Sonisphere Day Three // Ladies And Gentleman, Please Take Your Seats

There’s nothing quite like “metal” gigs for the sheer effort put into each and every show, for the assorted appendages and curious outfits, the passionate commitment to burst every lung, to give it all, to fly far into the crowd, to climb high. Its more than just music, it’s religion. It’s theatre.Sheffield’s metal core five-piece Bring Me Horizon, were entertaining, if a little ragged, with Ollie Sykes voice all over the place, though playing to a spiky crowd he was in combative good humour, acknowledging the “great combination” of the milk and mustard that had been chucked at them, and after a few tracks the circle pit and wall of death were in full flow.  A brief screaming cameo by Ollie’s dad Ian Sykes was embarrassingly encouraged by the crowd, while the guitarist went walkabout at one point, deciding to climb to the top of the 50ft side speakers before thinking better of it and returning to the stage. 

Metal-Rave outfit, Pendulum, produced a typically energetic live performance on the main stage that brought the crowd to life.  Alt-rock band Fightstar were as impressive, though their songs, comparably, seemed to lack pace, before a blistering set from Norwegian rockers Kvelertak packed out the Strongbow tent. Best performance of the day however, and indeed the weekend, was Funeral for a Friend, their effortless, emotional set included classics such as ‘She Drove Me To Daytime TV’ and ‘Juneau’, all the more poignant as it was guitarist Darren Smith’s last gig, the crowd responding by singing in empathetic unison for almost every song. 

Finally, and perhaps aptly, Tek One, closed out the night on the Strongbow stage, their live combination of drums and mixing Dubstep, popular with the host of late night revellers, was impressive to watch, and as far removed from the typical stereotypes of classic Metal, and Metal festivals, like Sonisphere, and their music, and fans, and the atmosphere, as you could possibly go. 

Words by Fleur Terry

Photos by Lara Leon-Cullen 

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