The art of turning heads
Kettering based The Scurge are the real surprise package tonight, they explode out of the blocks and just keep on going. Featuring a member of Raging Speedhorn and having toured with the likes of Napalm Death and The Wildhearts it's a wonder that they haven't crossed our paths before.
They make an immediate impression with well worked dual guitar parts backed up with a tight rhythm section, whilst vocalist Cliff Lambert uses the lack of stage to his advantage and covers plenty of ground. The rest of the band don't move around too much but the standard of musicanship more than makes up for it.
The band have been together since 1999 and it really shows, the sound is big and powerful but the real advantage of Scurge is that they inject welcome melody into their songs. Coupled with a tight performance it makes such a difference and really serves to raise them up a level from the growing number of nondescript hardcore merchants. Lambert's vocals are largely screamed but they always seem to fit the songs, which gives an added dynamic.
There aren't too many in the crowd but those that have made the effort on a Monday night are rewarded with a fine performance and they rightly leave the floor to healthy applause.