It's Not Korn
There are often similarities drawn between Korn and Adema due to the half-brother relationship between the two vocalists. Tonights set puts the two bands in two very different categories, and certainly dismisses claims that Adema are trying to live off the back of their fellow Californians.
What about Linkin Park? There have also been similarities drawn between the nu-metal giants, and this small, relatively unknown quintet. The majority of people have only heard one Adema song, 'Giving In'. 'Giving In' sounds as polished and produced as nu-metal can get. The highs are high, the voice is piercing and the effects and post production are present. Maybe the connection between these two bands is not so far fetched after all?
Tonight's set changes all of that. Adema walk out on stage and Birmingham Academy 2 shakes. This is an intimate venue, one of the best places to see many bands, and is probably only holding around 300 fans today, mostly aged between 13 and 16. From the atmosphere you couldn't tell this.
Adema soar through their set and demonstrate that their live performance is not squeeky clean. This is a band that is far truer to the metal than the "nu". The difference between Adema and Linkin Park is quite clear tonight, this is 100% live, you can feel the emotion, every step is not rehearsed and it feels natural. After "Giving In", when you expect everything to end - we are all treated to a last song, described by the band as "metal".
The sounds tonight are varied and the set is how rock should be - live and raw. This is the first time in over two years where from watching the fans that are here tonight, watching them realise that they have been lucky enough to witness a set like this in such a small venue, watching the future of rock and metal... that I feel optimistic about the next five years.