After an impressive set as Don Broco’s main support in February and a sold out April headline show at The Haunt and Audio respectively, Mallory Knox’s third visit this year promises a brilliant night. Plus, they’ve brought along Crooks and Blitz Kids as support.
The Cambridge five-piece see off their predecessors with the magnificent eruption that is ‘Hello’. The floor already feels like an erratic trampoline, and this just the beginning. As per usual the enigmatic frontman, Mikey Chapman’s vocals are on point this evening alongside his fellow musicians.
After the year they’ve had, there’s no wonder his grin spreads as wide as the room when his lyrics are versed back to him. Sure, a signing to Search & Destroy (part of the Sony label) will put anyone in a good mood. But being announced as the iconic A Day To Remember’s main support at Alexandra Palace in February next year, makes for a pretty good decade.
Next up on the setlist is one of their debut album’s singles, ‘Wake Up’, but by this point the crowd certainly doesn’t need the reminder. This is pure alternative rock at its best: no frills, no synths, just pure musical ecstasy. With the throaty shouts peppered between the well-ranged vocals of Chapman and the catchy yet gritty melodies, it’s no wonder they’ve excelled themselves.
Tonight we are even exposed to a new song named ‘Ghosts In The Mirror’, and with the prospect of a 2014 follow-up to debut ‘Signals’, this song is even more exciting. It’s more of a nod towards British alt rock titans, We Are The Ocean and Lower Than Atlantis, which can’t be a bad thing.
As well as a new song, we also get to enjoy a B-side ‘Maps’ – possibly the result of a band with one EP and one album trying to fill an hour-long set. The people familiar with the track are very grateful, others are just happy to tap their feet and mouth along to the unknown lyrics.
But of course, it wouldn’t be a Mallory Knox gig if they didn’t end with their crowd favourite ‘Lighthouse’. We’re pretty sure even the door staff were singing along by the end, it’s that catchy.
Yet again, Mallory Knox have smashed it, and have made it a hat-trick in our fair city. Let’s hope they remember to visit again when they’re big and popular.
Haunt, Wednesday 11th December 2013
Words by Lizzi Hart
Photos by Jack Beard
