Qemists are the essential band to play any live festival, you can just image their music going off at 2am and people being brought back from the edge of tiredness with shot of adrenaline in the arm, so their tour stops in Cardiff just to give us that.
Clear The Auditorium’s set was tragically cut short, with their Breaking Bad inspired single ‘We are the Danger’ being a stand out in moment in their electronic-core synthesiser-led good-ness.
Frenchman Rémi Gallego aka The Algorithm approach is almost scientific, with careful planned precise keys and technical riffs, immerse yourself into some prog-electronic-core magic. Sometimes repetitive, but it’s entertaining as Rémi’s mental gurning whilst squeezing ever specific guitar riff. Definitely one for the electronic music geeks to appreciate.
Qemists have been kicking around for a few years and despite their slick stage production with enough lights to think Christmas could perhaps be celebrated in March nevertheless, they’ve never really broke through into the mainstream. Fitting into a little tiny space occupied between their similar mega star counterparts The Prodigy, Enter Shikari and Pendulum it’s surprising they never really broken through into bigger audiences. Two energetic frontmen, who grab the audience by the scruff of its neck and makes it conform to how ever they want to with additionally some huge sound pulsating from the Decks. It’s a bit of a slow start, but when ‘Renegade’ drops heavier than throwing an Elephant off The Shard; the dynamite of the show goes off!
The crowd finally comes to life after Bruno and Olly (Vocalists) hard grafting and their journey through electronic music kicks up to 6th gear with Frankenstein-style results fusing Jungle with heavyweight metal riffs, Drum & Bass with steel drubbing guitar grooves sewn and breakbeats so harsh they peel your face off. By time the penultimate song ‘Take It Back’ induces mayhem with the ever appropriate lyric ‘yeah we’re going to lose control, time is of the essence’ the crowd spare no second thought before set closer ‘Stompbox’ lights the match that sets the rocket into the stratosphere. It’s a shame the audience wasn’t bigger but you get the feeling this band are the perfect midnight underground party band that you simply won’t forget. Next time someone in the medical profession offers you a shot of adrenaline, politely decline; ask them to get this band to play live for you.
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Review by Richard Samuel (@rich_dbno) | Photos by Chloe Jackson-Nott (@chloemphoto)