Dead Wolf Club + Saltwater Injection
Thursday 26th February 2015
The Compass, Chester
Back to the Compass in Chester for some more rock’n’roll! I was able to catch local band Saltwater Injection again, plus new discovery Dead Wolf Club.
Saltwater Injection makes a reliably noisy racket with just a bass guitar and a drum kit. The bass stirs a sludgy broth of Melvins style aggressive punk, while the drums thrash away relentlessly. It’s not all noise – beneath the cacophony, the audience can define melodies as well as crushing riffs. Catchy, sing along melodies, even!
The set gives us original songs in this vein, plus a Beatles tribute infused with a punk Monty Python spirit. Add in a song written on the spot, following a title suggestion from the audience; and genuinely funny, self deprecating stage banter and you’ve got a concoction that is quite infectious. Great band and one to catch!
Up next are head liners Dead Wolf Club, a four piece with a similar punk rock approach but different delivery. This band offers an intense, swirling sound that develops from a Joy Formidable accessibility to a crushing Joy Division cinematic scope.
It’s post hardcore performed with an admirable earnestness and honesty. Dead Wolf Club’s songs – part Steve Albini, part Fugazi, part grungey indie – build and build, showing a sense of scale and ambition. Unfortunately it’s over too soon, and everything suddenly seems far too quiet…
Another blinding night at the Compass, which has grown into an intimate venue for in-your-face rock music. Good beer, friendly staff and a fantastic AC/DC pinball machine don’t hurt either!
The Compass website is here.
The Saltwater Injection website is here.
The Dead Wolf Club website is here.
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