Live Review: This Summit Fever – Dive, Wolverhampton
Support: Kill The Witch, Every Living Thing
11th April 2025
Words: Matt Noble
Photos: Tim Finch
A week after the release of their self-titled debut album on Majestic Mountain Records, This Summit Fever launched their record in the live setting with a packed out show at Dive in Wolverhampton. A relatively new venue in the city centre, they brought Kill the Witch and Every Living Thing along with them, whose different styles complemented the band well for a strong night of live music.
Telford alt rockers Every Living Thing started the night strongly, surprisingly only playing their first ever show, as was the quality of the performance. With melodic, emotionally driven lead vocals and honest lyrics, they had a progressive edge and a unique approach to songcrafting. Rhythmically tight, with some cool off-time grooves and fantastic drum fills, they also utilised some cool post-rock style guitar textures at the other end of the mix to make for a genuinely interesting sound. Rooted in 00s alternative worship, their cover of Biffy Clyro's 'Mountains' was received enthusiastically by a lively crowd who welcomed them warmly into the live arena.
Up next were Stafford-based psych/sludge metal power trio Kill the Witch, with a much darker sound showing the other side of the musical spectrum for the night. The neck-snapping 'Thulsa Doom' and the thrashy 'Serpent Goddess' from 2020's 'Widowmaker' album got the adrenaline flowing from early on in the set. The Mastodon influence is clear in Kill the Witch's high-octane riffs, especially in the Remission-esque 'Of Smoke And Fire', but also in the trippy interludes, spacey jams and extended instrumental sections that lull the crowd into a trance accordingly. Each member is given the chance to show off their own chops over the set, together a powerful musical unit, led by Karl's vicious vocal bark. A raucous airing of the smutty 'Slime' and the energetic 'Ghosts of Tomorrow', featuring a guest appearance from an audience member on lead vocals, drew the set to a close with some stoner rock n' roll fun. A true hidden gem of the UK underground.
The stage is set for This Summit Fever at last, who make more noise than two people have any right to. Initially emerging after lockdown, their live performances have evolved over the last few years. TSF performances of old would see frontman and guitarist Andy impressively juggling two pedalboards on stage - now slimmed down to a single digital box, the guitar sound is crisper and more powerful than ever. Similarly, the songwriting has come on leaps and bounds, with the new album offering their strongest material yet. The likes of 'Hooks' and 'Partly to Blame' from the new record are memorable fuzzed out rock anthems, straddling a range of genres from alt rock to stoner metal - without neatly fitting into one style other than their own individual sound.
Kicking off with the swinging lead single 'Hooks' and the punchy album opener 'Breathe You In', the warmed up audience responded with enthusiasm, headbanging and moving away as the band would hope. A well paced setlist, the laid back 'Voices' offered breathing space, and 'Superfluous' showed off a wonderful, tasteful build up either side of the energetic 'Partly To Blame', where the audience were invited to dance along to its energetic Josh Homme-inspired main riff. This Summit Fever's old favourites also went down a storm as the set went on. The heavy riffs in 'The Host' and Jim's powerhouse drumming in 'Messiah' kept the party going as TSF worshipped the riff in their own way, paying tribute to their influences without being carbon copies of any of them. Andy's vocals carry the melodies with grit and conviction, ripping some tasty guitar leads that had been carefully thought out as to only need drums behind them. Demanded into an encore by their receptive crowd, they ended on album highlight 'Partly To Blame', played for a second time as the night ended, marking a triumphant dawn of the band's next chapter.
Photo Credits: Tim Finch Photography
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