Lower Than Atlantis + Mallory Knox - Thursday 19th July 2012 at The Underground, Stoke - Part 1

This review will be posted in two parts. I’ll be introducing you to the promising, up-and-coming band that is Mallory Knox in this first part. Then, in Part 2, my friend and fellow music journalist Lauren Ashton will be reviewing the gig’s headline act, the legendary Lower Than Atlantis. 

PART 1

 Mallory Knox bringing their punk-metal vibes to a new audience!

The importance of support acts at gigs is often understated. In fact, their performance can make or break the whole night. A bad support act can spoil the mood at a venue, putting the main act at a huge disadvantage when it comes to pleasing the crowd. A good support act, on the other hand, is one that draws a crowd, cultivates their excitement and leaves them pumped for the headliners! Mallory Knox provided a perfect example of supporting bands at their best, when they set the stage for Lower Than Atlantis at The Underground in Stoke.

The band were full of energy, confidence and enthusiasm throughout, and with the gig being only a day after the band had their song ‘Death Rattle’ played on BBC Radio 1 for the first time, it seemed that Mallory Knox were celebrating in a big way, with a big performance. 

Very few bands put 100% effort into their gigs, but Mallory Knox proved to be an exception to this rule. Their intense energy wasn’t lost on the crowd either, attracting crowd surfers and getting the audience to bounce and sing along as if they were the headliners. By the end of their set, the band seemed immensely surprised and humbled by the unprecedented response of the Thursday-night crowd, and The Underground’s punters were filled with adrenaline and buzzing with anticipation for Lower Than Atlantis.

The band's bassist Sam Douglas, complete with arty motion blur!

So, I’ve hopefully established by now that Mallory Knox is an amazing live band, but I’m yet to describe their sound and what makes them such a great band musically, as well as on the live stage. After all, some bands excel at live performances but falter when it comes to their individual sound (or lack of it, in some cases!), and a band’s sound and identity is what really matters when it comes to earning a long term career. Luckily, Mallory Knox have the substance as well as the style. I’d describe them as a high-energy, young, fresh, rock band; a cross between punk heroes Billy Talent and metal megastars Avenged Sevenfold. They have the harmonies, screaming vocals and the heavy, distorted guitaring of heavier rock subgenres, but aren’t afraid to incorporate quieter and calmer sections into their music, adding variety and interest to their sound. Also, as Thursday night’s audience discovered at the gig, their music’s all at the perfect tempo to jump and headbang along to, making it ideal live material!

To sum up, Mallory Knox is a fantastic new band, both onstage – as proven by their top performance supporting Lower Than Atlantis - and in the studio. I often say on this blog that bands and artists are destined to go far if they continue to give it their all, and never has this been more true than in the case of this band. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open, because you’re going to be hearing a lot of Mallory Knox in the future!

You can (and should!) check out the band on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/malloryknoxuk, and on their official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/MalloryKnoxOfficial1. 

Stay tuned to Superunknown for Part 2, where Lower Than Atlantis’ set will be reviewed, and for the next ‘Alive In The Superunknown’ entry, where I’ll review ‘Shiver’ by Coldplay. Both are coming very soon, so keep checking the site for updates!

PsyD