Live Review: The Defiled @ Wolverhampton Slade Rooms

Tuesday 21st May 2013 – The Defiled, XVII, In Dante’s Eclipse and Malandra @ Wolverhampton Slade Rooms

Words: Sophie Sparham

So far, 2013 has been simmering very nicely for The Defiled. From unleashing their blistering single ‘Sleeper’ to touring extensively on the Jagermeister Tour and with Bury Tomorrow in Europe, their career is on an upward spiral that should explode seismically when their second album ‘Daggers’ lands this summer. Midway through their headline tour, tonight promises to be very special indeed…

But first up are local purveyors of metalcore Malandra who command the stage with aplomb playing their sludgy, chugging riffs to the audience. “This one’s the title track off the new E.P” says Karlos, before breaking into the impressive ‘Tighten Your Noose’.

Self-professed ‘Horror-Glam’ act In Dante’s Eclipse follow the rousing openers, bringing a gothic slant to the evening with their combination of organ sample and dark make up. Playing a short yet tight set, they warm the audience up, ready for the main event.

The centre of the room breaks into a pit as the last support steps up to the mic. XVII are heavy, fast and full on. As they finish the first song of their set, the crowd chant their name, demanding more. The band power through a confident set with dual vocals and deliciously heavy riffs. They slow it down with the song ‘Dream’, before finishing the set by all windmilling in time with each other on the final song. Remember where you heard the name.

After a short break, it’s finally time for the main event. The floor vibrates and the crowd scream as the opening riff of the guitar kicks in – The Defiled have arrived. This is what Wolverhampton has been waiting for all night.

AvD raises his keyboard to the sky as the band break into their second song of the evening, the infamous, ‘Black Death’. The energy on the stage is unbelievable as the band storm through their arsenal of heavy versed songs, mixed with melodic choruses.

Their spirits are mimicked by the fans, who climb on top of each other, create circle pits and bang their heads in time with the music. ‘Let’s fucking open this place up,” Stitch screams, watching as security yells at the crowd to calm down.

The night mixes old favourites with new material off the eagerly awaited album. “This one’s gonna be the first single off our new album,” frontman Stitch announces, before breaking into a searing rendition of ‘Unspoken’.

‘We only booked this like two weeks ago,’ says AvD, before swigging his bottle of Jager. He continues by saying "It’s so good that so many of you managed to make it down on a Tuesday night.” It’ll be interesting to see who actually goes to work the next morning…

Like many other bands indebted to Slayer, The Defiled don’t forget to mention the recent passing of Jeff Hanneman. A legend like him will continue to inspire up and coming bands in metal for generations to come.

After a frenzied evening the band end their set with their classic, aptly titled anthem ‘Call to Arms’, causing the room to erupt. As fans finish their beers and leave the venue, it’s clear that The Defiled haven’t lost that initial spark they started out with back in 2005. Eight years on and they’re still getting into trouble, having fun and playing on of the most liveliest sets on the metal scene. If they carry on like this, bigger things will surely beckon when ‘Daggers’ arrives.