A well-balanced night of heavy music and classical textures, with thoughtful arrangements and a strong mix of bands
This was a really well-put-together night that brought a mix of genres together without it feeling disjointed. The flow between acts made sense, and the overall vibe had a proper arc to it rather than just being a mix for the sake of it.
The night opened with the Voluta Quartet, who played a short classical set. It was a nice contrast to what followed, and gave a bit of breathing space at the start. The only issue was the crowd – people were already chatting, and it was hard to hear the more delicate parts. A bit of extra volume would’ve helped, as the playing itself was lovely.
Fear Inoculatum, the Tool tribute band, followed and brought a solid shift in energy. They were tight and well-paced, and the sound had that layered, hypnotic feel that worked well in the space. It felt like a good stepping stone between the classical opener and the heavier sets to come.
Silver Chamber’s first set was where the concept properly came through. The orchestral parts added depth and drama to the heavier elements without overshadowing them. It wasn’t just strings tacked on for show – the arrangements felt thoughtful and brought a bit of atmosphere to the whole thing. Some of the quieter sections could’ve done with a boost, but overall it came across really well.
Syntara came next, with a set drawn from their latest release, Forever Gone. They had a great presence on stage and the balance between melody and heaviness worked. The strings supported the more emotional moments without taking anything away from the band’s sound. You could see the crowd properly getting into it.
Divinitas followed and brought things up a gear. More technical and fast-paced, their set was confident and tight throughout. The orchestral side was used more sparingly here, but it added a nice touch when it did come through – not too much, just enough to lift things when needed.
To close, Silver Chamber came back on for a final set. This part pulled everything together and felt like a proper finale. The collaboration between the bands and orchestra actually worked, and didn’t feel like an afterthought. Everyone looked like they were having a good time, and it landed well as a closer.
Overall, it was a strong night. The mix of acts kept things interesting without feeling jarring, and the classical elements were used in a way that added to the music rather than distracting from it. Would definitely go again – though next time it’d be good to have the strings turned up just a touch.