Math-rockers Foals brought their Mercury award-nominated album, ‘Total Life Forever’ to Brighton – a combination of debut album ‘Antidotes’ and the new record itself, led to a gig of thorough intensity, theatrics and a prime example of their musical genius.

As the band walk on stage, there is no acknowledgment of the crowd and calmly the band members don their instruments and it begins. Opener ‘Blue Blood’ is a relatively melancholic start to the night, this song, built on crescendo, acts as a prelude to the highlights of the rest of the evening. The hip-hop drums of ‘Miami’ come next offering up some energy to the crowd and the titular track ‘Total Life Forever’ another boost for the audience. A small offering of greeting comes from frontman Yannis, but nothing more for the rest of the night.

A small breath for air is half-grabbed before we are plummeted into a combo of Antidotes favourites ‘Cassius’ and ‘Balloons’ and finally everything is calm, as what comes next is the pinnacle of the evening and of Foals discography, ‘Spanish Sahara’. This slow-building epic acts as a centre piece for the set, what begins as a few varied notes entwined with timid vocals gradually becomes an uncontrollable tornado of sound, an incredible feat, the crowd are in awe.

The band return for an encore climaxing in the theatrical event of the season. During the finale – early Foals classic – ‘Two Steps Twice’, Yannis not only climbs an amp, he then takes to the upper tier of the venue, guitar still in hand. Cool and collected he strolls around the upper level, still playing, and finally returning to the stage for a triumphant ending. An incredible live show, only slightly dampened by the exclusion of lead single ‘This Orient’, otherwise it was remarkable.

Foals
Brighton Dome
Monday 8th November

Words by Jake Cunningham