Live Review: Employed To Serve - Devil's Dog, Birmingham
31st October 2023
Support: Pupil Slicer, Going Off
Words: Cat Finch
Photos: Tim Finch
Ever since the announcement of Employed To Serve’s autumn headline tour, the anticipation levels have been high. Not only were people excited to see the headline band, but the addition of Pupil Slicer and UKHC crew Going Off gave this tour a next level feel. This was reflected in ticket sales with nearly every date selling out.
It’s Halloween and in Birmingham the fans are out in force and dressed up to boot. Before we even get into the bands, credit needs to be given to everyone who dressed up, but specifically the guy dressed as zombie Elvis. From the moment the doors opened, he shuffled slowly around the pit, growling at passers by, grooving (as a zombie does) to the music in between bands and pitting with the best of them. Throughout the evening he did not break character once, when falling down in the pit he would crawl across the floor and drag himself back to his feet using the legs of an innocent bystander, he did not drink but simply dunk his head into pint glasses offered to him, and not once did his movement go over the pace of a true zombie. Full credit for a man dedicated to his craft, it was awesome to see.
Zombie Elvis aside, the bands were in character too this evening. Going Off vocalist Jake is in full clown outfit, their bassist in a mask with bollocks for a chin and their guitarist was dressed as Ghostface from the Scream franchise.
The band only have half an hour to ply their wares, but they manage to fit sixteen songs into thirty short minutes. The relentless barrage of pounding drums, thunderous bass lines, and razor-sharp guitar riffs creates a sonic landscape that resonates with the raw power of hardcore punk. The charismatic Jake commands the stage, delivering lyrics with an urgency that cuts through the chaos. The crowd becomes a frenetic sea of movement, responding to the band's infectious energy. The band may have been missing a number of regular members this evening, but that does not take anything away from their half hour of domination.
Pupil Slicer take to the stage to the Super Mario theme song, although disappointingly Mario himself is working the merch stand, so instead onstage we have Yoshi (Kate), Wario (Luke), Toadstool (Jake) and Waluigi on guitar.
The band also get a half hour timeslot, and in contrast to Going Off, manage to squeeze just four songs into it, but what a half hour it was! Despite the brevity of the set the intensity packed into each moment was enough to make it feel like a sonic journey through uncharted territories.
Opening with ‘No Temple’ the band immediately established a ferocious tone that set the stage for what was to come. The precision and technicality of their performance were awe-inspiring, especially evident in the intricate guitar work and thunderous drumming that characterised ‘Departure in Solitude’. The emotional depth of ‘Blossom’ added a dynamic contrast to the set, showcasing Pupil Slicer's ability to seamlessly weave melody into their chaotic performance. The show reached its climax with ‘The Song at Creations End’ a colossal sonic onslaught that left the crowd in a state of blissful disarray.
It's now up to the headliners Employed to Serve to close out the party. As the stage is set, inflatable palm trees, flamingos and more appear on stage, fans are given Lei’s to fit in with the Hawaiian theme.
As the band take to the stage in Hawaiian shorts, as were many of the fans, the party really started. For the best part of an hour and a half the Devil’s Dog in Digbeth was a frenzy of riffs, flailing limbs in the pit and even a guy crowd surfing in a dinghy.
The setlist, a carefully curated selection of their discography, showcased the band's evolution through their career. Opening with the relentless ‘Void Ambition’, the room was immediately plunged into a whirlwind of frenetic energy. The seamless transition between tracks like ‘Owed Zero’ and ‘The Mistake’ demonstrated the band's tight-knit cohesion and the rhythmic precision that has become their trademark.
As the set progressed, the intensity only intensified with highlights such as ‘Eternal Forward Motion’ and ‘Twist the Blade’, where Employed to Serve's dual vocal assault and pulverising instrumentation reached a fever pitch. The inclusion of ‘I Spend My Days (Wishing Them Away)’ featuring Kate from Pupil Slicer was a moment of collaborative brilliance, adding an extra layer of intensity to an already blistering performance. The duo of ‘Mark of the Grave’ and ‘World Ender’ brought the set to a cataclysmic conclusion, leaving the audience in a state of awe.
What sets Employed to Serve apart in the live setting is not just their musical prowess but also the palpable connection forged with the audience. Justine Jones commanded the stage with unwavering authority, whilst rest of the band ooze unbridled energy. That will be a hard Halloween to beat!
Photo credits: Tim Finch Photography
