After three long years and several delays, I Prevail finally took to Victoria Warehouse to demonstrate True Power to an anxious crowd waiting to unleash hell. Blind Channel and Trash Boat would also support throughout this tour.
Finnish nu-metal band Blind Channel kicked off the night and they delivered a high-energy set complete with rapping which would have been a massive faux pas at this type of show just a few years ago but it was welcomed with open arms here in 2023. Their sound was full of groovy, bendy guitar work and epic synth work mixed in with really impressive rap flows on tracks like ‘Alive’ or ‘Just Burning’.
Electronic elements have been slowly blending with metal over the years and ‘We Are No Saints’ is a fantastic example. It may not be for everyone but it’s a great step forward in a post-genre world where genre is starting to mean less and less as people start to enjoy music regardless of genre. Blind Channel brought the heavy when they needed to, the drum n bass style intro of ‘Balboa’ felt really fresh and demonstrated just how ready to experiment the new school of metal is and that the new school is absolutely ready for it.
Trash Boat would go next and they had a mixed reception. Trash Boat were fresh off of a tour with Enter Shikari where they were fairly well received but they felt a bit out of place at first, despite playing the right breed of nu-metal-inspired hardcore. There were still high points in the set, ‘Don’t You Feel Amazing’ was an interesting piece of identity that had a slower-paced swagger that was successfully designed to be cool and the cover of ‘Given Up’ by Linkin Park was amazing and vocalist Tobi Duncan managed to pull off Chester’s incredible scream, albeit with some difficulty.
Trash Boat used their platform correctly as they called out merch cut practices that have been slowly getting worse over the years and have made touring a nightmare for smaller bands. They didn’t name drop any specific company but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out who they were referring to. They would go on to sell their merch in a nearby cafe, a practice that may be very influential in the future.
The anticipation had reached its apex by the time I Prevail began taking their places and the opening drum fills of ‘There’s Fear In Letting Go’ kicked in. These first few notes were an absolute gut punch and it was a wonder that just five people could create a sound so immensely powerful and maintain this level of aggression for so long. ‘There’s Fear in Letting Go’ would act as a slow start but ‘Body Bag’ would come next and the speed and aggression would hit the audience as huge circle pits began to form.
‘Self Destruction’ continued the streak with the impossibly low-tuned guitars snarled before a vicious attack began. I Prevail’s greatest strength is seething build-up, ‘Self Destruction’ has a slow stomping riff, hook-filled vocals and addictive synth lines before unleashing immensely powerful slamming attacks designed to get even the most stationary of punters moving. ‘Self Destruction’ is lauded by many as a modern metalcore classic, much like the rest of ‘True Power’.
‘Bad Things’ was a necessary break, even the most energetic of audiences and bands need a moment to catch their breath and the anthemic choruses seemed like they would feel gigantic in the smallest of rooms, let alone this massive sold-out warehouse. The siren before ‘Come and Get’ started blaring and the break was over, the groove-filled mid-tempo drum work from Gabe Helguera mixed in with the groovy guitar work made this song a devastating sight to witness.
I Prevail are known first and foremost for their aggressive songs but their live show is littered with slower-paced songs that are sometimes life-affirming and sometimes deal with darker subject matters that give the audience a sense of unity. ‘Hurricane’ and ‘Feel Something’ were hugely different from the rest of the set, both of these tracks were beautiful moments that showcased the power of music, live or otherwise.
I Prevail returned for an encore with ‘Gasoline’, a nu-metal sounding track that had the usual growling guitar work that acted as the sonic equivalent of a baseball bat with nails in it, it’s not pretty but it does some serious damage. ‘Bow Down’ ended the show and it was the last chance for carnage and everybody delivered, Victoria Warehouse had experienced True Power.
I Prevail are quickly establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the metalcore scene. Their latest record was quickly regarded as a modern masterpiece and this tour could shape up to be one of the best tours in recent memory and in the minuscule chance that it isn’t, it will at least be regarded as a pivotal moment to I Prevail and their ever-expanding fanbase.
