Gallows are just back in the UK after a mammoth US Vans Warped tour, but such was the buzz surrounding this sold out show you would be forgiven for thinking that they had simply been for a weekend break in Jersey. Such is the accelerated ascendancy out of cult status that they demand right now

Just a little over six months ago when I first happened upon the Watford lads at Cardiff Barfly, the show was also sold out, but this was largely due to people very much "in the know". Tonight the start of a crossover into a younger more mainstream crowd meant that Frank and crew were playing to a grossly over crowded room of largely new converts to the cause.

This new brand of ten spirit was soon evident as soon as the five piece set foot on to the legendary TJ's stage and a roar went up that seemingly flicked the P.A. on/off switch to off and the band tore into a wall of silence, albeit for the backline… Oops.

This however doesn't stop Frank Carter, no, as though he couldn't grow any more in confidence as a frontman, his death defying crowd interactions leave most of the newbies in attendance wondering just what the fuck is happening. Is this Punk rock or WWE?

When the set really picked up momentum in the shape of the singles "In The Belly of The Shark" and "Abandon Ship" this was as good as any Gallows performance I've witnessed. But the persistent delays due to the sound problems were about as welcome as a hard on in a sauna.

Good news was that highpoints far outweighed the legendary antics of TJ's sound system, and once joined by support act "Lethal Bizzle" to run through the cover of "The Ruts - Staring At the Rude Boys", we got the first true glimpse of a band ready for the greatness that awaits them. Other highlights for me were the seldom-played "Kill the Rhythm" getting a live thrashing and the usual band/crowd mega melee that greeted set closer "Orchestra of Wolves".

With yet another hugely successful trek across the UK under their belts, next up for Gallows is Taste of Chaos and it will be no surprise which headliner will be getting their musical arses kicked every night by our friends from North London.

by Johnny H.

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