Live Review: Defects with Black Coast & Darlah at The Old Blue Last, Shoreditch, London (28/05/24)

There’s a lot of firsts here tonight for me. The first time seeing a show at The Old Blue Last, the first time seeing Darlah (a band I know nothing about), the first time seeing Black Coast (I missed them at Bloodstock last year), and the first time seeing Defects, live!

The latter is the reason I’m here. Having become enamoured with them on the build to the release of their debut full-length album, Modern Error. The album dropped on May 24th. 2024, via Mascot Records, and turned out to be phenomenal.

As stated in our review:

You don’t have to always relate to an album’s theme or concept to feel what the band is trying to say. Sometimes, the experience shared is so powerful, that it hits hard regardless of a personal connection.

There might be no better example of this in the modern times than Defects’ long-awaited debut album, Modern Error. A 13-track showcase (including an intro and interlude) of what this band is capable of. Which just so happens to be passionately delivered metal that blends elements of melodic metal, heavy alternative rock, metalcore, groove metal, and more. Where every track has some form of anthemic value regardless of the level of heaviness that comes with it.

You can read the full thing here.

This show, an album release party, sees the band playing Modern Error in full, but before we get into their excellent show, let’s talk about the support.

Darlah are four-piece alternative rock band given the unenviable task of injecting some life into a room full of people clearly here for Defects only. A task not helped by the lack of audible guitar. Not only are the drums far too loud, but the bass is dominating, and the guitar is lost completely. The vocals are clear, but unfortunately, this isn’t just teething problems, as it remains an issue right through their set.

Still, they give plenty and work hard at encouraging the crowd to get into their brand of energetic rockiness. Something that really hits when they decide to throw out a cover of Bring Me to Life by Evanescence. This is where the singalong really kicks in, and even though I’d happily never hear this song ever again, Darlah do it justice. Any vocalist who can match the immense power of Amy Lee is worth respecting.

Black Coast also have the tough task of getting the Defects crowd interested in them but do a much better job of it with their brand of nu-twisted metalcore heaviness. Not just asking for energy, but downright demanding it, and getting a much stronger response in return.

It’s not quite chaos, but it does threaten to go that way occasionally, as Black Coast create a level of intense mania that is downright infectious. Their goal seems to be to blow Defects off the stage, and they come mightily close. The sound issues that Darlah had are non-existent here, even though Black Coast have a vocalist that roars, screams, and sings with such an impressive amount of passion, the rest of the band could be drowned out.

It’s a fantastic set, a great showcase of their talents, and the perfect way to get blood pumping in the veins for what follows.

Which just so happens to be Defects, delivering Modern Error in full, even if some of what the album holds is so personal, it visibly affects vocalist, Tony Maue. It comes right at the end of the show, but there’s no talking about this show without mentioning ‘Gone To Waste’, a staggering display of emotional power that sees Defects connect to their audience in ways that most bands could only dream of.

It’s the most profoundly affecting moment of the show, but far from the only one. Defects’ style of alt-metal, heavy rock, and metalcore means melody and harmony plays as big a role in the music as heaviness does. Thankfully, all the intricate moments are clear as the sound in The Old Blue Last is right on point. Which means, when Defects want to get a bit wild and a bit ferocious, the place blows up.

It’s during Defects that we finally get some mosh pits and circle pits, one of which involves Maue himself, and ends with both he and one of the guitarist playing in the middle of a flurry of banging heads and sweaty smiles. It’s how the show ends, and it is spectacularly fun to be part of.

Which, for all the emotion within this album and the band in general, is still key. Defects want you to feel something, and you will, but they also want you to have a damn good time. Music saves, after all, and few will have come out of this show unhappy.

Modern Error deserves a full showcase, and Defects more than delivered on what the experience of hearing it live, should be. This band is only getting started, watch out world, Defects are coming to take over.