goes off like Leeds!' shouts Issac Holdman of Slaves in anticipation for what he and his old friend Laurie Vincent were just about unleash on an unsuspecting and packed to the rafters audience this evening.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Nov 2018, 18:08 BST
Updated 23rd Nov 2018, 19:09 BST
Slaves. Picture: Juergen TellerSlaves. Picture: Juergen Teller
Slaves. Picture: Juergen Teller

Embarking on their Acts Of Fear And Love Tour, and arguably one of the best music acts around today, Slaves are full of attitude and aplomb whilst sinking their teeth into and causing a raucous with the worlds expectations of traditional bands.

Supporting them on this tour are the raw rockers Amyl And The Sniffers and the high energy three-piece from Kent, Ladybird.

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Slaves caused a bit of an online debate and divided fans recently, when they wouldn’t announce stage times so people would go to the show when the doors opened to see the support acts. “We were the support once too,” stated the lads on Twitter.

Kicking the night off with their version of Shutdown by grime artist Skepta, the crowd seemingly goes wild with a surge forwards and arms waving about in the air, with the blinding stage lights and smoke cutting them into frenzied silhouettes.

The venue is bursting with a high-octane energy as the punk duo plough through their set, not giving anyone a chance to breathe, with the odd exception of a brief monologue between songs.

Seemingly complaining about being asked where their hi-hat is, they launch in to crowd pleasers ‘F*** The Hi Hat’ and ‘Cheer Up London’ before hitting us with all their worth for ‘Cut And Run’ and ‘Chokehold’ from their latest album offering.

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Slowing the evening down with a brief ‘Photo Opportunity’, and picking things straight back up again, the Maidstone boys weren’t letting up with their intensity to see the rest of the night out.

As they end the night with their 2015 hit ‘The Hunter’, the crowd explodes, absolutely lapping up every beat, note and and lyric the double act spit out at them, with the hope that the lads don’t leave it too long before they return to Leeds again.