Ben Glaister was highly impressed by the punk duo’s live show
Image by Brian James
Slaves did not disappoint. They arrived in full force, bringing with them the typical, almost unbelievable energy which made the O2 Academy practically burst at the seams.
Slaves manage to consistently deliver performances which throb with astonishing power and animation. Indeed, in usual style, lead vocalist Isaac Holman’s shirt wasn’t on for long.
There is a certain anger to the duo’s music; over the course of the night they tore through their repertoire, railing vigorously against a broken system, their fusion of punk and garage incensing the crowd to rapture.
The distinctive, percussive rhythms seem to beat through the body and are impossible to forget, with Holman underscoring each song, smashing hi-hats, cymbals and snares with lighting speed and incredible precision and Vincent pushing out harsh, intense, garage riffs on guitar.
“Are you satisfied?” The boys ask us, in the words of their debut album. “Very much so…”
