Live Review: Evil Scarecrow with Struck/Down and Sons of Merrick at Leo’s Red Lion, Gravesend (12/04/2024)

Everybodies favourite band with the word “Scarecrow” in their name, Evil Scarecrow are at Leo’s Red Lion, in Gravesend for the first time in over a decade.

Joining them are returning sludge rockers, Sons of Merrick with their first gig in over 9 years, along with local Kent favourites and groove masters, Struck/Down. It’s quite a lineup, also proven by the Friday night extravaganza being sold out.

It’s been a little while since I have seen Evil Scarecrow myself and, with them due for a new, currently untitled new album due out this year but also packing a few new singles (or new enough that I haven’t seen them live yet), I’m more than a little excited. First up though, we have Sons of Merrick and an early observation is that it is great to see how many people are here to support them. Messages went out on Facebook before the gig with the tagline “Support the Support” and it seems people have listened.

It probably helps that they are a popular band who have been MIA for a while too but they do great, no rustiness on display at all. You could easily assume these guys have been playing weekly, such is their tight sound. I didn’t watch all of their set – catching up with friends who came to the show that we hadn’t seen in a while took priority – but even from where we sat outside, the thick sludge and hard rock riffs permeated the local landscape and got us in the mood for metal.

Catching up out of the way, and drinks refilled, we head back into the small but historical venue for a bit of headbanging courtesy of the wonderful Struck/Down. We spent considerable time trying to actually see them on stage. Considering the back of the room can’t be much more than 10 metres to the stage, so thick was the smoke and mist that most of the set just showed us a collection of ghostly silhouettes moving in the ether. Plus the lineup appeared to have encouraged the world’s tallest man (probably not officially) to attend so I spent a lot of time looking at the back of his head. It’s quite a nice head, if you are wondering.

Still, I’m not complaining, that’s the way of things at shows sometimes and I’m tall enough that I probably cause the same issues to others behind me. The smoke does eventually clear, and the head moves right for a second allowing me to quickly snap a picture. Back to the music, and here, in this small room, Struck/Down’s crunchy riffing and screaming lead guitars absolutely fills every corner. The room feels like it is moving, pits are going, heads are banging – these guys killed it – musically tight, really bringing the energy and pumping us all full of adrenaline ready for the party that is just about to start.

Now, if you have ever been to an Evil Scarecrow show, you know what to expect and there certainly appears to be some veteran fans here. You already know the band are going to be great. You know it will be funny, you know there will be props and gimmicks, a little touch of silliness and maybe a little naughtiness too. Don’t forget though, these guys also play some pretty damn impressive heavy metal.

They bring experience and stagecraft and sound amazing with songs that are as clever musically as they are imaginative and hilarious. I guess sometimes it is hard to seperate the comedy and the metal maybe, but if you were here, or have ever seen them – man they sound so good. Vocally they are really impressive with Dr Hell sounding supercharged but the backing, mostly courtesy of Kraven Morrdeth, also sounding phenomenal. The guitars are having it large, led by Count Gravediga, and the drums from Ringmaster Monty Blitzfist, in this small room, could be mistaken for tremors. Line up changes over time have diluted none of the brilliance of the band, musically.

Coming out to one of the newer tracks, Nuclear Fallout Machine Sentience, it takes next to no time for the crowd to get involved, get singing and get in the right mindframe. Up next and maybe surprisingly early in the set comes a very popular track in Robototron. Everyone knows the dance, everyone gets involved – though we have to keep our moves quite contained because the room is packed with eager Crabuloids. Props everywhere – these guys spare little expense in ensuring they deliver memorable stage shows – the show moves on with banger after banger. Every song seems to come with a new wave of props, a new way for the crowd to interact and be part of the show.

End Level Boss sees us absolutely fail in pulling off finishing moves, Master of the Dojo, complete with giant chopsticks, massive inflatables and a whole new set of lyrics. If you were there, sing with me – “Fuck You Pork Balls”, or of you were on the other side, “Fuck You Chop Suey”. Mosh Pits open to go along with the howls during Helldog, we sway and laugh during Polterghost and then comes the next new track, Release the Krackhen.

The size of that creepy hen on stage with it’s gammy eyes is impressive, then, when it suddenly inflates tenticles, I remember thinking this is Hollywood level stagecraft. I then remember thinking, I have drank a lot but still, it looked amazing and the song is killer live. Confetti explosuons lead us onwards with a firm favourite of mine in Hurricanado. This is such a banger. But all good things must come to an end and what an ending these guys deliver.

The Ballad of Brother Pain starts the encore off and has everyone, the whole room, singing along before it is that time. Time for scuttling, time for crab claws – Crabulon has arrived. This song is great but when coupled with the crab moves, the props and being the ending of an amazing show, it absolutely destroys the room. Pits become too inviting so I have to get in, drinks spill, there is laughter and headbanging, merriment and moshing – combinations delivered by Evil Scarecrow in a way that noone else can.

It’s hard to explain sometimes how amazing these guys are at what they do. Saying it out loud often just makes them sound silly – you have to experience it. Though even then, it may be too complex for the human mind. Worst case, you will learn some dance moves to impress the ladies with and maybe even come away with a free DVD so you must see these guys play.

This is something like the 6th or 7th time I have seen Evil Scarecrow live and they never disappoint. In fact, if anything, like a fine wine, or maybe a cheese, they seem to just improve every single time. This show was a blast – great music from top bands, that left me feeling light as a feather, full of happiness and joy, with a sore neck and an impending hangover. That’s entertainment.