Concert Review: Igorrr, Master Boot Record, and Imperial Triumphant at Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Tonight marked a series of new experiences for me as I planned to attend a different venue, watch three unfamiliar bands, and observe Mark Shelly in action. Both of us were invited to this tour, and I saw this as a chance to delve into a genre that I don’t typically explore. Leaving our day jobs behind, we hastily drove into the bustling hub of London, managing to evade a significant amount of traffic on our way to the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
After indulging in a quick meal and a pint (or two for myself) to wash it down, we both had a moment to recover from the shock of the steep prices of a simple cheeseburger in London. I realized that I couldn’t afford too many nights out at this rate. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t locate a Wetherspoon’s pub nearby, but fortunately, the bar next to the venue was a convenient alternative, especially considering the brisk evening weather.
Shepherd’s Bush Empire displayed its grandeur as it gleamed under the lights, with a line already forming around the corner. After collecting our tickets from the amiable staff at the box office, we made our way inside. Mark Shelly, equipped with his cameras, headed backstage, while I ascended a flight of stairs to find my cozy seat for the night. The view from the balcony was quite majestic, with three stories looming over a seemingly modest stage. Although I wasn’t accustomed to being situated above the stage, it provided me with an excellent vantage point to supervise my colleague capturing photographs for this review.
The atmosphere was electrifying even before the music started, with three mysterious figures emerging in shimmering golden masks and black robes, resembling eerie priests from a futuristic society. The visual impact was striking, as they exuded an air of haunting sophistication, resembling statues from a macabre skyscraper.
Imperial Triumphant’s performance at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire was a whirlwind of sensory excitement. Musically, their set was a display of controlled dissonance, with Zachary Ezrin showcasing his guitar prowess while bassist Steve Blanco and drummer Kenny Grohowski delivered a dynamic, jazz-infused onslaught.
The energy in the crowd was palpable, with attendees moshing and crowd-surfing, fully immersed in the Wednesday night revelry. Even those seated were enthusiastically headbanging and clapping along, demonstrating the band’s ability to captivate a diverse audience and unite people through live metal music. The camaraderie and joy evident in the crowd illustrated the unifying power of live music, even for those like myself who aren’t typically drawn to this genre.
Master Boot Record (MBR) followed with a performance that felt more like a high-octane system reboot than a typical concert. Their fusion of ’90s chiptune nostalgia and contemporary technical metal was visually and sonically captivating, with a backdrop displaying MS-DOS routines, BIOS menus, and retro gaming footage complementing their computer-inspired sound.
The musicianship was exceptional, with guitarist Edoardo Taddei delivering breakneck neoclassical shredding alongside drummer Giulio Galati’s thunderous rhythms. MBR effortlessly transformed cold, binary compositions into vibrant, mosh-worthy anthems, as evident in standout tracks like “INTERRUPT” and the iconic DOOM theme.
Igorrr’s avant-garde performance further reinforced the evening’s theme of genre fluidity, transcending traditional musical boundaries with a chaotic yet mesmerizing showcase. Their haunting stage design and eclectic vocal interplay between Marthe Alexandre’s angelic mezzo-soprano and JB Le Bail’s guttural screams created a captivating juxtaposition of beauty and brutality.
Overall, the night was a resounding success for both Mark and me, despite the inclement weather on our journey back and the impending return to our daily routines. The memories forged that evening at Shepherd’s Bush Empire will undoubtedly endure for years to come.