yourcodenameis:milo, Fightstar, Snow Capped Sunday, Seconds Out @ Coventry Jailhouse, February 2nd 2005

Review by Michael Freeman

Since most of the crowd seem to have been queuing since they got out of school this afternoon, I only caught a song or two from Seconds Out, but it was enough to impress me. They might have been playing a jazz-prog epic whilst I was in the queue outside, but once inside I heard speedy punk rock, with possibly just a little bit of roll, and the lowest emo quotient of the evening. Hugely confident for an opening band and definitely a grower- if people can get to see a bit more of them that is.

As for Snow Capped Sunday, I don’t know if the name is a 36 Crazyfists reference, but it’d be very apt if they were. The tunes are heavier, more metallic, but you can tell from their appearance (polo t-shirts, fancy haircuts, and a flatcap-wearing street urchin) they’re still aiming for post-hardcore. Apart from the singer that is- demeanour of Morrissey, vocals of Sully Erna, dress sense of a goth raver in Hot Topic. Confused? I was.

The hype’s died down a bit (only a bit though- most eyes and ALL cameras are still on Charlie), so we can judge Fightstar a bit more objectively than in previous weeks. And I have to say that the judgement is fair. Drummer Omar is excellent, providing solid, intricate beats throughout, and Charlie is coming out of his shell, indulging in what is evidently some well-needed scream therapy.
The pretty faithful cover of NIN’s ‘Hurt’ shows they can do stripped down emo laments (though I suppose it’s not hard when you consider the source material), whilst 'Palahniuk’s Laughter' (originally titled ‘swimming the flood’ before Boxing Day) is admirably rocking. I couldn’t catch the last song’s title (my friend suggested ‘Busted has left my heart empty, and I can only fill the void with screamo (however my bank balance is quite healthy)’ though I doubt it), but it shows off the band’s knack for pretty vocal harmonies, and their love of big crunchy riffing. We all know they're going to be huge, but based on tonight's show, they might just deserve to be.

Why the place empties between Fightstar and yourcodenameis:milo I have no idea- probably past most of their bedtimes. The other thing I can’t decide is whether the band hates the drummer, or the drummer hates the rest of the band because the polyrhythms and time changes are never ending. "Lets all try to bounce together through this one. Deal?" asks frontman Paul at one point. Um, no. To be honest, the chances of us managing that are smaller than, well, you (and he is tiny).

Opening with the title track of their new EP ‘Rapt Dept’, and finishing with fan favourite 'Schteeve', we get pretty much every song they’ve released so far in between (best title- 'TV is better than real life'), as well as new song ‘Seventeen’ which is just as raw and awkward as its predecessors. 'All roads to fault' gets one of the best responses, especially the ‘go very quite and delicate, then build up speed and volume until we’re chugging along nicely and you can actually headbang for a bit, then stop dead’ ending- annoying as hell, but so cool. Basically, if you went home early, your codename is: moron.

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yourcodenameis:milo, Fightstar, Snow Capped Sunday, Seconds Out @ Coventry Jailhouse, February 2nd 2005

Review by Michael Freeman