Live Review: Thy Art Is Murder @ The Underworld, London (07/02/14)

I love The Underworld venue in Camden, London…

It’s a tiny little place that holds a couple hundred people & in summer it is crazy hot & turns into one of the sweatiest holes going but I’ve been part of some amazing shows there. The latest band to tempt me down its creaky stairs is Thy Art Is Murder, a death metal/metalcore style band (deathcore?).

We arrived in time to find a packed venue & see the main support Heart of a Coward absolutely kill it. Within 2 songs I was banging my head in appreciation & the crowd reaction had me convinced we had the gig the wrong way around & this was the main band playing. With the ex-Sylosis singer on vocals now HOAC are on the up & it is impossible to not get into it. When they announce that it is their last song of the night the chorus of boos sound so sincere that I couldn’t see how Thy Art Is Murder could top them.

Thankfully they do it in spades….

Taking to the stage, frontman CJ is an intimidating man, wild-eyed & looking like he is ready to kick ten shades of shit out of the entire crowd. Opener Defective Breed does the work for him & it doesn’t let up. The band do a top job of holding the crowd’s attention with a lot of the set aired from the album, Hate.

Fan favourite Whore to a Chainsaw saw this reviewer step into the pit to take part in the chaos & help with the crowd-surfing camera man (strapped to his face) & it just didn’t stop. The band end with Reign of Chaos where they invite everyone on stage with them & everyone tries to oblige…crowd-surfing is not encouraged at venues these-days but that doesn’t stop fans from throwing themselves into the crowd without a care about the potential landing & that goes for frontman CJ as well.

By time Thy Art Is Murder end the band are exhausted, we are exhausted but everyone has the biggest smile on their face. Heavy fucking metal…