Live Review: Heriot – Devil's Dog, Birmingham
13th May 2023
Support: Ordeal, Inhuman Nature
Words: Cat Finch
Photos: Tim Finch
For a while now Heriot have been the darlings of the upcoming British metal scene, long promoted by the likes of Kerrang! and Metal Hammer as the “next big thing”. With so much hype behind them, we took the opportunity to check them out on their headline UK tour as they hit Devil’s Dog in Birmingham. Devil’s Dog is the latest intimate venue to open in Digbeth, sizeable enough to compete with the likes of the Asylum across the city.
Opening the evening are local hardcore outfit Ordeal. It’s a stuttering start with their vocalist grunting his way through the opening number. But as the band continue their set this improves and the banging hardcore shines through. It’s only a short amount of time on stage, but despite this the venues growing crowd gets into it as a dedicated few open up the pit and windmill their way across the room.
The quality steps up a level as Church Road Records alumni Inhuman Nature take to the stage. Their stock is rising fast, they have momentum behind them and their unique brand of crossover/thrash takes centre stage.
From the outset it’s a pummel barrage of riffs, fronted by the vocal onslaught of Christopher Barling. The five piece are tight, their delivery on point as the heat builds in the room and things get frantic. With no hint of a security pit there’s no where for a crowd surfer to go, but that doesn’t stop him going up above everyones heads. This is a show from a band on fire and they’ve won over 500 new fans tonight.
Herriot's stock is growing rapidly and tonight it’s a welcome chance for The Razor’s Edge team to catch a headline performance from the outfit. Off the back of the release of ‘Profound Morality’ their fan base has grown, proven by this sold out show tonight, and indeed the sold out tour!
The dual vocals add a nice dynamic, the often haunting styling of Deb melding with the outright aggression of Jake is a nice feature to the bands sound. The stage at Devil’s Dog does not leave much room for movement, but the tight confines allow the band to shine and the Birmingham crowd lap it up.
All photo credits: Tim Finch Photography
