Heaven’s Basement

Appearing on a very cramped stage is never an enjoyable feat, but hey, Heaven’s Basement managed to pull off a damn good opening to what would turn out to be a night of solid, tight rock. Their vocal talents were without a doubt their trademark, matching three-part harmonies with excellent precision. They might not have received the wildest response, but it was clear to see that the crowd were impressed with their performance.

Shinedown

Having just completed a short set at Download Festival on Sunday, Shinedown returned to the London town of Camden to entertain a sold out venue of both young and aged fans. In the States, it is a common fact that Shinedown easily fills out large arenas, yet it is said that the venues in the UK shows provide a more intimate experience, and tonight, this proves to be correct.

Judging by tonight, there is no doubt as to why Brent Smith is seen as one of the most dominant vocalists in today’s rock scene. His presence in songs such as ‘45’ and ‘Fly from the Inside’ hints at him being destined as a musical greatness. Perhaps I’m overreacting, but we could be seeing the next Jeff Buckley here; influential, incredible talented, and completely immersed in what music really stands for.

Playing a variety of songs across both past and latest records, highlights include a piano rendition of ‘Call Me’ and fan favourite ‘Second Chance’ (thank you very much Scuzz for allowing it the airtime it deserves!) Fresh off ‘The Sound of Madness, emphatic single ‘Devour’ provided a monstrous yet fitting end to a fantastic night of masterful playing. The future just keeps looking brighter for Shinedown, and with a frontman in the form of Smith, we’re beginning to see hope emerging from within this broad scene. Shinedown have expanded their material way beyond the basics of rock music, and their unique sound has certainly earned them this respect within the musical community.

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